2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:1 LAST DAYS. As Acts 2:17 indicates, “the last days” began with the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost (see note on 1 Tim. 4:1). Thus Paul’s prediction of TIMES OF DIFFICULTY that will occur in “the last days” is already beginning to be fulfilled. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = doc... [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:2 This list of vices vividly describes the negative impact of those who were opposing Paul and Timothy. The list begins and ends with references to misplaced love. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:5 AVOID SUCH PEOPLE. Do not allow them to be part of the church or support their ministries. Unlike those discussed in 2 Timothy 2:25, the people described here (2 Timothy 3:2) remain stubborn in their sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:6 WOMEN, BURDENED WITH SINS. These women carry guilt from their past. Some seek self-cleansing. They are vulnerable to false teaching about self-denial (see 1 Timothy 4:3). Others seek to justify their behavior. They are vulnerable to false teaching that says that sin i... [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:8 JANNES AND JAMBRES are the names given in early extrabiblical Jewish writings to the Egyptian magicians who OPPOSED MOSES in Exodus 7:8. In these writings, these men symbolize opposition to God’s truth. CORRUPTED IN MIND. Again false teaching is considered bad thinkin... [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:10 Contrasting Timothy with False Teachers. Paul tells Timothy how to resist the false teachers and remain faithful to the gospel. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:11 ANTIOCH, ICONIUM, and LYSTRA are cities Paul visited on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:1). Timothy joined him during his second journey (Acts 16:1). Lystra was Timothy’s hometown (Acts 16:1), so he probably knew of the sufferings that Paul had experienced ther... [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:14 FROM WHOM YOU LEARNED. This could refer to Paul. It may also refer back to Timothy’s mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5; see esv footnote on 2 Timothy 3:14). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:15 TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION. Scripture can lead to the “knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25; 1 Timothy 2:4). It has the power to bring its readers to faith (see James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). False teaching leads only to useless arguments and ungodliness. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 ALL SCRIPTURE, as Paul uses the term here, would include all of the OT and at least some NT writings, which by this time were already considered Scripture (see 1 Timothy 5:18 and note; 2 Peter 3:15 and note). BREATHED OUT BY GOD translates a Greek word that does not... [ Continue Reading ]