REMEMBER THIS. "I have told you before about the apostasy which is taking place (Ephesians 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7)." THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT TIMES. See note on 1 Timothy 4:1. The entire Christian Age is called the last days in Acts 2:16-17. It does not mean _the last days of the world,_ because T... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN WILL BE SELFISH. Paul uses the word ANTHROPOI which means mankind in general (both men and women), but 2 Timothy 3:6 shows he is thinking especially of the false teachers. The sins mentioned in these verses have always been in the world. The new quality is that these things will be done openly a... [ Continue Reading ]
UNKIND, brutal, inhuman, heartless. _MacKnight_ ties this in with those who are forced to live a celibate life (1 Timothy 4:3 and note), also those who force their children and others into such things. [But _voluntary_ celibacy is an option. See 1 Corinthians 7:1 and note.] MERCILESS. People who, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
TREACHEROUS, even to their own relatives (Matthew 10:34-36). RECKLESS. Headstrong, irrational behavior caused by prejudice and hatred. SWOLLEN WITH PRIDE, so that no one can give them any advice. LOVE PLEASURE. See 2 Peter 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE OUTWARD FORM. The context shows these people are members of the Lord's church (or at least they seem to be). In order to deceive their followers, they put on an outward show of godliness, and perhaps pretend to be "defenders of the Faith." Read what Jesus said in Matthew 23:23-32. BUT REJECT.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GET CONTROL. These sneak into houses and seduce women into false religious practices. Paul does not mean that all women are like this, but those who have an unhealthy sense of guilt and are slaves to evil. They happily accept the false teachings which promise to allow them to sin and still be sa... [ Continue Reading ]
ALWAYS TRYING TO LEARN. This continues 2 Timothy 3:6. These women are always looking for some new thing (compare Acts 17:21). They listen greedily to everyone that comes along, but they never learn anything (of the truth). If truth sets you free, error keeps you a slave (John 8:32).... [ Continue Reading ]
AS JANNES AND JAMBRES. These are the traditional names of Pharaoh's chief sorcerers, who opposed Moses (Exodus 7:11). OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH. Like Elymas (Acts 13:8 and note). Paul must mean that some of these will even do counterfeit miracles and false outpourings of the Spirit to deceive people! See... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY WILL NOT GET VERY FAR. This covers what he has been saying all the way back to 2 Timothy 2:14. Jewish literature says this: "As for the illusions of art magic, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace" (Wis. 17:7)_. Adam Clarke_ says: "False doctrine canno... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU HAVE FOLLOWED. Paul is thinking here of the point in time when Timothy obeyed the truth and become a Christian. TEACHING. See 1 Timothy 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:7 and notes. CONDUCT. Especially the _motivation_ which lies back of it. PURPOSE. The aim or goal of his life. In becoming a Christian, Ti... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSECUTIONS. See 2 Timothy 3:12. Sufferings. "The misfortunes that have come my way." Compare Romans 8:18 and note. YOU KNOW. Timothy was a native of Lystra and knew these things well. See the list in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. BUT THE LORD. He has not deserted His people!!! [We can paraphrase these ver... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL BE PERSECUTED. We could almost say: "God does not want you unless you want him enough to fight for Him!" Persecution makes people evaluate their love for God. Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:3; John 16:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVIL MEN AND IMPOSTORS. This will be true all during the Christian Age, until Christ returns!!! _Impostor_ can mean sorcerer (see 2 Timothy 3:8), and the Devil will COUNTERFEIT the power of God (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). This is another reason why the WRITTEN WORD is so very important. God speaks... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR YOU. "Don't act like these evil men and impostors!" WHO YOUR TEACHERS WERE. "Such as me, an inspired apostle of Christ!... [ Continue Reading ]
EVER SINCE YOU WERE A CHILD. See note on 2 Timothy 1:5. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Since Timothy's parents were Christians, he would have available the Old Testament (the Septuagint in Greek) plus those Christian writings that were already in circulation (Luke 1:1-4). [Matthew may have been written as ear... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL SCRIPTURE. The whole Sacred Scriptures. This statement will cover both the Old and New Testaments. Remember that some of the _gifts from the_ Spirit made it possible to identify those writings that were inspired from those that were not inspired. So there would be no doubt on the CANON (those wh... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT THE MAN. [ANTHROPOS.] This is the same idea as the Lord's servant (2 Timothy 2:22-25). The Holy Spirit _continually inspires_ the Scriptures, not in the sense of giving a new revelation, but in the sense of making the revealed truth a living, vital thing!... [ Continue Reading ]