2 Timothy 3 Pt. 2 Learn To Live A Godly Life Amidst Persecution

Exhortation to godliness and warning against heresy.

2 Timothy 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

We studied Paul's warning about the last days which will be marked by increased depravity and humans acting more like brute animals.

The apostle continues his warning with the following text of scripture. 

Women can be led astray as Eve was in the garden.

2 Timothy 3:6-7  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul refers to false teachers whose arrogance dazzles weaker women. 

Certain women are fooled by false teachers pretending to be sincere and religious men, to the point that they eagerly following them. Eventually, they also become caught up in immorality and false doctrine.

Let women learn quietly to grasp and adhere to right doctrine. 

1 Timothy 2:11-15  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12)  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13)  For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14)  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15)  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. 

What Paul is warning about is also connected to his first letter to Timothy. 

The apostle communicates that women must learn in silence because they are prone to allow emotion rather than theology be their guide. 

Eve was deceived by the serpent and led into denying the truth of what God actually said to them. 

In like manner, certain women can be captivated by false teachers who promise some new or novel experience, or who offer some secret knowledge to reach a higher plane.

Thus, certain women learned from false teachers, but were never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, because false teaching never leads to the truth. 

Although a form of godliness was carefully maintained, yet, they denied the power of godliness. 

They never could bring their minds to the knowledge of the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God has given us everything that we need in the inspired Word of God. Scripture is the grid through which we filter things that we hear, read, or see, so that we follow truth and avoid error.

Egyptian magicians were no match for Jehovah. 

2 Timothy 3:8-9  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9)  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 

Jannes and Jambres are the traditional names of the Egyptian magicians who resisted Moses (See Exodus 7:11-22).  

Their names suggest juggling things by sleight of hand using deceptions such as potent incense. 

They were men whose minds were corrupted by Egyptian idolatry, immorality and worship of the creature rather than the Creator. 

Yet, Jehovah destroyed the Egyptian religion with each plague that He sent. Each "god" of frogs, lice, snakes, the Nile river turned to blood, the sun darkened, or the hail and fire demonstrated the impotence of their gods. 

In like manner, false teachers and the foolish women who followed them, are reprobates, having no faith. 

But they shall proceed no further which means false teachers shall never be able to prevail against the truth, for the foundation of God standeth sure.

Their folly shall be manifest to all because the Scriptures are the only rule of morals and doctrine. God's Word is eternally preserved; and all false doctrines shall be tried by them. 

It is the folly of men to set up their wisdom against the wisdom of God. 

False doctrine cannot prevail as long as the sacred Scriptures are read and studied. Error prevails only where the book of God is withheld from the people.

Man's most advanced wisdom is foolishness in the sight of God. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-21  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20)  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21)  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

Timothy witnessed Paul live a holy life according to the gospel.

2 Timothy 3:10-11  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11) Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 

 Timothy was an eyewitness of Paul living out the gospel.  Timothy had a full understanding of Paul's Holy Spirit guided doctrine, his heart to follow Christ at all times, and his clear purpose to live for God's glory by taking the gospel wherever he could go.

Timothy saw Paul's unshakable faith in Jesus Christ up close, and he witnessed the apostle's respond to many trials and troubles with longsuffering and grace.

The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we will follow it. 

Many professing Christians live loose lives because they do not know the apostolic truth. The enemies of Jesus and His apostles were those who did not believe the gospel and the claims of Jesus Christ. 

Paul lived by the doctrine that he preached  and he kept back nothing from his hearers. He faithfully  declared to them the whole counsel of God (See Acts 20:27)  so that it was their own neglect if they did not know and embrace Divine Truth. 

Timothy had a great advantage of being mentored and discipled by Paul. He knew that Paul's walk with the Lord Jesus Christ matched his teaching and doctrine.

Paul suffered hostility for the sake of the gospel. He was stoned and left for dead at Lystra, but God revived him because He still had work for His apostle to complete. 

Paul expelled from Antioch of Pisidia for the sake of the gospel.  

Acts 13:42-50  And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43)  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44)  And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45)  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46)  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47)  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48)  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49)  And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50)  But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 

Although most of the Jews refused to hear and heed the gospel, the Gentile people were eager to hear more preaching from Paul. 

The apostolic doctrine communicated living truth that stood in great contrast to the man centered idolatry and immorality that they were familiar with. 

Many Gentiles heard the Word preached and were glad, rejoicing that they could be saved from their sins. 

Many were converted to faith in Jesus Christ and began to be His witnesses, telling others the good news.

The Jews were enraged and stirred up intense opposition such that Paul and Barnabas had to leave the city. 

Paul stoned and left for dead after preaching the gospel. 

Acts 14:19-23  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20)  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21)  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22)  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23)  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 

The same Jews who stirred up fierce opposition to Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra when they got word that the gospel was preached there. 

Murder was in their hearts, and they forcibly removed Paul and stoned him, leaving the apostle for dead.

During this very time, Paul's spirit left his body and he saw glorious things in heavenly visions (See 2 Corinthians 12:1-10).

Then, having seen the Father's glory, Paul was revived. The words "he rose up" is the most commonly used Greek word for resurrection. 

It literally means to raise up from the dead, which fits the context that they all thought Paul was indeed, dead. 

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

This is why Paul tells Timothy and all Christians that if we determine to follow hard after Jesus Christ, which we should, we will suffer persecution. 

Again, those who peddle false teaching like the health, wealth and happiness gospel, are leading people into grave error.

Therefore, let us learn from the apostolic truth. 

Let us follow the examples of the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. 

Let us remain faithful until death. 

Let us boldly declare the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us spend time in prayer.

Bob