2 Timothy, Chapter 3
© Copyright 2001 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
2 Timothy 3: 1-5
1 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.
When considering the Greek text, what follows
is extremely negative.
As we look around, we must realize that in
these last days "perilous times" shall come.
The days referred to shall be dangerous and
even savage.
The Greek word translated "shall
come" appears in the future indicative form.
It states a fact.
The fact is that these terrible times shall
come.
The fact is that we shall have victory over
that evil because we are in Christ Jesus.
Today, terrorism is no longer limited to
places that are far away.
It is now a local issue no matter where you
live.
Liberal extremist political and social
terrorists in
Some ultra-liberal politicians want to keep
many under a form of social slavery, by keeping them in a stereo-typed cradle
to grace social welfare structure.
Those leaders hate
In
European society is spiritually and morally
bankrupt!
For a few pennies, you can buy a French or
Russian politician.
Many American liberals/Democrats want to
scrap the Constitution and replace it with one that allows socialist rule.
We live in a very scary world! It was
predicted 2000 years ago.
In several places, the Bible speaks clearly
of tempestuous days.
It now seems that we are in them.
Verse two tells us that men shall be lovers
of their own selves (being very selfish), covetous (being fond of money),
boasters (con men), proud (being, arrogant and snobbish), blasphemers (being
sarcastic, and slanderous toward God), disobedient to parents (being defiant
toward their parents), unthankful (ungrateful), and unholy (being corrupt,
depraved, and immoral).
We need not look to
far to find many that fit the description.
In
Being an accused rapist, known liar and
sexual predator are political assets.
Many have worshipped at the feet on these
questionable social values.
Immorality seems to be working on the upward
slope of an exponential curve.
Paul goes on the say that many will be
without natural affection [for their families], trucebreakers (unwilling to
fulfill agreements), false accusers (given to slander), incontinent (without
self-control), fierce (savage), and despisers of those that are good (hostile
toward that which is moral).
This lack of values has been in operation to
some extent during all human history, but they are now epidemic.
We have just been through a political period
in
Men drowning in each of these ungodly flaws
are trotted before us each night on the evening news of major networks as
knowledgeable news reporters.
Those at the top of large corporations now
administer amoral wholesale sex as their marketing tool.
Paul says that in the last days many shall be
traitors (betrayers), heady, (reckless) high-minded (conceited), and lovers of
pleasures (lovers of sexual delights) more than lovers of God (reverent toward
God).
In the last days many will have a form of
godliness, but they shall reject the power of God.
Many today deny God's power to fulfill his
promised salvation.
Some pretend to respect fellow Christians in public,
but privately they rave against those that delight in God's power to keep them
safe.
These may have "Rev." in front of
their names but they are not reverent toward God.
Rev. Barry Lynn come
to mind.
He and his cohorts in spiritual crime are
pretenders!
The Bible tells us to avoid them.
In all this negativity we must remember that
God's plan is being worked out. Our God will let the world go its own way until
His appointed time.
2 Timothy 3: 6-7
6 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.
Some of those mentioned are creeping in,
establishing one-sided fellowships.
They put on what appears to be God's
righteousness.
Indeed theirs is a false righteousness.
They weasel their way into certain
households, and capturing the minds of those that are spiritually dishonest and
burdened down with desires to be approved of God without being obedient to God.
Those captives are led away due to their
various desires for those things that are forbidden.
One of their trademarks is that they are
always studying supposed things of the Spirit, and they are never able to
properly discern the things of God.
“Creep into houses” (v 6) carries an uncanny
likeness to another situation spoken of in the Bible.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were
before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of
our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Those that bring about this devastation
within the Church were ordained to do the damage that they do.
That is a hard lesson to learn.
Jesus told us that this would happen.
Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many.
They come into the Church saying, "Of
course, Jesus is the Christ."
However, they do not tell us that Jesus is
not Lord of their lives.
Do not be surprised at their coming.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Many of these antichrists are standing in the
pulpits of
They spout out their version of the
"bad" news as if it were God's message.
Their words lead to destruction.
So, what should Christians do? Rest in
Christ!
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs,
and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and
wonders; insomuch that, "if" it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect.
They are among us today as they were in days
of old.
I John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have
heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby
we know that it is the last time.
Do not be anxious!
Trust in Christ!
2 Timothy 3: 8 Now as Jannes
and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist
the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Jannes and Jambres were apparently
two of Pharaoh's magicians that resisted Moses with false signs and wonders in
the days of the Exodus (Exodus 7:11).
The names may come from the rabbinical
traditions.
Jannes and Jambres were and are
among many that due to spiritual depravity have opposed and are opposing the
truth of God.
2 Timothy 3: 9 But they shall proceed no
further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Paul told Timothy that those depraved souls
"shall proceed no further."
What does that mean?
The Greek is a word picture of a blacksmith
hammering a piece of metal to its limit, or a night that is coming to an end.
In other words, they have reached the end of
their spiritual enlightenment.
We might say that they have gone as far as
they can go.
The insincere ones are limited because their
lack of desire for true understanding.
"Theirs" refers back to verse 8 and
the two men mentioned there, Jannes and Jambres.
They had attempted to deceive an din turn were deceived.
2 Timothy 3:10-11
10 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.
Paul pats Timothy on the back saying that is
opposition to those that sail spiritually,
"You have fully understood and followed
my doctrine, my way of living, purpose [personal offering to God], faith,
patience, love, ability to stay the course in that face of extreme
opposition."
He reminded Timothy of the persecutions, and
hardships that happened at
Paul proclaimed that while he did indeed
endure those awful times, and in each case the Lord rescued him.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Then, Paul reminds Timothy--and us--that all
who are determined to live godly lives in Christ Jesus "shall" be
persecuted.
2 Timothy 3: 13 But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
However, evil men and imposters
"shall" become more and more corrupt growing in their ability to lead
others astray--and in turn being led further astray from the way of
righteousness.
Look around.
Most comedy writers show a complete lack of
respect and love for their parents and other family members. They are
content to rely on sex and obscenities to make up for the deficient writing
ability.
And, there they are---the American
public---ready willing and able to accept and reward perversions of all
kinds.
It is as if we enjoy being spiritually and
mentally seduced.
2 Timothy 3:14-15
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able
to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
In the midst of all that is evil, we must
continue to do those good and righteous things we have "learned" and
those godly things that were established in our hearts and minds---knowing that
they were taught to us by God through the Holy Spirit.
From his childhood Timothy had known and
understood the Scriptures, to some degree.
The Scriptures contain information that when
activated in one's life is able to add wisdom to one's life skills.
In turn, that wisdom may lead to salvation
through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The scriptures, when applied, have an
intrinsic power to change lives for the better.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
Here is a simple statement of fact: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness."
That cannot be said of all writings, but in
the case of the Bible---there is a nugget of wisdom to be found in each verse.