I'm afraid that that is also true of us. Christ's apostles had no enemies but those who did not know them, or not know them fully; those who knew them best loved and honoured them the most. In a measure, no doubt, the truth is in Christendom, and only there; for one cannot look for the truth in Judaism or heathenism now. That Day of the Lord was to be preceded by a time of terror, when evil would gather itself for its final assault and the world would be shaken to its moral and physical foundations. 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. Those who deceive others do but deceive themselves; those who draw others into error run themselves into more and more mistakes, and they will find it so at last, to their cost. He is sure that in the long run it is better to suffer with God and the right than to prosper with men and the wrong. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. The word is propetes ( G4312) , precipitate. This was to reverse the lesson of a risen Christ, and to open the way for all laxity. The New Testament had not yet been canonized. E. F. Brown has pointed out the danger of what he calls "intellectual curiosity without moral earnestness." On account of his opinions, he may be held up to ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from society to which his attainments and manners would otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who might otherwise value his friendship. [1.] And in the end they shall perish together with them." We have the practice and treatment of true Christians: they live godly in Jesus Christ--this is their practice; and they shall suffer persecution--this is the usage they must expect in this world. Job, tell me, have you been beyond the gates of death, do you know what it's about? The scriptures are able to make us truly wise, wise for our souls and another world. Vincente Quiroga of Chile found a few pages of a book washed up on the seashore by a tidal wave following an earthquake. I'm just saying, Hey, I am stupid and I lack an understanding. 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. "Trucebreakers". 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. "If religion gives no quarter to vice, the vicious will give no quarter to religion and its professors.". For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. And so Paul is warning Timothy of certain things that will be transpiring in the last days. And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those that oppose, if perhaps God may give them repentance for acknowledgment of the truth, and they may for his will wake up out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him." They will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. We're going to drown in our own corruption. For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God. He said that one isn't inspired; obviously inspired. It can never cease to be a Christian's duty to maintain the unity of the Spirit; but it is not maintaining the unity of the Spirit to couple with the name of the Lord that which is fleshly and sinful. (2.) If Timothy would adhere to the truth as he had been taught it, this would arm him against the snares and insinuations of seducers. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a Christ-centered approach to expositing each book of the Bible. There are those who shrink from helping on others in order to the work and doctrine of the Lord. We must remember that the scripture of which Paul is writing is the Old Testament; as yet the New Testament had not come into being. But we have also been supplied with many precious promises which reassure us that His grace is sufficient, His strength is perfected in our weakness, that suffering for Christ's sake is a privilege for the child of God, and that no amount of trials, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword, is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.May we grasp this truth in His strength, and remember that in this world we will have tribulation but that if we fellowship in the suffering of Christ, we will also be glorified with Him Who loved us so much that He died for us, that we might live for Him forever. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived ( 2 Timothy 3:13 ). I've never found that in one of those little Bible promise books, I mean, promise things yet. Oh God, I want you to use my life. And this, I apprehend, is the reason. 2 Timothy 3 - Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible - StudyLight.org godly, Godfearingly. In it we find the duties, the qualities and the experiences of an apostle. Whose will is to live, or who are bent on living. Timothy fully knew Paul's good character, which he might gather from his doctrine, manner of life, and purpose; for he gave proofs of his faith (that is, of his integrity and fidelity, or his faith in Christ, his faith concerning another world, by which Paul lived), his long-suffering towards the churches to which he preached and over which he presided, his charity towards all men, and his patience. 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. 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. For example, "37-1-2459" means the reference is on page 37, is in column 1, and is word number 2459.). "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. The apostle well knew that the God who had brought these glorious truths to man, the God that had manifested His grace, had given a witness of their reality in the man from whom he had learned them; and this was meant to have an enduring effect on the conscience and heart of Timothy. Look at, of course, all of these other things that have come along as the result of it. For it is not dogma pure and simple, it is not mere instruction; and we may thank God for it. I am not at liberty of course to leave Christendom, I dare not get out of the great house at all; indeed I cannot (at any rate without becoming an apostate) leave the house of God, however bad its state may be. Paul was a prisoner again and awaited death. And leaving guilelessness, will draw near to malice; And forsaking the commandments of the Lord. That's not the kind of promises we really enjoy, is it? It is the ability not to lose patience when people are foolish, not to grow irritable when they seem unteachable. [Note: Knight, p. One only meets Satan when traveling in an opposite direction! At the same time there is not the smallest slight of the only and abiding standard. The apostle's life was very exemplary for three things: for his doctrine, which was according to the will of God; for his life, which was agreeable to his doctrine; and for his persecutions and sufferings. Jambres. (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. 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). Things are very much taking this direction of late, and at the present moment. In those days trade tended to flow down river valleys; Ephesus was at the mouth of the River Cayster, and commanded the trade of one of the richest hinterlands in all Asia Minor. At the end of each reading, the brigand said: "That's a good book; we won't burn that one; give it to me." The world just exists, no real goal, no real meaning; you're just existing. There were false teachers who were quick to take advantage of that. The word we have translated to be a disciple includes so much that is beyond translation in any single English word. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." That is the inevitable way to ruin, for no man can master anything unless he first masters himself. (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? The Greek word (prodotes, G4273) means nothing less than a traitor. And for this reason we should continue in the things we have learned from the holy scriptures; not that we ought to continue in any errors and mistakes which we may have been led into, in the time of our childhood and youth (for these, upon an impartial enquiry and full conviction, we should forsake); but this makes nothing against our continuing in those things which the holy scriptures plainly assert, and which he that runs may read. Nowadays we have to restate these old pictures in modern terms. 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. A form of godliness, a profession of Christian faith without a godly life . They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. Commentary on 2 Timothy 1:1-14 - Working Preacher Paul said, you know, what kind of a life I've lived. 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. "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'.". Promotions are withheld, invitations are denied, and a snickering unpopularity are the daily portion of many precious souls working in a hostile, atheistic environment. 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. repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. 1 Timothy 3:12 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org But it is asked, Must all men be martyrs? Copyright Statement These files are public domain. And this, I believe, is much to be considered. (See notes Matthew 5:10, 11, 12) The kind of guys that went around selling snake oil or cure-alls, deceiving, defrauding people. shall suffer persecutionand will not decline it (Ga 5:11). Observe, (1.) That persecution which will properly furnish any evidence that we are the friends of Christ, must be only that which is for righteousness sake Matthew 5:10, and must be brought upon us in an honest effort to obey the commands of God. 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. There is faith, complete belief that God's commands are binding and that his promises are true. Paul contrasts the conduct of Timothy, his loyal disciple, with the conduct of the heretics who were doing their utmost to wreck the Church. 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. There is only one test for falsity--"You will know them by their fruits." Vincent, Marvin R., D.D. More and more the Christian is a marked person because the more corrupt the world becomes, the more the Christian stands out. Just to go line upon line, precept upon precept, plodding right straight through the word of God. On his mother's side Timothy was a Jew, although his father had been a Greek ( Acts 16:1); and it is clear that it was his mother who had brought him up. 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. 2 Timothy 3:12 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary - Bible Study Tools At "that day" will be the display of whatever has been endured, as well as done, for the Lord's sake. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. They will be inflated with a sense of their own importance. Far more harm is done from want of thought than almost anything else. Confirmed that Noah was a real person and it was a real event. What we have learned we must labour to be more and more assured of, that, being grounded in the truth, we may be guarded against error, for certainty in religion is of great importance and advantage: Knowing, (1.) But, says the apostle, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 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 ). Next he comes to a more personal need. And as we go down the list, it's like reading the afternoon newspaper. In the last days perilous times will come: The word translated perilous has the idea of troubles, difficulty, and stressful situations. Men would be headlong in words and action. The world is full of these braggarts to this day; the clever know-all's who deceive people into thinking that they are wise, the politicians who claim that their parties have a program which will bring in the Utopia and that they alone are born to be leaders of men, the people who crowd the advertisement columns with claims to give beauty, knowledge or health by their system, the people in the Church who have a kind of ostentatious goodness. There might be a mixture of timid shrinking from pain and shame. 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." And I filed many scriptures in that file. Possibly he did appoint them; but there is no scriptural proof of it. There is peril when men assess prosperity by material things. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Et tous ceux aussi qui veulent vivre en la crainte de Dieu, Que rien ne luy est advenu que tous fideles ne doyvent aussi attendre. It denotes a savagery which has neither sensitiveness nor sympathy. . Accordingly, although they are not exposed to the same assaults, and do not engage in the same battles, yet they have a warfare in common, and shall never be wholly at peace and exempt from persecutions. THE VALUE OF SCRIPTURE ( 2 Timothy 3:14-17 ). Men will be treacherous. They're profitable for doctrine. But yet it is absolutely unavoidable that all of them shall have the world for their enemy in some form or other, that their faith may be tried and their steadfastness proved; for Satan, who is the continual enemy of Christ, will never suffer any one to be at peace during his whole life; and there will always be wicked men that are thorns in our sides. This was to touch the right chord in his heart. He was to remember, then, "that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound." Things were so bad that Tacitus could say: "He who had no foe was betrayed by his friend." Things will get worse as people turn away from those who teach the Scriptures, and listen to those who teach their own theories. For, if we do not believe their truth and goodness, they will do us no good. (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. Titus, we know, did so; but God took care that it should never be positively stated about Timothy. 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. [3.] 2 Timothy 3:12 - Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers, with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears." Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. He wants to accustom his mind to expect hardship instead of shirking it. In other words, there is within the Old Testament so much concerning Jesus Christ that through the understanding and the study of the Old Testament you should logically be led to Jesus Christ. It is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields every point in which religion is opposed to the world. And indeed the world easily wears that mask of religion which depends on itself; but the piety which flourishes directly from, is very hateful, as it was to the old Jews, so to the modern Christians, who are without any token of good, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. 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. Paul's life: one of faith. But I can't believe what I see in some of these restaurants over here in the Irvine industrial business center. And the word perfect of course is always that of completeness. The fact remains that the only place in all the world where we get a first-hand account of that person and of his teaching is in the New Testament. And if you align your life with God, you're going to find yourself out of alignment with the world and persecution will come. 2. To many a man and woman has a little bit of dress done no small injury, just because they think it is too little for the Spirit of God to direct them in. I believe God intended that you should enjoy life.There is nothing wrong with having pleasure. Second, there are the qualities of the apostle. At the same time he shows also his sense of the kindness of a particular individual and his family. It is needful to exercise judgment now. Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands: Many men and women, who would never dream of stealing, think nothing--even find pleasure--in passing on a story which ruins someone else's good name, without even trying to find out whether or not it is true. The task of the apostle is not only to tell men the truth; it is also to help them do it. And why read them anyhow if they're not inspired? As we know, there may be over it all a certain form of godliness, but underneath it is really wickedness. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men." human nature began to show itself out in indifference. 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary - Bible Tools (3.) The page number in Thayer is given, and the column on the page follows the hyphens. I've got a file up here that says, Wait for further information. Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy ( 2 Timothy 3:2 ). Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Paul's life contrasted with the world. In other words, it's not going to get better for awhile. And you will find as God's word becomes a very part of your life and you begin to be guided by the word of God, that God will begin to use you in very exciting ways. It is perfectly true--as we have so often said--that Christianity is not founded on a printed book but on a living person. shall suffer persecution; it is the will of God, and the appointment of heaven; Christ has foretold it, that so it shall be; and he the head has suffered it himself, and it is necessary that his members should, that they may be conformed unto him; it is the way Christ himself went to glory, and through many tribulations his people must enter the kingdom; and this is the common lot and certain case of all the saints, in one shape or another; for though all do not suffer confiscation of goods, beating, scourging, imprisonment, or a violent death; yet all are more or less afflicted and distressed by wicked men, and are subject to their reproaches and revilings, which are a branch of persecution; and that for professing Christ, and living a godly life in him and under his influence: and since such suffer as Christians, and not as evildoers; and this is the common condition of the people of God, in this world, it should not be thought strange, but be cheerfully endured; to encourage to which is the apostle's view in this passage. Now they're right out where little kids can go in and pick them up and leaf through them. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Xenophon in the Memorabilia tells how Socrates utterly condemned such impostors. Few choose to leave behind the elementary teaching about Christ, and press on into maturity.Sadly many believers, although saved by grace through faith in Christ, refuse to move past the elementary principles of the Christian life. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life" (he must be unencumbered, and undivided in his object); "that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. His own desire after going to the Lord did not prevent this, but the reverse: "that I may be filled with joy: when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."