2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Yea, and - an additional consideration. If Timothy wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter persecution.

That will, [ hoi (G3588) thelontes (G2309)] - 'all whose will is (decided) to live,' etc. So far from being a stumblingblock, Timothy should consider persecution a mark of the pious. So Luke 14:28; Luke 14:33, "intending [ theloon (G2309)] to build a tower ... counteth the cost."

Live godly in (union with) Christ (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21). There is no godliness out of Christ. The world puts up with the mask of a religion which stops short there; but the piety which derives its vigour directly from Christ is as odious to modern Christians as it was to the ancient Jews (Bengel).

Shall suffer persecution - and will not decline it, (Matthew 10:22; John 15:20; Galatians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:3: cf. Sir 2:1 , etc.) Dr. Pearson proves the divine origination of Christianity from its success being inexplicable on the supposition of its human origin. Its doctrine was in no way likely to command success:

(1) It condemned all other religions, some established for ages;

(2) It enjoins precepts ungrateful to flesh and blood-mortifying of the flesh, love of enemies, and bearing of the cross;

(3) It enforces these seemingly unreasonable precepts by promises seemingly incredible; not good things such as afford complacency to our senses, but such as cannot be obtained until after this life, and presuppose what seemed impossible, the resurrection;

(4) It predicts to its followers what would keep most men from embracing it, persecutions.