2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Sanctification of the Holy Spirit: Perseverance (Continue in what He has Learned) - Paul next reflects upon Timothy’s divine calling from the perspective of the need to perseverance, which is a daily process of sanctification by the Holy Spirit. There will be much opposition as evil abounds and some resist the truth of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Paul gives himself as one who has also had to persevere against such evil men (2 Timothy 3:10-12). He then exhorts Timothy persevere in ministering the Word of God to (2 Timothy 3:13-17). Timothy is to respond to this exhortation and example by continuing in what he has learned (2 Timothy 3:14). Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. The Character of Men in the Last Days — 2 Timothy 3:1-92. Paul’s Example of Perseverance Amidst Hardships — 2 Timothy 3:10-123. Paul Exhorts Timothy to Follow His Example of Perseverance — 2 Timothy 3:13-17

2 Timothy 3:10-12

Paul’s Example of Perseverance Amidst Hardships – In 2 Timothy 3:10-12 Paul gives himself as an example of a faithful servant of God who has endured hardships. 2 Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 2 Timothy 3:10 — “But thou hast fully known my doctrine” - Comments – As we consider what doctrine Paul the apostle delivered unto Timothy to hold fast to, we ask what were these words, and are they recorded anywhere. We need look no further than the nine Pauline Church Epistles to find the doctrines of the New Testament Church that Paul laid down in writing. 2 Timothy 3:11 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. 2 Timothy 3:11 — “out of them all the Lord delivered me” – Scripture References - Note a similar verse: Psalms 34:18, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 — Scripture References - Note other confirming Scriptures: Psalms 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Acts 14:22, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” 1 Peter 5:9, “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

2 Timothy 3:13-17

Paul Exhorts Timothy to Follow His Example of Perseverance – In 2 Timothy 3:13-17 Paul exhorts Timothy to follow his own example and persevere in his ministry. 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13 — Comments - From the time that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin has been taking root and growing in this earth. Therefore, the world has progressively become more and more evil throughout the centuries. We see this progress when Jesus spoke of the signs of the last days when the Son of Man will come. He described the earth as excessively wicked and corrupt (Mark 13:8). Mark 13:8, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” 2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2 Timothy 3:15 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. 2 Timothy 3:15 — Comments - In 2 Timothy 3:15 Paul explains that the early Church found their initial understand of Christ redemptive work from the Old Testament, until the canon of the New Testament was written and distributed to the churches. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16 — “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” – Comments - The Lord gave the Old Testament prophets messages that were word for word: (Jeremiah 1:9, Isaiah 51:16). Messages from God in the Old Testament and New Testament could have been given word for word, just as the gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues are done today. Isaiah 51:16, “And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” Jeremiah 1:9, “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” Scriptural inspiration of both Old and New Testament is testified in the Bible: Confirmation of the Old Testament Scriptures - Throughout the Old Testament, prophets used the phrase, “Thus saith the Lord,” testifying to the inspiration of the prophecy. 2 Chronicles 20:14-17, “Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” Note other confirmations of the Old Testament Scriptures: Exodus 24:4, “And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.” 2 Samuel 23:2, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” 1 Chronicles 28:19, “All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.” Nehemiah 9:30, “Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.” Psalms 119:89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” The phrase “Word of God” occurs over 4000 times in Old Testament, with each use testifying to the inspiration of Scriptures. Note some of these verses about the Word of God: Psalms 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalms 119:89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” John 10:35, “If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;” Jesus testified to the inspiration of the Psalms: Matthew 22:43, “He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,” Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that every word of the Old Testament Scriptures would come to pass. Matthew 5:17-18, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Jesus gave testimony to the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures in other places: Luke 1:70, “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:” John 10:35, “If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;” John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Paul calls this passage in Deuteronomy “the scripture”: 1 Timothy 5:18, “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” Deuteronomy 25:4, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Peter testified to the inspiration of Scriptures: 2 Peter 1:20-21, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Confirmation of the New Testament Scriptures: John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 7:10, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:” 1 Corinthians 7:40, “But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 14:37, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” Paul calls the passage in the Gospel of Luke “the scripture” in 1 Timothy 5:18 : 1 Timothy 5:18, “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” Luke 10:7, “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Peter equals Paul’s writing to other divinely inspired Scriptures: 2 Peter 3:16, “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Timothy 3:16 — “and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” – Comments - These terms could be in a progression:

1. Doctrine – Learning the Bible.
2. Reproof – Conviction of sin.
3. Correction - Correcting our lives to line up with the Word of God.
4. Instruction in righteousness - Beginning to walk according to Bible doctrine. As we read the Holy Scriptures, the Spirit of God quickens these verses to us as a “rhema” word for our present situations, giving us wisdom and specific instructions for specific situations. On many occasions, a Scripture has been quickened to me in a particular situation, and given me insight as to how to respond at that time in my spiritual journey. 2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Comments - The Inspiration of Scriptures – 2 Timothy 2:16-17 is the clearest statement in the Scriptures declaring its divine inspiration, one of the Bible’s key divine attributes. Comments - The Scriptures as Our Handbook - The Bible is our “Job Manual,” showing us how to conduct our duties as servant of God. If we lay aside “the Manual,” we will not be able to do our job correctly. For example, when a man is hired for a job, he does not just start working in an unfamiliar environment. He is taught and instructed, and many times he is given a job manual. If the newly hired employee does not study hard and pay attention, he may hang on to the job barely without excelling, or even be fired because he is very slothful. So it is when we become a Christian.