The woman protests that she has never done so and cannot do so. This again has stumbled the minds of men. One day they said to Jesus, Show us a sign. The New Testament had not yet been canonized. (1.) Introduction; 2 Timothy 1 Commentary; Turning to the SECOND EPISTLE, we find that, although there is the same grand truth of the Saviour God maintained, the state of things had become sensibly worse, and the hour for the apostle's departure from the world was drawing near. The reason is manifest: they themselves savour of the things of men, and not of God. Such is the perversity of sin. Nothing can sanction this. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1930. His own desire after going to the Lord did not prevent this, but the reverse: "that I may be filled with joy: when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." If Timothy would adhere to the truth as he had been taught it, this would arm him against the snares and insinuations of seducers. Ephesus was the town of a prosperous, materialistic civilization; it was the kind of town where a man could so easily lose his soul. (See notes Matthew 5:10, 11, 12) The Greek for slanderer is diabolos ( G1228) which is precisely the English word devil. I have many scriptures that I don't understand yet. Compare the catalogue, Ro 1:29, &c., where much the same sins are attributed to heathen men; it shall be a relapse into virtual heathendom, with all its beast-like propensities, whence the symbol of it is "a beast" (Re 13:1, 11, 12, &c.; 17:3, 8, 11). There is love. Timothy's job, for the sake of the future, involves more preservation than innovation. In a measure, no doubt, the truth is in Christendom, and only there; for one cannot look for the truth in Judaism or heathenism now. It can mean that a man is so bitter in his hatred that he will never come to terms with the man with whom he has quarrelled. "To make thee wise to salvation through faith." For, if we do not believe their truth and goodness, they will do us no good. He must maintain this confidence, knowing that the Scriptures are divinely given and that they are Gods means of instructing people in right belief and right living. They claimed that their children learned the law even from their swaddling clothes and drank it in with their mother's milk. 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. Ephesus was called "The Treasure-house of the ancient world," "The Vanity Fair of Asia Minor." This was always the becoming tone; but now it is imperiously necessary, as well as wise and good. "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. I can base my beliefs upon what God has said because it is indeed God's word.I have great difficulty with these people who develop doctrines that are contrary to what Jesus said, as though they understand more than Jesus about what's happening in the future. The adjective used is philautos, which means self-loving. And in the end they shall perish together with them." Paul kept back nothing from his hearers, but declared to them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), so that if it were not their own fault they might fully know it. (187) And he says this, partly that believers may prepare themselves for submitting to this condition, and partly that good men may not view him with suspicion on account of the persecutions which he endures from wicked persons; as it frequently happens that the distresses to which men are subjected lead to unfavorable opinions concerning them; for he whom men regard with aversion is immediately declared by the common people to be hated by God. The wickedness of evil people, particularly charlatans, will increase as time passes. Paul instructed Timothy concerning what God had revealed would take place in the last days. "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 ). It is needful to exercise judgment now. In those days trade tended to flow down river valleys; Ephesus was at the mouth of the River Cayster, and commanded the trade of one of the richest hinterlands in all Asia Minor. . Possibly he did appoint them; but there is no scriptural proof of it. She had never tried the Bible, for a friend had convinced her by subtle arguments that it could not be true. 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. Or it can mean that a man is so dishonourable that he breaks the terms of the agreement he has made. Closely allied with the braggart, but--as we shall see--even worse, is the man who is arrogant. Then are we Christ's disciples indeed, John 8:31. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? The scriptures are able to make us truly wise, wise for our souls and another world. 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. But let not a man who will do this, suppose that he has any claim to be numbered among the martyrs, or even entitled to the Christian name. In Greek writings these two words often went together; and they are both picturesque. But God prepares the instruments through which He works and the most important preparation is through the Word of God. He might even seem to be humble; but in his secret heart there is contempt for everyone else. And leaving guilelessness, will draw near to malice; And forsaking the commandments of the Lord. And the word perfect of course is always that of completeness. shall suffer persecutionand will not decline it (Ga 5:11). 4. Amidst all the stories one fact stands out--Jannes and Jambres became legendary figures typifying all those who opposed the purposes of God and the work of his true leaders. 2 Timothy 3:12, CSB: In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Look at, of course, all of these other things that have come along as the result of it. It is not merely what had been preached, but what is in a permanent shape for the good of the saints of God here below, which elicits the remarkable assertion of its peculiar worth. We have sown the wind, now we're going to reap the whirlwind. He opened out the pages to make it burn more easily. And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those that oppose, if perhaps God may give them repentance for acknowledgment of the truth, and they may for his will wake up out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him." Only Luke is with me." In the Testament of Issachar, one of the books written between the Old and the New Testaments, we get a picture like this: "Know ye, therefore, my children, that in the last times. Whether Timothy made it to Rome before Paul's execution is not known. If anyone proposes to accept a set of standards quite different from the world's, he is bound to encounter trouble. It is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16), and therefore is his word. 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. They were never meant to be anything else but visions; we do violence to Jewish and to early Christian thought if we take them with a crude literalness. The nature of its doctrine was no way likely to command success: (1) it condemns all other religions, some established for ages; (2) it enjoins precepts ungrateful to flesh and blood, the mortifying of the flesh, the love of enemies, and the bearing of the cross; (3) it enforces these seemingly unreasonable precepts by promises seemingly incredible; not good things such as afford complacency to our senses, but such as cannot be obtained till after this life, and presuppose what then seemed impossible, the resurrection; (4) it predicts to its followers what would seem sure to keep most of the world from embracing it, persecutions. That Day of the Lord was to be preceded by a time of terror, when evil would gather itself for its final assault and the world would be shaken to its moral and physical foundations. Practical Bible study on 2 Timothy 1. Now what is it that Timothy had so fully known in Paul? ". But the apostle remembered it all, felt deeply for if not with him, and greatly desiring to see him once more. Narcissism is at an all-time peak, but with lovers of yourself comes. Paul contrasts the conduct of Timothy, his loyal disciple, with the conduct of the heretics who were doing their utmost to wreck the Church. For example, "37-1-2459" means the reference is on page 37, is in column 1, and is word number 2459.). Verse 1. 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." She had waded through book after book and laboured with philosophy after philosophy in an attempt to find satisfaction. Salem Media Group. In the Old Testament they are not named, but they are referred to in Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. (v) Paul makes a final point. But no man ought to separate himself from the children of God, unless it be a dire necessity for the Lord; it is clearly not according to Christ. The man who is anosios ( G462) offends against the fundamental decencies of life. At any rate the apostle presses this very strongly on Timothy. Again and again Scripture has opened for men and women the way to God. In the light of this warning from the Saviour, no Christian should be surprised at persecution. (3.) They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. 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. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977. The moment a man makes his own will the centre of life, divine and human relationships are destroyed, obedience to God and charity to men both become impossible. A true insight would have made them recognise in Jesus the Messiah for whom they waited. The word here is makrothumia ( G3115) ; and makrothumia, as the Greeks used it, usually meant patience with people. I'm just saying, Hey, I am stupid and I lack an understanding. It is able to make us wise to salvation; that is, it is a sure guide in our way to eternal life. How big is your God? Originally the alazon ( G213) was a wandering quack. When the Lord was entering on His ministry He says, "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" "He devotes himself specially to women, and those such as are well-bred, and elegantly attired, and of great wealth." he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me." We find a precisely similar kind of combination in Paul. Things are very much taking this direction of late, and at the present moment. Now we see that when Paul was touching the confines of that difficult and most perilous moment when John was to be left alone, he brings out as his last note that very truth which John was to develop with special care and fulness. Take what is called physical Christianity a stupid, gross, and heathenish phrase, but just enough to show where people are drifting to. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men." In it we find the duties, the qualities and the experiences of an apostle. How is a man to walk in such a state of things as this? There are still Church dignitaries whose main thought is their own dignity; but the Christian is the follower of him who was meek and lowly in heart. Socrates skid that they were to be found in every walk of life but were worst of all in politics. human nature began to show itself out in indifference. As far as appointment went, Titus had a commission to establish elders in each city of Crete; but not so Timothy, as far as the inspired records speak. Just to go line upon line, precept upon precept, plodding right straight through the word of God. Aspondos ( G786) can mean two things. 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.". In these terrible days men will be slanderers. It was the common lot of all who endeavored to serve their Redeemer faithfully; and Timothy himself, therefore, must not hope to escape from it. 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 We are not meant to titillate our minds with the latest intellectual crazes; we are meant to purify and strengthen ourselves in the moral battle to live the Christian life. Oh, Jesus, you mean you believe that story? 3:10-13 The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ, as taught by the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it. In certain of these books Jannes and Jambres figured largely. Paul refers to his own experiences to illustrate the truth that the person who whole-heartedly follows God must expect persecution. For he does not say Jesus Christ simply in. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." The words that finally decided me were those in John 18:37: 'For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. (3) If we are persecuted, we should carefully inquire, before we avail ourselves of this consolation, whether we are persecuted because we live godly in Christ Jesus, or for some other reason. The final condemnation of these people is that they retain the outward form of religion but deny its power. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. What we have learned we must labour to be more and more assured of, that, being grounded in the truth, we may be guarded against error, for certainty in religion is of great importance and advantage: Knowing, (1.) A man can reach a stage when, so far from controlling it, he can become a slave to some habit or desire. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear" (it was what Timothy was manifesting), "but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Trench, Richard Chenevix, D.D.
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