I'd like to share with you my thoughts on 2 Timothy 3 but let's begin by reading the first seven verses of this chapter.
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Vs 1 speaks of the “last days” being “perilous times”
I believe Paul was referring to the times in which Timothy lived, yet the same problems have been evident throughout church history, up to the modern day.
Vs 2-4 describe people who serve SELF and in their service to self they hurt others.
Yet they have a “form of godliness” which is why they’re able to “creep into houses” “seduce” and “deceive”.
Vs 5 says these deceivers have a “form of godliness but deny the POWER thereof”
The POWER is repentance, death to self.
In vs 6&7 they “…lead captive silly women laden with sins…ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.
These “silly women” are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth BECAUSE they are laden with sins and have not been taught repentance.
It is through repentance that one receives the knowledge of the truth.
In vs 8 “lovers of self” and “lovers of pleasure” “resist the truth” and are therefore “reprobate”, meaning rejected by God and cast away “concerning the faith”.
In sharp contrast, Paul draws Timothy’s attention to his own exemplary doctrine and manner of life.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience
He also gives Timothy a reality check…these deceivers are going to get worse and worse and they WILL persecute you for they despise those that are good.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Despite the perils, Timothy must CONTINUE in the truths learnt through Paul, knowing of whom he leant them.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them
It’s not just about WHAT you’ve learnt but WHO taught it to you. This is why Paul pointed out his “manner or life”. Those bearing bad fruit should not be listened to, rather turned away from.
Timothy was not only mentored by Paul but deeply influenced by his mother and grandmother who taught him the “holy scriptures” from childhood.
Timothy must now use these scriptures to teach, reprove, correct and instruct others in righteousness. That they may grow and mature in the Lord.
Who is teaching you? Do you hold fast to the words of Jesus and Paul or to the words of Luther and Calvin?
In Timothy’s time and throughout church history up to the modern day, there have been countless deceivers, who have a form of godliness but deny the POWER thereof.
The power is repentance, death to self, for this is the only way to be converted.
A synonym for convert is metamorphose, like how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
The caterpillar represents our “old man” that when crucified and buried with Christ gives way to the “new man”.
Like a beautiful butterfly emerging from a cocoon, we are raised to newness of life, a “new creature” IN Christ.
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