Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. In the Old Testament they are not named, but they are referred to in Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. The reason is obvious. My wife and I eat out quite a bit. When our Lord was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant, and to go about preaching the kingdom of God; he took all opportunities in public, and more especially in private, to caution his disciples against . If there is no human affection, the family cannot exist. The ancient world set duty to parents very high. Verse 2 Timothy 3:4. The best way to overcome and to banish the false is to live in such a way that the loveliness and the graciousness of the truth is plain for all to see. "That thou hast had good teachers. We've just experienced a tremendous demonstration of that in the Los Angeles basin in the last couple of weeks. As teachers we should sometimes ask ourselves: what am I trying to do with these people whom I teach? The early Church lived in an age when the time was waxing late; they expected the Second Coming at any moment. They worship self instead of God. 2. menin the professing Church. "If religion gives no quarter to vice, the vicious will give no quarter to religion and its professors.". But we have also been supplied with many precious promises which reassure us that His grace is sufficient, His strength is perfected in our weakness, that suffering for Christ's sake is a privilege for the child of God, and that no amount of trials, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword, is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.May we grasp this truth in His strength, and remember that in this world we will have tribulation but that if we fellowship in the suffering of Christ, we will also be glorified with Him Who loved us so much that He died for us, that we might live for Him forever. He said that one isn't inspired; obviously inspired. Closely allied with the braggart, but--as we shall see--even worse, is the man who is arrogant. At the same time there is the carrying on his full notice of everything found here below that would be a source of comfort to one who anticipated the ruin of Christendom. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. In other words, they simply remain in spiritual infancy and keep repeating the first stage of their Christian faith, over and again, without pressing on to spiritual maturity.Many are falsely taught that becoming a Christian will secure a quiet life and provide a ticket to prosperity, with numerous earthly blessings and a free pass from God, to prevent or remove any difficulties or dangers that may arise. It is able to make us wise to salvation; that is, it is a sure guide in our way to eternal life. It's instructing us in righteousness. I am reminded of the prophet of God who spoke concerning Israel, and he said, "They have sown the wind, and now they must reap the whirlwind" ( Hosea 8:7 ). Confirmed that Noah was a real person and it was a real event. But when dying upon the cross, He calls to John to behold His mother. This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. Their falsity would be demonstrated and they would receive their appropriate reward. The Greek for slanderer is diabolos ( G1228) which is precisely the English word devil. But now before his heart just as in principle before the dying Lord Himself, wonderful to say two things come together: a deeper sense of what is in God, as revealed in Christ Himself, before there was any creation at all; and on the other hand so much the deeper sense also of what could be owned in nature. When children are disobedient to their parents, and break through the obligations which they lie under to them both in duty and gratitude, and frequently in interest, having their dependence upon them and their expectation from them, they make the times perilous; for what wickedness will those stick at who will be abusive to their own parents and On account of his opinions, he may be held up to ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from society to which his attainments and manners would otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who might otherwise value his friendship. It is true that these things happened before the young Timothy had definitely entered on the Christian way, but they all happened in the district of which he was a native; and he may well have been an eyewitness of them. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise with them: these. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Observe, The scriptures will make us wise to salvation, if they be mixed with faith, and not otherwise, Hebrews 4:2. A great many certainly flatter themselves that they are thus favoured; but the cases are uncommon where it is more than pretence. (v) Paul makes a final point. Vincente Quiroga of Chile found a few pages of a book washed up on the seashore by a tidal wave following an earthquake. Godly = adv. There were false teachers who were quick to take advantage of that. He tells him further to "hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers, with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears." It was not merely now that they had made their consciences bad and slipped away from faith. (2.) They will maintain the outward form of religion, but they will deny its power. Accordingly, there is a depth of feeling that one may safely say far exceeds the first epistle, although it had shown so much tenderness and care both for Timothy and the faithful of those days. It answers all the ends of divine revelation. These were the names given to the court magicians of Pharaoh who opposed Moses and Aaron, when Moses was leading the children of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt. Each one of these words in the Greek is an interesting word study. Pride always begets insult. Timothy was from Lystra. Noah escaped? This time he was a Christian minister, and it was to the reading of the books that he attributed his change. There is nothing that more shows God than His ability to combine that which is eternal with care for the smallest things of this life. The word is huperephanos ( G5244) . As individuals, we should sometimes ask ourselves: what is our aim in life? I have many scriptures that I don't understand yet. By it we are thoroughly furnished for every good work. 2. And for a person to take advantage of a child is unthinkable. How big is your God? As we know, there may be over it all a certain form of godliness, but underneath it is really wickedness. In 2 Timothy 3:13 he meant that evil becomes more intensive as time goes on. Practical Bible study on 2 Timothy 1. He read the twenty-third psalm from one; the story of the Good Samaritan from another; from another the Sermon on the Mount; from another 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. SEDUCTION IN THE NAME OF RELIGION ( 2 Timothy 3:6-7 ). 3:1 You must realize this--that in the last days difficult times will set in. Verse 2 Timothy 3:1. A word altogether unbecoming in one mouth might be most proper in another. but they deny the power thereof: [Paul said to Timothy] from such turn away. Surely if it is an urgent call to convey what we know of Christ and the truth to those that know nothing, it is a great privilege to help to contribute a greater knowledge of the truth to those that know little. There is teaching. Those who are well instructed in the Scriptures will always be ready when an opportunity arises to do good (16-17).Since Gods servants must give him an account of their service, they should not miss any opportunity to teach the Scriptures, though they must always speak in a manner suited to the circumstances (4:1-2). Things are very much taking this direction of late, and at the present moment. of Again and again Scripture has opened for men and women the way to God. Be assured, that if you do not bring the Spirit of God into these matters, perhaps your cloak, perhaps a book, will become a snare to you. (2) They who are persecuted for their opinions, should consider that this may be one evidence that they have the spirit of Christ, and are his true friends. We should not be any more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,Ephesians 4:14. That persecution which will properly furnish any evidence that we are the friends of Christ, must be only that which is for righteousness sake Matthew 5:10, and must be brought upon us in an honest effort to obey the commands of God. The New Testament had not yet been canonized. He is sure that God will rescue the man who puts his faith in him. The cause of this is the present confusion, and accordingly the apostle brings a picture of it before Timothy's mind. (See notes Matthew 5:10, 11, 12) These were graces that Paul was eminent for, and Timothy knew it. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL I'm afraid that that is also true of us. Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. It would not be accordant with the mind of God. 442.]. (1) To exhort Timothy in his ministry at Ephesus; (2) To warn Timothy of trouble both inside and outside the church; (3) To request Timothy to come to Rome to visit him in prison and bring certain personal effects to him (4:5-13; 21); and (4) To instruct all the churches in Timothy's territory. "Beloved, consider it not strange concerning the fiery trials which are to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you" ( 1 Peter 4:12 ). They did not keep the covenant that they made. Xenophon tells us how Cyrus, the Persian king, defined the alazon ( G213) : "The name alazon ( G213) seems to apply to those who pretend that they are richer than they are or braver than they are, and to those who promise to do what they cannot do, and that, too, when it is evident that they do this only for the sake of getting something or making some gain" (Xenophon: Cyropoedia, 2, 2, 12). The term "godly" (eusebos) means "piously" (Thayer 262-2-2153). In English we usually associate it with insult against God, but in Greek it means insult against man and God alike. Had the Lord Jesus not sent him? "The foundation of God standeth sure [or, the firm foundation of God standeth], having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. Otherwise this might have seemed to be (what unbelief taunts and stigmatizes it, spite of His sanction) pride of heart and presumption. The qualities he lists are not qualifications in the sense that anyone who fulfils these requirements is an elder (for such a person may not have the elder-shepherd qualities outlined above). THE QUALITIES OF GODLESSNESS ( 2 Timothy 3:2-5 continued). Activity of service was no longer before him. 5. I believe that God intended you to have pleasure, but when it comes before God, it means that it has become your God and it makes a very poor God to worship or serve. On account of his opinions, he may be held up to ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from society to which his attainments and manners would otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who might otherwise value his friendship. There was the road from north Asia Minor and from Galatia which came in via Sardis. Didn't you know that's just a myth? There are persons who think that the approach of death is intended to blot out everything here. Truth and holiness and endurance are wanted, not authority or outward order. Fear and timidity will keep us from using the gifts God gives. Men would become lovers of money (philarguros, G5366) . The Kingdom had its price. Timothy had been schooled in the Scriptures from his early youth by his mother and grandmother, and so as Paul began to, with the Scriptures, prove that Jesus was the Messiah, with Timothy's background, he could see the truth of it. You're a stranger. And so Paul, you know, how I've lived; my faith, my longsuffering, my love, my patience, and the persecutions and afflictions that came to me. for reproof, for correction ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ), And how often the word of God has brought correction to my course of life. 10 million Ukrainians without power because of Russia. Still the man has become crude, blasphemous, ranting and raving, a disgrace to Jesus Christ who said, "By this sign shall men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another" ( John 13:34 ). And those who wish to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted; while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceived themselves and deceiving others. Paul completes the story of the things in which Timothy has shared, and must share, with him, by speaking of the experiences of an apostle; and he prefaces that list of experiences by setting down the quality of endurance. shall suffer persecution; it is the will of God, and the appointment of heaven; Christ has foretold it, that so it shall be; and he the head has suffered it himself, and it is necessary that his members should, that they may be conformed unto him; it is the way Christ himself went to glory, and through many tribulations his people must enter the kingdom; and this is the common lot and certain case of all the saints, in one shape or another; for though all do not suffer confiscation of goods, beating, scourging, imprisonment, or a violent death; yet all are more or less afflicted and distressed by wicked men, and are subject to their reproaches and revilings, which are a branch of persecution; and that for professing Christ, and living a godly life in him and under his influence: and since such suffer as Christians, and not as evildoers; and this is the common condition of the people of God, in this world, it should not be thought strange, but be cheerfully endured; to encourage to which is the apostle's view in this passage. Now when Moses appeared before Pharaoh and he threw down his rod and it turned into a snake, you'll remember that Pharaoh's magicians threw down their rods and they also became snakes, but Moses' snake swallowed theirs. Timothy, again, winced under trials, too sensitive to slights, disappointments, and the manifold griefs that came upon him. The Greek word is that men will become anosios ( G462) . At that time Timothy was just a very young boy, probably in his mid-teens and yet he was attracted to Paul the apostle because of the message that Paul bore. Observe, (1.) 1 Paul, a an apostle of Christ Jesus b by the will of God according to c the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,. In the midst of all, he is told to bring the cloak that he left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, but especially the parchments. "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. The doctrine of the necessity of persecution was no new thing to Paul. The disorder might be so great that we might make mistakes in our anxiety; but "The Lord knoweth them that are his." Paul refers to his own experiences to illustrate the truth that the person who whole-heartedly follows God must expect persecution. "To Timothy, my dearly-beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. "And God prepared a great fish and it swallowed Jonah" ( Jonah 1:17 ). ", The Lord said it's "what comes out of the mouth of a man, that defiles a man" ( Matthew 15:11 ). You know, I mean, talk about lovers of selves, look at the advertising. Jambres. Good. He blames the Jews who searched them, because they failed to learn the lesson which they were intended to convey. The true leader gives training in living. Confrontation and conflict become inevitable (cf. false accusers, incontinent ( 2 Timothy 3:3 ). John 15:19; Matthew 10:22; Matthew 10:38-39, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus,. All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise with them: these. There can come a time in a man's life when the company of good people and the presence of good things is simply an embarrassment. They'll say, Crucify him, rather than applaud. 3:14-17 But as for you, remain loyal to the things which you have learned, and in which your belief has been confirmed, for you know from whom you learned them, and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that will bring you salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. There is no part of John's doctrine more strikingly characteristic than life in Christ. There was to be a final show-down with the forces of evil. As Timothy was about to enter upon a new phase of his ministry, without the apostle's presence or living counsel, the latter charges him with great emphasis, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us. 2 Timothy 3:12 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous," the psalmist writes (Psalm 34:19).Peter supplies a partial answer to this in I Peter 4:12: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, as does Paul's statement in II Timothy 3:12: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer . 2 Timothy 3:12 - Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch And then Jesus will come and establish God's righteous kingdom, but by then, those that will remain will be saying, Oh, God help us. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL [Note: Knight, p. Braggart has an interesting derivation. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Paul's life: one of longsuffering, one of love and one of patience. Now though it is infallible, inerrant and inspired, I did make a mistake in my message this morning on the speed of Arcturus; it's twelve thousand miles a second, I think I said twelve million. The braggart is a swaggering creature, who tries to bluster his way into power and eminence. And there's such a complete, total absence of love. 2 Timothy 3 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. This present age was altogether evil; and the age to come would be the golden age of God. But yet it is absolutely unavoidable that all of them shall have the world for their enemy in some form or other, that their faith may be tried and their steadfastness proved; for Satan, who is the continual enemy of Christ, will never suffer any one to be at peace during his whole life; and there will always be wicked men that are thorns in our sides. "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Sets before him his own example, which Timothy had been an eye-witness of, having long attended Paul (2 Timothy 3:10; 2 Timothy 3:10): Thou hast fully known my doctrine. It is well to be exclusive of sin, but of nothing else. It instructs us in that which is true, reproves us for that which is amiss, directs us in that which is good. If, in any manner, or in any way, he is subjected to disadvantage on account of his religious opinions, and deprived of any immunities and rights to which he would be otherwise entitled, this is persecution. human nature began to show itself out in indifference. It is not the question of discipline dealing With evil ways; but here we are in a state of things where we are in danger of being mixed up with vessels unto the Lord's dishonour. Accordingly the apostle reminds Timothy of this. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise." They just are irritated by your love and by your patience and by your goodness because they feel guilty. Such offence can and does happen yet. First and foremost he has an aim in life. All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their Well soon your Bible will be so messed up you wouldn't be able to read it. But [Paul said] they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as [Jannes and Jambres] also were ( 2 Timothy 3:9 ). It opened at the Sermon on the Mount. "He read on, forgetful of time, through the hours of the night, and just as the dawn was breaking, he stood up and declared, 'I believe'.". In all life there is nothing so creative of really productive effort as a clear consciousness of a purpose. Don't start messing with it. And they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles. It is the attitude which bears with everything men can do and refuses to be either angry or embittered, and which will never seek anything but their highest good. Titus, we know, did so; but God took care that it should never be positively stated about Timothy. He was to communicate the things he had learnt of Paul, that they might be able to teach others also. He opened out the pages to make it burn more easily. How comes it so? That is, it is not enough that I should walk with the Lord individually, but I must clear myself of association with that which is contrary to His name. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. She had never tried the Bible, for a friend had convinced her by subtle arguments that it could not be true. "Because ye are not of the world therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19; Matthew 10:22,38,39). He went home and found the fire was out. And as we go down the list, it's like reading the afternoon newspaper. It is the word alazon ( G213) and was derived from the ale, which means a wandering about. In vain shall we endeavor to detach Christ from his cross; for it may be said to be natural that the world should hate Christ even in his members. At any rate the apostle presses this very strongly on Timothy. Judaism had its divine institutions and hopes, but the truth is found in Christendom only: nevertheless in Christendom, who fails to discern Jewish elements and heathenish enormities? The persecutions today may not be the same Paul had to withstand, but persecutions of some type will confront us from time to time. Then in 2 Timothy 3:1-17 he proceeds to show us not merely a picture of the condition that Christianity will fall into, but, besides, a state of things that would be produced by this confusion.