Frameworks:
2 Timothy 3
For
preliminaries see chapter 1
[Chapter
3 Synopsis: Persecution and deception and ungodliness
and unrighteousness will appear in the last days but hold on to
the truth of God's word.]
v.1-9
Watch out for the last days
v.10-17
Encouragement to hold on to the truth in God's word
v.1-9
Watch out for the last days
[Passage
Synopsis: In the last days watch out for unrighteous
living and godless attitudes, for deceivers who distort the truth]
v.1
(whenever the
‘last days' come, they will be tough) But
mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
v.2-5
(most of the
world will be unrighteous and ungodly) People
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud,
abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without
love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not
lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying
its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
v.6,7
( … full of
deception) They are the kind
who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women,
who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil
desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge
of the truth.
v.8
( … even as
Moses experience…) Just as Jannes
and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth.
They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned,
are rejected.
v.9
( … but their
folly will be obvious) But they
will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their
folly will be clear to everyone.
v.10-17
Encouragement to hold on to the truth in God's word
[Passage
Synopsis: Hold on to the truth, even though oppositions
arise against your godliness, the truth that comes through God's
inspired word]
v.10,11
(you've had
my teaching and example to hold on to) You,
however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose,
faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what
kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra,
the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of
them.
v.12,13
(just accept
that opposition comes with godliness) In
fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from
bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
v.14,15
(but hold on
to the truths you've heard since your childhood) But
as for you, continue in what you have learned and have
become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned
it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus.
v.16,17
(for the Bible
is inspired and brought into being to teach us etc. to equip us)
All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
Continue
to CHAPTER 4