2 Timothy 3:10-17

Power to Confront the Coming Apostasy

Paul's life stood in contrast to the lives of the false teachers and should have served as an example to Timothy and others around him. His teaching was sound and in accord with the truth (1 Peter 1:21). His goal was to reach heaven, so he remained faithful in keeping the Lord's will (1 Peter 3:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). He was patient with those who he instructed, ever striving to help them reach the goal (1 Thessalonians 5:14). He had a true love for the Lord, his saints and the lost, as was manifest in the things he endured to preach. He remained steadfast in the fight against the devil. All who have read the New Testament will be aware of the persecution and suffering endured because he preached the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). It is apparent that the places and events mentioned by Paul were those Timothy had witnessed firsthand in Acts 13:1-52; Acts 14:1-28. Significantly, Paul says Timothy knew the Lord had delivered him out of every bad situation (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

The forces of Satan are going to oppose the forces of God (John 15:19; Matthew 10:22; Acts 14:22). If we claim to be trying to live a life with God's character being displayed in it and are not being persecuted, then we need to ask ourselves whose side we are really on. Spiritually sick men, like a malignant growth, tend to get worse as the days pass. Guthrie says the meaning here is that they have set a goal to be evil and are making great progress toward their goal. They trick others and themselves into believing they are not really evil (2 Timothy 3:12-13).

To avoid the downward slide into evil, Paul urged Timothy to abide in the things he had been taught. Timothy already had experienced things that would assure him of the truthfulness of the instructions he received. He had learned these truths from his grandmother, mother, Paul and, most of all, scripture (1:5; 3:10). It would not be good to follow grandmother, mother or Paul if they did not point one to the scriptures. However, Timothy had been taught from the inspired writings of the Old Testament from the time he was a child (compare Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Deuteronomy 11:19).

Wisdom, or the ability to apply knowledge, is only available from God and he has placed it in his word. The Old Testament points one to Jesus as God's anointed and the one through whom salvation comes (2 Timothy 3:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

Paul used the word for "scripture" which simply means writing, or, in this case, recorded divine truth. It would include all of the Old Testament books and the fifteen or so New Testament books which had already been written (see 2 Peter 3:15-16). These holy writings are the God breathed out word, or the actual words of God. They are useful in showing God's teaching, correcting of mistakes, restoring us to a right relationship with God and teaching us how to continue to do the things God wants us to do. Guthrie says the word hina, at the start of verse 17, means Paul is going to give the ultimate purpose of the things he had just written. He went on to say the word artios, which is translated perfect, "describes a man perfectly adapted for his task." The word for throughly furnished is another way of expressing the same idea and forcefully underscores the intent of sacred writings, which is to prepare a man to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).