If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." There is a type of person who is eager to discuss every new theory, who is always to be found deeply involved in the latest fashionable religious movement, but who is quite unwilling to accept the day-to-day discipline--even drudgery--of living the Christian life. Questions are before him more serious than a maintenance of order. The devil is the patron saint of all slanderers and of all slanderers he is chief. Why? But, if one confesses the name of the Lord, the word is imperative: "let him depart from iniquity." THE DUTIES AND THE QUALITIES OF AN APOSTLE ( 2 Timothy 3:10-13 ). But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived ( 2 Timothy 3:13 ). The real meaning of this is that all theories, all theologies, all ethics, are to be tested against the Bible. The word we have translated to be a disciple includes so much that is beyond translation in any single English word. Barnes' Notes. It is of use to all, for we all need to be instructed, corrected, and reproved: it is of special use to ministers, who are to give instruction, correction, and reproof; and whence can they fetch it better than from the scripture? It is perfectly true--as we have so often said--that Christianity is not founded on a printed book but on a living person. a) Subject and Purpose of Epistle This second epistle which was written several years after the first draws a totally different picture before our eyes. When our Lord was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant, and to go about preaching the kingdom of God; he took all opportunities in public, and more especially in private, to caution his disciples against . The Gnostic insinuators would teach these doctrines to impressionable women. Comp. Accordingly, in much grief of heart, the apostle writes to his tried and trembling child in the faith, and seeks to strengthen him, above all things not to be discouraged, and to make up his mind to endure hard things. All you can say is that they are "without natural affection".God has put in our heart a certain natural love as a parent for a child. Trench, Richard Chenevix, D.D. I believe that God intended you to have pleasure, but when it comes before God, it means that it has become your God and it makes a very poor God to worship or serve. Christianity was cradled in Judaism and very naturally thought largely in Jewish terms and pictures. But the phrase may mean any future time, whether near or distant. 2 Timothy 3:12 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous," the psalmist writes (Psalm 34:19).Peter supplies a partial answer to this in I Peter 4:12: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, as does Paul's statement in II Timothy 3:12: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer . (12) Yea, and all that will live godly.--But St. Paul would not allow it to be thought for a moment that in the fact of his enduring persecution and suffering there was anything remarkable or singular; so he adds the words of this verse, which repeat in a peculiarly solemn way the great Christian truth that eternal glory was only to be reached by man through an avenue of sufferings. How is a man to walk in such a state of things as this? In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN. I've never found that in one of those little Bible promise books, I mean, promise things yet. It may well be a proof of Timothy's courage and consecration that he had seen very clearly what could happen to an apostle and had yet not hesitated to cast in his lot with Paul. "Because ye are not of the world therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19; Matthew 10:22,38,39). At the same time there is not the smallest slight of the only and abiding standard. God is right. For all scripture is given by inspiration of God ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ), Not as some would lead you to believe, some scriptures are given by inspiration of God. Paul said to Timothy. We usually try to avoid it on Friday evening if we can, but sometimes our schedules are such that we just don't have time to. But let not a man who will do this, suppose that he has any claim to be numbered among the martyrs, or even entitled to the Christian name. 2 To Timothy, d my beloved child:. It is the word alazon ( G213) and was derived from the ale, which means a wandering about. It appears it was not merely in Rome. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come ( 2 Timothy 3:1 ). If Timothy wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter. What use it will be of to us. But thou hast fully known ( 2 Timothy 3:10 ), Now in contrast to this, boy, and what a contrast the Christian is to the world around him, and more and more, you know, more and more your lifestyle is different from the world. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.' There is only one test for falsity--"You will know them by their fruits." First, there are the duties of an apostle. B. This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. As individuals, we should sometimes ask ourselves: what is our aim in life? 2 Timothy 3:12, NLT: Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. If your God is big enough to create the heavens and the earth, no problem, but you see, we stumble on the very first verse. And in the end they shall perish together with them." Now when Moses appeared before Pharaoh and he threw down his rod and it turned into a snake, you'll remember that Pharaoh's magicians threw down their rods and they also became snakes, but Moses' snake swallowed theirs. It is a great happiness to know the holy scriptures from our childhood; and children should betimes get the knowledge of the scriptures. YEA, AND - an additional consideration. The study of the Scriptures must never be selfish, never simply for the good of a man's own soul. If we consult the scripture, which was given by inspiration of God, and follow its directions, we shall be made men of God, perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work. And they use the book of Job as their proof text. They will be inflated with a sense of their own importance. When we are tempted to do so, we should hear again the voice of our blessed Lord saying on the Cross: "Father, forgive them.". Oh I know it costs more but . The latter gains a following only by turning away from the truth of God (13). Paul contrasts the conduct of Timothy, his loyal disciple, with the conduct of the heretics who were doing their utmost to wreck the Church. Now what is it that Timothy had so fully known in Paul? So if you want God to use your life, then thoroughly equip yourself in the Word of God, the study, the understanding.That's why we're here tonight. They cannot understand an inspired apostle talking about a cloak in the midst of a divinely given pastoral charge. repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. The Christian emancipation of women inevitably brought its problems. What am I to believe about sin? And how profitable is the word of God to us today! You may be able to deceive people for a while, but ultimately, it's going to catch up, even as it did with Jannes. and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ( 2 Timothy 3:12 ). Therefore, isolation is never desirable, though it may be sometimes necessary. They will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. It is said that, after hearing an evangelical sermon, Lord Melbourne once remarked: "Things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade the sphere of private life." He was wrong on that you know. In the light of this warning from the Saviour, no Christian should be surprised at persecution. Word Studies in the New Testament. It's going to get worse before it gets better. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. Now are you going to, you know, take the word of Jesus? The technique would be the same in the days of Timothy as it was in the later days of Irenaeus. Then the word went on to widen its meaning until it meant any braggart. Deliberately he lit it. He is now looking at the state of disorder in the house of God, instead of contemplating it in its public integrity, as in the first epistle. With this prospect he comforts Timothy no less than his own spirit; but at the same time he speaks as to joining him, with a glance at one that had forsaken him. Second, there are the qualities of the apostle. Not so the apostle Paul. But now there were other reasons for it, namely, that Christians were neglecting godliness and order. [Note: Knight, p. Thou hast fully known my afflictions. But continue thou in the things which you have learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus ( 2 Timothy 3:14-15 ). Note, Those are wise indeed who are wise to salvation. At "that day" will be the display of whatever has been endured, as well as done, for the Lord's sake. Description of His Past Curriculum 2 Timothy 3:10-12. Don't start trying to cut out certain stories because they don't fit your scheme because you have a little hard, you have a hard time sort of believing that. He read them and never rested until he obtained the rest of the Bible. godly, Godfearingly. It is interesting that the Scriptures in many places speak of the last days and in every case where the Scriptures speak of the last days, you find that it is an apt description of the day and the age in which we live. Titus, we know, did so; but God took care that it should never be positively stated about Timothy. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. In short, let us know that we are Christians on this condition, that we shall be liable to many tribulations and various contests. Boy, I'll tell you, I don't know. Oh, yeah, I like that one. Thus he looks not to the coming of the Lord to receive him to Himself, but to the "appearing of the Lord," which is the usual side of the truth taken in these epistles. Though his life was a life of great usefulness, yet it was a life of great sufferings; and none, I believe, came nearer to their great Master for eminent services and great sufferings than Paul: he suffered almost in every place; the Holy Ghost witnessed that bonds and afflictions did abide him, Acts 20:23. It has become their God and thus, they are guilty as those in the Old Testament who were worshipping Mammon, who, or rather Molech who was the god of pleasure. It is often a very great safeguard for the saint of God; for, after all, it makes no small difference who says this or that. Xenophon in the Memorabilia tells how Socrates utterly condemned such impostors. Those who are well instructed in the Scriptures will always be ready when an opportunity arises to do good (16-17).Since Gods servants must give him an account of their service, they should not miss any opportunity to teach the Scriptures, though they must always speak in a manner suited to the circumstances (4:1-2). VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. thoroughly furnished unto all good works ( 2 Timothy 3:17 ). Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. The doctrine of the necessity of persecution was no new thing to Paul. The Gnostic heretics taught, either that, since matter is altogether evil, a rigid asceticism must be practiced and all the things of the body as far as possible eliminated, or that it does not matter what we do with the body and its desires can be indulged in to the limit because they do not matter. He said, "A wicked and an adulterous generation seeks after a sign; but no sign will be given it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" ( Matthew 12:38-40 ). Such is the perversity of sin. Again he said, "Lo, I have come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God" ( Hebrews 10:7 ). There was to be a final show-down with the forces of evil. Look at, of course, all of these other things that have come along as the result of it. It is not meant that the Scriptures are valuable for finding fault; what is meant is that they are valuable for convincing a man of the error of his ways and for pointing him on the right path. And I filed many scriptures in that file. It is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields every point in which religion is opposed to the world. As members of the Church, we should sometimes ask ourselves, what are we trying to do in it? To love men is to forgive them and care for them as God forgave and cares--and it is only he who can enable us to do that. And he embraced Christianity, but he was probably standing there in Lystra when the people in the city stoned Paul until they thought he was dead and dragged him out of the city. That is, he must first labour, and then partake of the fruits. It will be getting better a little further down the road, but evil days are going to wax worse and worse, until the Lord takes His church out and then God judges the world for its unrighteousness and ungodliness. If, in any manner, or in any way, he is subjected to disadvantage on account of his religious opinions, and deprived of any immunities and rights to which he would be otherwise entitled, this is persecution. For he does not say Jesus Christ simply in. The New Testament had not yet been canonized. Noah, the earth was really flooded? He directs him to keep close to a good education, and particularly to what he had learned out of the holy scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14; 2 Timothy 3:15): Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned. I must do so, if I own Him only in the indispensable truth of His Lordship if I own Him simply as the One that has authority over my soul. Those who would acquaint themselves with the things of God, and be assured of them, must know the holy scriptures, for these are the summary of divine revelation. He brings out the infinite value of the Scriptures, that is of what was written, the one transcendent resource for perilous times when we have not the presence and personal help of apostles. I reply, it is not always in one way that Satan persecutes the servants of Christ. The crumbling away of everything here was before the apostle; and accordingly it is one of the peculiar features of this second epistle, that he brings out that which never can decay which was before there was a world to dissolve namely, that life which was in Christ Jesus before the world began. "Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions." In the second chapter he turns to another theme, he instructs and exhorts Timothy as to communicating (not authority, or status, or gift, but) truth to others. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord" (there must, I suppose, have been some ground for the exhortation), "nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." You're a pilgrim. And a less confession than this God never permitted the church to accept; nor in fact in Jerusalem itself was less ever accepted than the naming the name of the Lord. Here we find the perilous times fairly brought before us. The apostle had a particular reference, doubtless, to his own times; but he has put his remark into the most general form, as applicable to all periods. They still, you know, pay their respects. The first is the moral character of the source or channel whence Timothy had derived what he knew. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. Nor do I at all see that any Christians should be above learning, if others can teach. Their own word would eat as a canker, and do harm to others as well as to themselves, "who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." The most amazing things may happen if he does, for there is a saving wisdom here that is in no other book. Finally, we have his assertion of the blessed Lord's care, and his confidence in Him that He would preserve him from all evil to His heavenly kingdom; closing this solemn and touching epistle (it would seem the last words he wrote) with salutations to various saints. Paul met him on his first missionary journey. "The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." (1) it teaches the only way to the Father is through Jesus; (2) it teaches a morality (a way of life) unpopular with the world; (3) it teaches a miraculous creation, a miraculous end; and a miraculous Savior who was resurrected; (4), Why does the world hate Christians? Word Pictures in the New Testament. But [Paul said] they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as [Jannes and Jambres] also were ( 2 Timothy 3:9 ). But let him not infer, therefore, that he is to be enrolled among the martyrs, and that he is certainly a real Christian. All that will live godly So opposite to the spirit and practice of the world is the whole of Christianity, that he who gives himself entirely up to God, making the Holy Scriptures the rule of his words and actions, will be less or more reviled and persecuted. Observe, As good men, by the grace of God, grow better and better, so bad men, through the subtlety of Satan and the power of their own corruptions, grow worse and worse. There is little likelihood that Timothy will be easily led astray by false teaching. He wants to accustom his mind to expect hardship instead of shirking it. So the Greek word that is used here to describe these that are going around, leading captive the silly women, is the same Greek word that was used to describe quackery, and that's probably they're quacks, Paul is saying. Then the apostle puts before them a blessed model of that which he had before his own soul. Xenophon tells us how Cyrus, the Persian king, defined the alazon ( G213) : "The name alazon ( G213) seems to apply to those who pretend that they are richer than they are or braver than they are, and to those who promise to do what they cannot do, and that, too, when it is evident that they do this only for the sake of getting something or making some gain" (Xenophon: Cyropoedia, 2, 2, 12). Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." Right out of the gate, Second Timothy presents itself as a conservative letter, understanding "conservative" in the most literal sense of the word. They said, Wait a minute, this is the hand of God, we can't, we can't touch this. (3) if we are persecuted, we should carefully inquire, before we avail ourselves of this consolation, whether we are persecuted because we "live godly in Christ Jesus," or for some other reason. There is peril when men assess prosperity by material things. The world just exists, no real goal, no real meaning; you're just existing. Timothy, again, winced under trials, too sensitive to slights, disappointments, and the manifold griefs that came upon him. We live in a fallen world with a spiritual enemy who prowls around as a roaring lion or appears to us as an angel of light seeking to devour, destroy, or deceive us.Jesus clearly told us that in this world, those who believe in Him would suffer persecution and pain, and Paul expands that truth by adding that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977. What is a man well taught in the truth for, if not to communicate his knowledge to others that are faithful, but not equally instructed in the word of God? In other words, you may go along for a while, but ultimately it's going to catch up with you. Is it knowledge, or is it life, that we are trying to transmit? And that is, it doesn't tell us in the Scripture in Exodus that that was their names but Paul gives us their names here, Jannes and Jambres who withstood the truth. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear" (it was what Timothy was manifesting), "but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Living here almost in a Sodom-Gomorrah atmosphere and environment. That is, it is not enough that I should walk with the Lord individually, but I must clear myself of association with that which is contrary to His name. " Rejoice ( present imperative) and be glad ( present imperative ), for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. The sister was persuaded to read a copy of St. John. For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God. The result would often be either that the woman broke off married relationships with her husband in order to live the ascetic life, or that she gave the lower instincts full play and abandoned herself to promiscuous relationships. The closing chapter (2 Timothy 4:1-22) then gives his solemn charge, and at the same time his own expression of what was before him. Do you have a hard time with that? Paul said, you know, what kind of a life I've lived. And leaving guilelessness, will draw near to malice; And forsaking the commandments of the Lord. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise with them: these. And my full doctrinal concepts are premised upon the scriptures. It is able to make us wise to salvation; that is, it is a sure guide in our way to eternal life. But I can't believe what I see in some of these restaurants over here in the Irvine industrial business center. Had the Lord Jesus not sent him? The word is anemeros ( G434) and would be more fittingly applied to a wild beast than to a human being. And that's what creates the problem all the way through. But we must exclude that which is contrary to His name; and the very same desire to prove one's love, one's faith, one's appreciation of Christ, will make one anxious not to be dragged into that which is not for His glory. Bishop Pearson proves the divine origination of Christianity from its success being inexplicable on the supposition of its being of human origin. We must remember that they were Gnostics and that the basic principle of Gnosticism was that spirit was altogether good and matter altogether evil. One must try disorders and prove profession. A man may embrace some absurd opinion, and call it religion; he may adopt some mode of dress irresistibly ludicrous, from the mere love of singularity, and may call it "conscience;" or he may be boorish in his manners, and uncivil in his deportment, outraging all the laws of social life, and may call this "deadness to the world;" and for these, and similar things, he may be contemned, ridiculed, and despised. A whole collection of stories gathered round their names. (See notes Matthew 5:10, 11, 12) It means to follow a person spiritually, not only to understand what he says, but also to carry out his ideas and be the kind of person he wishes us to be. In the former epistle, Timothy was told how to behave in the house of God, as yet in order; but now we are told how to behave in such a state of things as the present disorder. No man is saved unless he is on fire to save his fellow-men. The best way to overcome and to banish the false is to live in such a way that the loveliness and the graciousness of the truth is plain for all to see. by George Whitefield. The man who has exhausted the normal pleasures of life and still unsated, will seek his thrill in pleasures which are abnormal. Now I'm not about to say God was wrong. There was infirmity in the character of Timothy. 3:8-9 In the same way as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men whose minds are corrupt, and whose faith is counterfeit. He was to communicate the things he had learnt of Paul, that they might be able to teach others also. "The foundation of God standeth sure [or, the firm foundation of God standeth], having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. Why does the world hate Christians? 1:15; 4:9-12, 16) and facing imminent execution, Paul wrote to Timothy, urging him to hasten to Rome for one last visit with the apostle ( 4:9, 21 ). In other words, they simply remain in spiritual infancy and keep repeating the first stage of their Christian faith, over and again, without pressing on to spiritual maturity.Many are falsely taught that becoming a Christian will secure a quiet life and provide a ticket to prosperity, with numerous earthly blessings and a free pass from God, to prevent or remove any difficulties or dangers that may arise. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" ( Psalms 34:19 ). It can mean that a man is so bitter in his hatred that he will never come to terms with the man with whom he has quarrelled. Timothy needed to realize, as all Christians do, especially those to whom "prosperity theology" appeals, that when a person determines to live a godly life he or she will suffer persecution.
Eschede Derailment Victims,
Musical Theatre Auditions Brisbane 2022,
George Vanderbilt Net Worth Today,
Mixing Blue And Silver Overtone,
Bootle Times Obituaries,
Articles OTHER
