2 Timothy 3:10-17

WITHSTAND THE APOSTASY 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Text 3:10-17

10 But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, 11 persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all, the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and imposters shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But abide 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 babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, which is in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

Thought Questions 3:10-17

173.

2 Timothy 3:10-11 are given as a contrast to something. What is it?

174.

In what sense had Timothy followed Paul?

175.

What is the difference between conduct and purpose?

176.

Show the distinction between longsuffering and patience.

177.

Give two examples from the life of Paul to illustrate two of the qualities here mentioned.

178.

Why does Paul refer to the persecutions and trials at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra?

179.

What general principle is shown from those specific examples?

180.

If we are not suffering persecutions, is it an indication that we are not living a godly life?

181.

Specify just how the Lord delivered Paul from some of his persecutions. Sometimes he was not delivered. Why?

182.

Why give the promise of 2 Timothy 3:13?

183.

What is meant by the use of the term, abide, as in 2 Timothy 3:14?

184.

Timothy was to trust what he had learned because of those from whom he had been taught. Explain.

185.

In what way could the Old Testament Scriptures make Timothy wise unto salvation?

186.

Is Paul saying that every Scripture is inspired of God; or that only those which are inspired are profitable?

187.

Define in your own words: reproof, correction, instruction, and show how the Scriptures fulfill these purposes.

188.

If the Scriptures will furnish us unto every good work, why use uninspired literature ?

Paraphrase 3:10-17

10 But what I have done for detecting and opposing deceivers thou knowest, who hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose in preaching, fortitude in danger, meekness under provocation, love to mankind, patience under sufferings.

11 Persecutions and sufferings, such as befell me in Antioch (Acts 13:50), in Iconium, (Acts 14:2; Acts 14:5-6), in Lystra, where I was stoned and left as dead (Acts 14:19-20): Such persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord Jesus delivered me.

12 I do not complain of my sufferings, as if I was the only persecuted servant of Christ. All, indeed, who wish to live godly in the Christian Church, shall be persecuted in this age.
13 Now the wicked teachers and sorcerers, of whom I speak, who by false miracles seduce the people, will for a while wax worse and worse, deceiving others, and being deceived themselves, till they are stopped.
14 But, instead of acting like these wicked teachers, continue. thou in the belief of the things which thou hast learned, and with which thou has been instructed, knowing from whom thou hast learned themeven from me, an inspired apostle;
15 And that from thy childhood thou hast known the sacred Scriptures, which having foretold the doctrine, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ, exactly as they have come to pass, are able to make thee wise to salvation, by confirming thee in the faith which hath Christ Jesus for its object.
16 I am calumniated as contradicting Moses and the prophets, but I believe, that the whole sacred Scripture is divinely inspired, and is profitable for teaching the doctrines of the Gospel, for confuting those who err therefrom, for correcting those who sin, for instructing all in righteousness;
17 That the Christian minister, by the light derived from the Jewish revelation, may be perfect in the knowledge of the things he is appointed to teach, and thoroughly fitted for discharging every part of the good work he is engaged in.

Comment 3:10-17

2 Timothy 3:10. In contrast to the evil workers, is God's faithful servant Timothy. Paul, in this section, wishes to offer encouragement in the face of very difficult times; this is accomplished for Timothy by a reference to Timothy's conversion. Paul says, in effect: You are not like these false teachers, for you have followed not in error, but in truth. Such truth was heard and observed through my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience. We shall discuss each of the qualities in order, as they relate to Paul in his association with Timothy: (1) teachingThe message of Paul was accepted by Timothy for what it was in truththe Word of God. Timothy followed it in the sense that he made it a part of his life. The teachings of Paul, like those of the Old Testament Scriptures, were to Timothy God's light on his pathway of life. They not only gave him direction in life, but illumination on the way. (2) conductThis refers to manner of life, or general demeanor. What was Paul's manner of life? He said, For me, to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21). The same dedication to the will of God, the same surrender of all the powers of body and mind as found in our Lord, were also found in Paul. Timothy was attracted by, and to, such a conduct. Paul is now saying, Stay with it! (3) purposePaul's Master's passion was to preach the Gospel. To this purpose, Christ had called and commissioned him, and to this vision he was never disobedient. What greater purpose could Timothy have? (4) faithThe faith here mentioned could be equated with faithfulness, but it probably refers to Paul's belief or trust in God's revelation. This confidence, if held by Timothy, would fortify him against error and sin. (5) longsufferingPaul indeed suffered long at the hands of Gentiles, as well as his own nation. If Timothy is so to suffer, he will know how to conduct himself. (6) lovePaul's love was the kind he described in I Corinthians, the 13th chapter. The selfless devotion of the apostle stands out on every page of the record of his life. (7) patienceThis word could also be translated, steadfastness. Without the power to endure, other qualities lose their fruit before it is ripe. In due season we shall reap, if we faint not, seemed to be the hallmark of Paul's work.

2 Timothy 3:11. (8) persecutionsThe particular opposition was that which was endured on the first missionary journey in the home town of Timothy. Timothy knew of the efforts of the evil one to defeat Paul's work. The details of such efforts are not known to us, but they were to Timothy. A reading of Acts, Chapter s 13 and 14, will help in our understanding. (9) sufferingsWas Timothy present at any of the five beatings of the Jews? Did Timothy hear from the lips of the apostle the particular details of the perils in rivers, or perils among robbers? What were the perils in the city, as contrasted with the perils in the wilderness?

The things which befell Paul in Lystra and Iconium, as well as in Antioch, were of particular knowledge to Timothy. What tender scenes of Paul's devotion were in the memory of this beloved child in the faith? Was Timothy one of those who stood around to see Paul stoned? The fearful scene in Lystra, when Paul was stoned and left for dead, the young disciple had probably himself witnessed (Harvey).

This recital of suffering is all given for a purpose: Timothy was about to face similar difficulty. When he called to heart and mind the sufferings of his beloved father in the faith, most especially his suffering in the early days of Timothy's Christian life, he would be strengthened to also rejoice in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh steadfastness (Romans 5:3).

In what sense could Paul say, and out of them all, the Lord delivered me? He was not delivered from beatings, for he was beaten; he was not delivered from jail, for he was thrown into jail. Paul is not saying, God will deliver us from suffering, but he is saying, He will give us the strength to endure it, We are not delivered from such suffering, but out of them. He has never forsaken His own,

2 Timothy 3:12. Out of Paul's personal experience comes this general principle. The Christian is at war with the spirit of this present age. We can expect opposition if we are aggressively living for Christ. We cannot hope to live a holy life, except by vital union with Christ Jesus. But as we can be certain of the strength received by fellowship with Christ, so we can expect the hatred. misunderstanding, and persecution of the world. If we continue in a comfortable life with little or no opposition, we should re-evaluate our efforts to live for Him. If we have so adapted ourselves to the spirit of this present age of materialism and sensuality that we suffer no opposition, then we are no better than Lot in Sodom; indeed, we are worse!

2 Timothy 3:13. As the godly increase in their efforts to live for Christ, so do evil men increase in their efforts to live for Satan. The evil men and imposters could quite as literally be called evil men and sorcerers, or magicians. Sin is never static. This verse describes the effects of sin and error in the heart of the sinner or errorist. Such men make great and rapid progress in the direction of evil; they advance in the direction of the worse. This is the natural tendency of evil. It has within it the power of Satanic life. It will grow from bad to worse if given any encouragement. But sinners have within themselves their own punishment. Living in an element of deceit, they come to be themselves deceived. Deception always involves self-deception (De-Wette). This is the inexorable law of our moral being: he who perverts the truth, in the very act destroys his own power to see the truth, and opens his soul to the influx of error (Harvey).

2 Timothy 3:14. The only safeguard against error is to be actively engaged in the promotion of the truth. Timothy need have no fear of being deceived while he abides in the teaching of the revealed truth. Timothy did more than to mentally assent to the truthfulness of Paul's message; he learned in such a manner as to be able to teach others; but not only so, he was fully persuaded within. Timothy obtained conviction from his learning. Until one is ready to commit his life to the teachings, he does not have the conviction necessary to labor as he should. Such conviction possessed Timothy; he was fully assured.

The source of such conviction is ultimately the Sacred Oracles; but they are communicated through persons. There is disagreement as to what person, or persons, are meant in 2 Timothy 3:14 b. Some would relate the expression of whom thou hast learned them to Paul, but others refer it to Timothy's mother and grandmother. It does seem like the latter opinion fits the context better.

2 Timothy 3:15. Here is the true source of Timothy's steadfastness. How young was Timothy when he began his study of the Sacred Writings? The Word, a babe refers to the earliest years of childhood. The Jewish children were taught the Scriptures by memorizing them as soon as they could speak. Rabbi Judah says: -The boy of five years of age ought to apply to the study of the Sacred Scriptures-' (Harvey). Timothy learned his ABC'S from the Old Testament. This was not without instruction as to their meaning and application to life. Reasons for accepting the Sacred Writings for what they claim to be, are abundant within the writings themselves. Timothy first believed the writings were from God, and then he found within them the blessed boon of salvation through the promised Messiah. When Paul came to Lystra to point out the fulfillment of all promises in Jesus of Nazareth, Timothy found salvationthe end of the law.

2 Timothy 3:16. Here is the objective fact drawn from Timothy's experience. Here is a principle for all men of all time and circumstance.

Which translation shall we accept? Should this verse read: (1) Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable, or (2) Every Scripture is inspired of God and profitable. We like the expression of Lenski on this question: The one is just as correct as the other, as far as the Greek is concerned; and the meaning is exactly the same save for the insignificant shifting of the capula. (Ibid. p. 810.)

What does Paul say of the Scripture? (The Old Testament Scriptures, in particular.) He says five specific things: (1) It is inspired, or God breathed. (2) It is profitable for teaching. (3) It is profitable for reproof or rebuke of sin. (4) It is profitable for correction of sin and error. (5) It is profitable for instruction or discipline in righteousness. We shall give, in order, a brief discussion of each of these five points.
(1) Every Scripture is God breathed. The expression, Scripture, is used more than fifty times in the New Testament, in either the singular or plural form, to refer to the Old Testament as received and used by the Jews in the days of the Apostles, How shall we understand the use of the word, every? We refer it to every portion of the Scripture as being inspired.

(2) It is profitable for teaching. The important element in teaching, is content, The Scriptures provide God breathed information to the teacher. He has the joy and awesome privilege of enlightening the mind and heart concerning what God has spoken.

(3) It is profitable for reproof. Once the Scriptures are accepted as God's Word, then we can be corrected thereby. All that is wrong can be removed. A conscience is developed and conviction stirred.

(4) It is profitable for correction. This is not repetitious of the preceding. Reproof refers to conscience and conviction; correction refers to information and alteration. The Scriptures furnish the divine norm, or standard, whereby we can measure our lives and teaching.

(5) It is profitable for instruction. The word, instruction, is also translated discipline. For -training,-' Scripture trains, or educates, by guiding and inspiring the soul in holiness and right living. It is the manual of spiritual education (Harvey).

2 Timothy 3:17. After considering the accomplishments of the inspired Scriptures, this verse seems a rather inevitable conclusion.

The Scriptures accomplish two glorious ends: (1) They equip the Christian in every area of life, What are the words of men when compared to the heaven-sent Word of God? When the teacher has taught himself in all the four areas specified in 2 Timothy 3:16, he is indeed complete. The Scriptures provide the means for creating the whole man. Psychologically and philosophically, the Scriptures give a coherence to life nothing else can provide.

(2) Once the man of God is one, or is a whole man, then he can use what has made him whole to accomplish this same wholeness in others.

Fact Questions 3:10-17

125.

When, where, and how did Timothy follow Paul, as indicated in 2 Timothy 3:10?

126.

Of the nine particulars in 2 Timothy 3:9-10, define four of them.

127.

What was the purpose in the record of Paul's suffering, as given here?

128.

In what sense had God delivered Paul from his persecutions?

129.

Some people in our day are worse off than Lot in Sodom. Who are they?

130.

Explain the expression that sinners have within themselves their own punishment.

131.

What is the only safeguard against error?

132.

Timothy did something more than to merely assent to the truth. What was it?

133.

What were the immediate and ultimate sources of Timothy's conviction?

134.

How young Was Timothy when he began to learn of the Old Testament? Wasn-'t this too young? Many say the Old Testament is too difficult to understand.

135.

In what sense did the Old Testament make Timothy wise unto salvation?

136.

Explain in your own words the fourfold profitableness of the inspired Word.

137.

Do you believe a secular education equips one for living, in a way the Scriptures do not? Explain and discuss.