2 Timothy 3:1-5

Appeal to Timothy for pure life in view of the worse days and lives to come

The same three thoughts are still in St Paul's mind, viz. (1) his own life's work and suffering now closed, (2) Timothy's life and teaching as the pattern still for other ministers, (3) the false teachers to be shunned and stopped. They are blended in an old man's artless way as each is uppermost, (3) 2 Timothy 3:1-5; (2) 5; (3) 6 9; (2) 10; (1) 10 12; (3) 13; (2) 14 17. But the main central thought anxiety for Timothy comes in, after the others, three times.

The connexion with chap. 2. seems to be: -do your best to win back those who are only in the first stage of opposition (see 2 Timothy 2:25, -those that are setting themselves contentiously"); there will be men ere long too far gone for this in evil living and false teaching; from these there is no help for it but to turn away."