In the light of this warning from the Saviour, no Christian should be surprised at persecution. First and foremost he has an aim in life. And the comfort is that, if prepared to cleave to the will of the Lord alone, we shall have, through His grace, fellowship with the true-hearted. He read them and never rested until he obtained the rest of the Bible. We must note that Paul here makes a distinction. 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. (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. 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. McLean, Virginia: MacDonald Publishing Company, n.d. Wuest, Kenneth S. Wuests Word Studies From the Greek New Testament. Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics, 7: 2) defined the alazon ( G213) as "the man who pretends to creditable qualities that he does not possess, or possesses in a lesser degree than he makes out." "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The history of the Christian Church teaches us that falsity cannot live. And he embraced Christianity, but he was probably standing there in Lystra when the people in the city stoned Paul until they thought he was dead and dragged him out of the city. Their falsity would be demonstrated and they would receive their appropriate reward. And come up a hundred days later and be deposited at a port. In 2 Timothy 3:9 he meant that the teaching of evil does not necessarily become more extensive and capture a wider audience as evil becomes worse. Socrates skid that they were to be found in every walk of life but were worst of all in politics. 4. The reason is obvious. [3.] "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.". He would not have him to be spreading doubtful opinions; but what he had heard from the apostle himself he need not scruple to give out freely. Paul "the aged," as he says, was just about to leave this world. But shun profane and vain babblings.". Just to go line upon line, precept upon precept, plodding right straight through the word of God. We have already seen that that teaching issued in one of two things. So I become the authority if I make such an affirmation to you. 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. They had been long accustomed to the truth, and alas! for it is evident that there have been many godly persons who have never suffered banishment, or imprisonment, or flight, or any kind of persecution. Quite a promise, isn't it? And that quality of conquering endurance is necessary, because persecution is an essential part of the experience of an apostle. [2.] What Paul is thinking of here is more than faithlessness in friendship--although that in all truth is wounding enough--he is thinking of those who to pay back an old score would inform against the Christians to the Roman government. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. THE VALUE OF SCRIPTURE ( 2 Timothy 3:14-17 ). 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). We've just experienced a tremendous demonstration of that in the Los Angeles basin in the last couple of weeks. 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. A word altogether unbecoming in one mouth might be most proper in another. This I cannot but consider as a proof of want of faith. godly, Godfearingly. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1977. Have you ever seen an age when people were more conscious of their own selves? But the condition of the believers had deteriorated. (2.) It may well be a proof of Timothy's courage and consecration that he had seen very clearly what could happen to an apostle and had yet not hesitated to cast in his lot with Paul. Christian life is a life of purpose. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? When we are tempted to do so, we should hear again the voice of our blessed Lord saying on the Cross: "Father, forgive them.". (1.) Accordingly, although they are not exposed to the same assaults, and do not engage in the same battles, yet they have a warfare in common, and shall never be wholly at peace and exempt from persecutions. Some of you are separated not by your own desire or wish, but because someone was a trucebreaker. It may be that, since we are only human, we cannot live entirely without differences with our fellow-men, but to perpetuate these differences is one of the worst--and also one of the commonest--of all sins. (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. He was wrong on that you know. Abandoned by virtually all of those close to him for fear of persecution (cf. The age of children is the age to learn; and those who would get true learning, must get it out of the Scriptures. The man who is huperephanos ( G5244) , said Theophrastus, has a kind of contempt for everyone except himself. The sister was persuaded to read a copy of St. John. (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. It would all be over, where, you know, the miseries would all be gone.What's the first thing God said to Job? There is peril when men assess prosperity by material things. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Timothy's job, for the sake of the future, involves more preservation than innovation. One only meets Satan when traveling in an opposite direction! They said, Wait a minute, this is the hand of God, we can't, we can't touch this. So the Greek word that is used here to describe these that are going around, leading captive the silly women, is the same Greek word that was used to describe quackery, and that's probably they're quacks, Paul is saying. Blasphemia is the word which is transliterated into English as blasphemy. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Et tous ceux aussi qui veulent vivre en la crainte de Dieu, Que rien ne luy est advenu que tous fideles ne doyvent aussi attendre. 2 Timothy 3:12, NASB: Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (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. But they do enshrine the permanent truth that some time there must come the consummation when evil meets God in head-on collision and there comes the final triumph of God. It is as if he said to them: "You have been well warned." Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution - Paul takes occasion from the reference to his own persecutions, to say that his case was not unique. The persecutions today may not be the same Paul had to withstand, but persecutions of some type will confront us from time to time. That the scripture was given by inspiration of God appears from the majesty of its style,--from the truth, purity, and sublimity, of the doctrines contained in it,--from the harmony of its several parts,--from its power and efficacy on the minds of multitudes that converse with it,--from the accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things beyond all human foresight,--and from the uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof of its divine original: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will,Hebrews 2:4. The fact is that God loves to make His children mutually dependent; and if we are only humble, there are very few saints from whom we may not derive some good, though not always in the same way. What am I to believe about God? O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! And passion shall seize him that is peaceful. The alazon ( G213) was a mountebank who wandered the country with medicines and spells and methods of exorcism which, he claimed, were panaceas for all diseases. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The whole concept of redemption is wrapped up in the Old Testament. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Even if we look at Him so, He was raised from the dead. Observe, Timothy must continue in the things which he had learned and had been assured of. ii. The cause of this is the present confusion, and accordingly the apostle brings a picture of it before Timothy's mind. Marks of Perilous Times; Excellence of the Scriptures. He must take care of the manner in which he strives. "Trucebreakers". 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. In the days between the Old and the New Testaments many Jewish books were written which expanded the Old Testament stories. YEA, AND - an additional consideration. The final condemnation of these people is that they retain the outward form of religion but deny its power. Boy, I'll tell you, I don't know. The latter gains a following only by turning away from the truth of God (13). They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. You may be able to deceive people for a while, but ultimately, it's going to catch up, even as it did with Jannes. That's just fable. In either case the word describes a certain harshness of mind which separates a man from his fellow-men in unrelenting bitterness. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. Our God is much too small. for reproof, for correction ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ), And how often the word of God has brought correction to my course of life. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN. But let him not infer, "therefore," that he is to be enrolled among the martyrs, and that he is certainly a real Christian. "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. 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.". C. Description of His Present Resource 2 Timothy 3:13-17. 2 Timothy 3:12, CSB: In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. The world really doesn't admire true Christian traits. Look at the rapid deterioration of our society. It may well be that the greatest handicap to Christianity is not the scarlet sinner but the sleek devotee of an unimpeachable orthodoxy and a dignified convention, who is horrified when it is suggested that real religion is a dynamic power which changes a man's personal life. The page number in Thayer is given, and the column on the page follows the hyphens. (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. that will, &c.Greek, "all whose will is to live," &c. So far should persecution be from being a stumbling-block to Timothy, he should consider it a mark of the pious. They worship self instead of God. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Possibly he did appoint them; but there is no scriptural proof of it. The absence of persecution, in any active sense, from the lives of most Christians of this era is generally due to the watered-down version of their Christianity and not to any subsidence of the savage hatred of the darkness for the light. There will always be those who have their own twisted ideas of the Christian faith, and who wish to win others to their mistaken beliefs. The New Testament had not yet been canonized. It was not merely now that they had made their consciences bad and slipped away from faith. Accordingly, in much grief of heart, the apostle writes to his tried and trembling child in the faith, and seeks to strengthen him, above all things not to be discouraged, and to make up his mind to endure hard things. He is sure that God will rescue the man who puts his faith in him.