2 Timothy 3:1-17

SECTION 3. Those Who Are Truly the Lord's Must Equip Themselves Accordingly, Especially In View Of The Grievous Times That Are Coming (2 Timothy 2:19 to 2 Timothy 3:17).

Having called on him to endure hardness and suffering, Paul now calls Timothy to a life of holiness and establishment in the truth according to the Scriptures. Those who would serve the Lord are to rest secure in the fact that He knows them, and are to purify themselves, and look to the Scriptures, so that they are prepared and furnished unto every good work (2 Timothy 2:21; 2 Timothy 3:17). This involves fleeing from the temptations of the flesh and mind (Ephesians 2:3) and following the way of righteousness, faith, peace and love along with all who call on the Name of the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22), just as he has (2 Timothy 3:10), rejecting foolish ideas out of hand, and seeking gently to restore any who have strayed from or come short of the truth (2 Timothy 2:22; 2 Timothy 3:6) and have been deceived (2 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 3:13). For grievous times are coming when true godliness will be thrust aside (2 Timothy 3:1), and foolish men and women who are led astray will indulge in unsavoury desires (2 Timothy 3:6), which will in the end only bring them to a standstill (2 Timothy 3:9). Meanwhile Timothy is to follow the example of Paul, revealing faith, longsuffering, love and patient endurance, and enduring persecutions and sufferings like he had, for these are the lot of all who will live in a way that is pleasing to God (2 Timothy 3:10). Realising that evil men and impostors will only ‘wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived' (2 Timothy 3:13) he must ensure that he himself is firmly grounded in the Scriptures, and thus be furnished to every good work (2 Timothy 3:13).

Overall Analysis.

a The Lord's foundation is sure, being sealed by the fact that the Lord knows those who are His, and that such people who name the Name of the Lord must depart from iniquity, for God's vessels are to keep themselves pure, and by purging themselves from all that is false and unclean, must be vessels which have an honourable use, set apart as holy to God and suitable for His use, being ‘prepared for every good work' (2 Timothy 2:20).

b This involves fleeing from youthful desires (2 Timothy 2:22 a).

c And following righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with all who call on God out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22 b).

d Rejecting foolish questionings which only produce strife (2 Timothy 2:23).

e And gently seeking to lead back to the truth those who have gone astray, as the Lord's servant making them captive to the will of God, or as a result of being ‘taken alive' by the Devil (2 Timothy 2:25).

f For grievous times are coming when men will fully let loose what they are as evidenced by their sinful lives, while justifying it in the name of false religion (2 Timothy 3:1).

e This will include those who are taken captive by men who creep into their houses and lead them astray (2 Timothy 3:6).

d And those who withstand the truth as Pharaoh's magicians withstood Moses (2 Timothy 3:8).

c Timothy is therefore to follow Paul's example of faith, longsuffering, love and patient endurance, recognising that he and all who would live godly live must endure persecutions and suffering like Paul did, while evil men will get worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:10).

b For evil men and impostors will get worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13).

a But Timothy is to abide in the truth, looking to the Scriptures, and becoming a man of God ‘completely furnished unto every good work' (2 Timothy 3:14).

Note how in ‘a' the honourable vessel is to be prepared unto every good work while in the parallel Timothy is to be completely furnished unto every good work. In ‘b' he is to flee from youthful desires, in contrast in the parallel with those who get worse and worse. In ‘c' he is to follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace, and in the parallel follows Paul's teaching and ways, faith, longsuffering, love and patient endurance. In ‘d' he is to reject foolish questionings and strife, and in the parallel describes Pharaoh's magicians who attacked Moses' with foolish questionings and strife (Exodus 7:11; Exodus 7:22 compare Exodus 8:18 when they ceased questioning). In ‘e' he is to gently seek to lead back to the truth those who have gone astray, as the Lord's servant making them captive to the will of God, and in the parallel Paul describes those who have been taken captive by false teachers and have been led astray. In ‘f', and centrally, is the warning of the grievous times that are coming.