Lipscomb's Commentary on Selected NT Books, Verse 12. ' according to godliness, 1 Timothy 6:3; Titus 1:1; and in all godliness, 1 Timothy 2:2. (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? We should not be any more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,Ephesians 4:14. You're a stranger. 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. The braggart is a swaggering creature, who tries to bluster his way into power and eminence. He was comparatively alone. Paul kept back nothing from his hearers, but declared to them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), so that if it were not their own fault they might fully know it. We should be asking: what, if any, is the unifying purpose which binds all this activity together? When Carlyle's father was discussing the kind of minister his parish needed, he said: "What this parish needs is a man who knows Christ other than at secondhand." Oh I know it costs more but . It is the sign of a man of honour that he pays his debts; and for every man there is a debt to God and there are debts to his fellow-men, which he must remember and repay. Therefore, isolation is never desirable, though it may be sometimes necessary. It instructs us in that which is true, reproves us for that which is amiss, directs us in that which is good. Look at, of course, all of these other things that have come along as the result of it. Perverse Men 2 Timothy 3:2-4 . Now this is in particular a difficulty for saints, when they have revived before the soul the blessedness of maintaining the unity of the Spirit. The moment a man makes his own will the centre of life, divine and human relationships are destroyed, obedience to God and charity to men both become impossible. We must not be afraid of a manifest duty because it has been abused. The Greek for slanderer is diabolos ( G1228) which is precisely the English word devil. Xenophon in the Memorabilia tells how Socrates utterly condemned such impostors. These twin qualities of the braggart and the arrogant man inevitably result in love of insult (blasphemia, G988) . God wants you to be complete. Some of you are separated not by your own desire or wish, but because someone was a trucebreaker. It can sometimes have the meaning of loyalty, or true religion. But of one thing Paul was sure--the days of the deceivers were numbered. (187) And he says this, partly that believers may prepare themselves for submitting to this condition, and partly that good men may not view him with suspicion on account of the persecutions which he endures from wicked persons; as it frequently happens that the distresses to which men are subjected lead to unfavorable opinions concerning them; for he whom men regard with aversion is immediately declared by the common people to be hated by God. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 Commentary | Precept Austin A man can reach a stage when, so far from controlling it, he can become a slave to some habit or desire. Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. Why cannot a man be as simple now as in apostolic times? Men will be thankless (acharistos, G884) . Then the apostle brings out most important directions for the days that were then coming in, but now come, and more. shall suffer persecutionand will not decline it (Ga 5:11). It is undoubtedly true at all times, and will ever be, that they who are devoted Christians - who live as the Saviour did - and who carry out his principles always, will experience some form of persecution. And I will tell you what scriptures are inspired and which ones aren't. How are we to walk so as to please the Lord when disorder reigns, claiming to be the only true order? . Or life, or death, or life after death? The emphasis of so many people is just on being beautiful, lovers of themselves. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Men will be savage. ". "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.". Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. The Christian, the minister, is the man of God. He was wrong on that you know. These things may be expected in the best times, and under the most favorable circumstances; and it is known that a large part of the history of the world, in its relation to the church, is nothing more than a history of persecution. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 3:10-13 The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ, as taught by the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it. Thus the apostle comes to the close of his ministry, and touches upon the line of St. John. The kind of guys that went around selling snake oil or cure-alls, deceiving, defrauding people. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. That is, without any sexual restraints. Rather they are minimum requirements that otherwise suitable people must fulfil if the church is to recognize them as elders or deacons. Ephesus was the town of a prosperous, materialistic civilization; it was the kind of town where a man could so easily lose his soul. And so Paul is warning Timothy of certain things that will be transpiring in the last days. The volume of the book, the Old Testament, it's all about Jesus Christ. Look at the magazines that were once really under the counter kind of stuff and sold illegally. Wow, watch out now because Jesus bought it. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace,Hebrews 13:9. (4.) They must expect to be despised, and that their religion will stand in the way of their preferment; those who will live godly must expect it, especially those who will live godly in Christ Jesus, that is, according to the strict rules of the Christian religion, those who will wear the livery and bear the name of the crucified Redeemer. Look at the lack, lackness. ", Now when you have difficulty in your understanding of a scripture, rather than setting that aside and saying, Well, God really didn't say that; just say, hey, I really don't understand that yet. The devil is the patron saint of all slanderers and of all slanderers he is chief. And as we go down the list, it's like reading the afternoon newspaper. "He read on, forgetful of time, through the hours of the night, and just as the dawn was breaking, he stood up and declared, 'I believe'.". Men would be headlong in words and action. 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. The wickedness of evil people, particularly charlatans, will increase as time passes. From childhood he has been guided by the Scriptures, and his faith in those Scriptures gives him assurance in his salvation (14-15). This is a very striking word. Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy ( 2 Timothy 3:2 ). (2) They who are persecuted for their opinions, should consider that this may be one evidence that they have the spirit of Christ, and are his true friends. (2) they who are persecuted for their opinions, should consider that this may be one evidence that they have the spirit of Christ, and are his true friends. Timothy had a great advantage in being trained up under such a tutor, and being apprised of the doctrine he preached. He must maintain this confidence, knowing that the Scriptures are divinely given and that they are Gods means of instructing people in right belief and right living. But now before his heart just as in principle before the dying Lord Himself, wonderful to say two things come together: a deeper sense of what is in God, as revealed in Christ Himself, before there was any creation at all; and on the other hand so much the deeper sense also of what could be owned in nature. 2 Timothy 3 - Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible - StudyLight.org It was not then an indifferent matter to God. The one was suited to upset the young, the other to beguile the old. 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 ). fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, [and then] lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God ( 2 Timothy 3:3-4 ); The pleasuremania of the United States. It is the ability to accept the folly, the perversity, the blindness, the ingratitude of men and still to remain gracious, and still to toil on. It appears it was not merely in Rome. In short, let us know that we are Christians on this condition, that we shall be liable to many tribulations and various contests. They will be inflated with a sense of their own importance. SEDUCTION IN THE NAME OF RELIGION ( 2 Timothy 3:6-7 ). Socrates skid that they were to be found in every walk of life but were worst of all in politics. Thus we have everything cared for here; the state of confusion is clearly depicted, as it then was beginning, and as results have proved yet more. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? The most amazing things may happen if he does, for there is a saving wisdom here that is in no other book. (iii) The Scriptures are valuable for reproof. I'm just saying, Hey, I am stupid and I lack an understanding. He did not pull down by his living what he built up by his preaching. Marks of Perilous Times; Excellence of the Scriptures. There is that in the scripture which suits every case. There is training. 2. If anyone proposes to accept a set of standards quite different from the world's, he is bound to encounter trouble. At the same time there is the carrying on his full notice of everything found here below that would be a source of comfort to one who anticipated the ruin of Christendom. 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. One of my most unfavorite promises in the Bible. One day a visitor came to the ward and left a supply of gospels. In between there was The Day of the Lord, a day when God would personally intervene and shatter the world in order to remake it. This is a further reason why Timothy should endure hardship and not turn aside from the work God has given him (3-5). He might even seem to be humble; but in his secret heart there is contempt for everyone else. Now what is it that Timothy had so fully known in Paul? The apostle mentions the Lord's delivering him out of them all, for Timothy's and our encouragement under sufferings. 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.
