Second Timothy Chapter 3

Godlessness in the Last Days

 

1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

3:1-9

1.     Verses 1-5.  The Return of Christ is a major topic in the New Testament – the Gospels and the Epistles.  “The Last Days” can be understood in two ways:  1) The last “act” in a play, the final “stage” in a process.  In this sense, ALL the time since Pentecost is “the last days.”  2)  The FINAL hours prior to His return.   Some texts probably CAN be understood in both ways, although this one  is likely in the sense of #1.  In verse 2, Paul uses the future tense, but concludes this paragraph in verse 5 in the present tense.  

2.    Verse 6-9.  “Weak women.”   We have little to help us understand why Paul is especially singling out women here.   There is some evidence that religious charlatans (all too common in the Greco-Roman world) especially “targeted” women; Paul may simply be noting that – without suggesting that they are right to so target them.  Or Paul may be suggesting that because of their (typical) lesser education made them more vulnerable (a point often made by Jewish rabbis).  In any case, it’s made more difficult by the example Paul uses – which is of two MEN – whom Paul notes were “corrupted in mind and disqualified in matters of doctrine.” 

3.    As we look at the “cults,” we often find that “cults” do well with people who place considerable value on things spiritual and the importance of such, who have average (not below or above) knowledge of religion (such as Christianity), and who easily “buy into” a concept of authority.  They are people willing to “swallow” what they are fed by one who seems to have great authority.   BEWARE of “teachers” with new doctrine (things no Christian “saw” for 2000 years!), and who present SELF as somehow unaccountable. 

4.    Verse 9.  Some DO get far, unfortunately.  

3:10-17

1.     Verses 10-14.   No, Paul is NOT holding himself up, as such (that would conflict with MUCH that Paul stresses).  But, we DO need to note what the Apostles taught – under Christ.   Where do we learn what the Apostles taught? 

2.    Verse 15-17.   SCRIPTURE is the “rule” (straight edge), the “canon” (measuring stick).  Hold up what is taught to the words of Scripture.   We well versed in Scripture (the WORDS – not adding or subtracting).  Check doctrine to the WORDS found in Scripture. 

3.    Scripture is RELIABLE and useful.  USE it for teaching, for “reproof” (showing to be WRONG), or “correction” and for “training in righteousness” (third  use of the Law).  Paul is telling them – above all – to use SCRIPTURE for this, not simply to swallow whatever we are fed by the one who insists that we do. 

4.    Note that “Scripture” was undetermined at this time – and yet the principle is wise and good!   Look to SCRIPTURE (even though exactly what IS Scripture was not certain).   Paul writes this book in the late 60’s – about the time when the New Testament was quickly coming together, about the same time as Matthew, Mark, Luke,  Acts, James, 1 & 2 Peter were being writing, and one of the last of Paul’s 13, but there was no “set” idea of the New Testament yet.  Such didn’t fully exist for the Old Testament either.  While the content of our 39 was accepted by most Jews (some only accepted the first 5 books), there were some two dozens other books often accepted.  This was not “sorted out” until 90 AD when the JEWS decided – essentially – to toss out all the “extras” and stick with the 39 most Jews accepted.   But that was a JEWISH meeting that it seems most Christians were not even aware of.  As it turns out, the seriously disputed books never really made any difference anyway!   But even in this milieu with it NOT being obvious what IS and IS NOT Scripture, Paul can state this principle.   It is even more sound now – now that the “dispute” is pretty irrelevant (except for the LDS). 

4:1-8