Second Timothy Chapter 3:10-17/Commentary

Second Timothy Chapter 3:10-17 2 Timothy 3:10-17 “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me! 12And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; 15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”

Introduction “The power to meet the coming apostasy, (vv 10-17). With this ghastly picture of the coming grievous times before him, Paul turns directly to Timothy to remind him of the resources available 1

enabling him to stand true. He will find strength and encouragement in the remembrance of his past association with Paul (vv. 10-13), but the final source of power to withstand in the coming evil days lies in the functional nature of Holy Scripture (vv.

14-17)” (Hiebert pp. 90-91).

3:10 “Now you”: In contrast to the false teachers, Timothy had remained true to the faith. “It is with a measure of relief that Paul turns from the gloomy survey of the false teachers, their lives, their corrupt doctrines, and the consequences of their conduct, to address these words of appeal to Timothy” (Reese p. 502).

“Followed”: To follow close upon, side by side (1 Timothy 4:6). “To stick with one through thick and thin, to be at his side in fair weather and in foul” (Reese p. 502). “Points out the essential nature of that relationship. Paul was the leader, guiding and directing, Timothy was the loving, trusting, sympathetic follower, assistant and friend. But that precious relationship will soon be terminated and Timothy will need to stand alone” (Hiebert p. 91).

3:10 “My teaching”: Timothy had faithfully accepted and taught the gospel message. He knew that what Paul taught was not his opinion, but rather it was the word of God (1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). “Conduct”: That is, Paul’s manner of life and personal example. “Whether in the public eye, or in the privacy of his most intimate circle of friends, he displayed nothing out of perfect harmony with the Gospel he taught” (Reese p. 503).

Compare with Acts 20:18-35; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Corinthians 11:1. “There is no better comment on the inspired Word than the consistent conduct of the one who proclaims it.

The harmony between Paul’s teaching and conduct left no doubt as to the sincerity of his purpose” (Hiebert p. 92).

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3:10 “Purpose”: His aim in life, the sense of purpose that dominated his whole life. “That steadfast purpose in Paul to devote his life unceasingly to the furtherance of the Gospel” (Hiebert p. 92). See Acts 26:19-20; 20:24. “Faith”: Fidelity to God and trust in God’s word (Lipscomb p. 233). “It might speak of faithfulness in our every day contact with people, being a person who does what he promises people he will do” (Reese p. 504).

“Patience”: “It is the ability not to lose our patience when other people are foolish, not to grow irritated when people seem unteachable. It is the ability to put up with perversity, blindness, and ingratitude on the part of others and still to remain gracious, and still to toil on” (Reese p. 504). “Paul’s work did not always receive a kindly reception, therefore in his dealings with opposers and erring brethren, Timothy had seen Paul’s longsuffering” (Hiebert p. 93). “Love”: Love for souls (2 Corinthians 12:15; John 13:34; 1 John 3:16). Timothy had this same love (Philippians 2:1920). “His love enabled him to win many for whom others showed no concern, and made him rise above jealousy and strife” (Kent p.

287). “Perseverance”: While patience is the temper that does not easily succumb under suffering, perseverance is the self-restraint that does not hastily retaliate a wrong. Patience is opposed to cowardice and despondency while longsuffering is opposed to wrath and revenge. “Such an attitude caused Paul to remain firm under the most discouraging circumstances, never capitulating to self-pity or despair” (Kent p. 287).

3:11 “Persecutions”: Paul’s patience, faith, love, purpose, and perseverance were certainly tested! For a detailed list of sufferings that Paul endured see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29. “And sufferings”: “Some of the persecutions resulted in personal hurt to Paul, physically. Perhaps there too is the idea that at times he got sick during the arduous missionary journeys” (Reese p. 504).

“Such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra”: 3

Paul visited these cities during his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). In fact, Paul was actually stoned in Lystra (Acts 14:19).

The reason that Paul mentions these cities is that Timothy was from Lystra (Acts 16:1). “Towns in Timothy’s native region where the young boy had opportunity to see for himself or at least hear others tell of the apostle’s physical sufferings” (Kent p. 287). “It was in connection with the experiences of this journey that Timothy first became acquainted with Paul. It may be that he mentions them here because, due to their severity, they were typical of his subsequent experiences” (Hiebert p. 93).

3:11 “What persecutions”: “They had been sharp and bitter indeed” (Hiebert p. 93). “This statement demonstrates the gravity of the persecutions” (Reese p. 505). “I endured”: Yet Paul did not compromise, break, or bend. There was not quitting in him. “And out of them all the Lord rescued me!”: This is encouraging to Timothy who would also suffer. “Surely no danger, no trouble, however great, need appall you. You know what I have gone through, yet in all the Lord was with me and has helped me through. Be sure He will be with you too!” (Reese p. 506). “In every instance the Lord protected and delivered. Now Paul is persecuted with no hope of release, but his confidence in divine deliverance is still unshaken (4:18). Deliverance, however, does not always mean escape. Of far greater significance is the delivering power of God in preventing eternal harm from being done to His children by wicked men-see 2 Timothy 4:18” (Kent p.

288). The Lord does not prevent us from suffering, but will deliver the faithful, and at times this deliverance is out of death, and at other times this deliverance is by means of death. Compare with Romans 8:38-39. Even while suffering Paul knew that Jesus was caring for him.

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3:12 “Indeed, all”: This applies to any Christian and not just apostles. “Paul does not regard his experience as peculiar but only part of the price of loyal service to Christ” (Robertson p. 626).

“Who desire”: In order to live a godly life there must be a determination, will, and desire. “To live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”: Being in Christ Jesus is the only place where one can live a godly life. “The persecution of the godly by the world may vary in degree and take different forms in different countries and in different ages, but the basic hostility of the world to the godly man remains unchanged” (Hiebert p. 94). Jesus taught the same truth (John 15:19; 16:1-4,33; Matthew 5:10-12; 10:22,38,39). “When a person refuses to compromise with the world in his living, when a person refuses to countenance in silence the propagation of false teaching, when a person refuses to condone practices that lead away from Jesus Christ, he is sure to arouse resistance and to experience persecution. If the going is too easy, it is time to examine the strength of the current in which one is moving and to take note whether he is drifting with the world” (Reese p. 507).

3:13 “But”: “This verse presents the reason why the persecutions of Christians will not cease” (Hiebert p. 95). “Evil men”: There is no beating around the bush here, these men are evil, compare with 3:2-5. “And imposters”: A deceiver, “denotes a wailer, hence from the howl in which spells were chanted, a wizard, enchanter, sorcerer, and hence, a cheat, juggler, imposter” (Vine p. 252).

Possibly this verse refers to false teachers who were involved in the occult (2 Timothy 3:8). Actually the word “imposter” here indicates people who are involved in the occult. “Will proceed from bad to worse”: Compare with 3:9. “History has borne witness to the accuracy of these prophetic words” (Reese p. 508).

“Claiming to be ‘progressive’, they will make progress, but only in inward moral and spiritual degeneracy” (Hiebert p. 95). The 5

natural progression of sin and error is downward (Romans 1:1832). “Deceiving and being deceived”: “The present tenses denoting the continuing action, thus sin brings its own punishment” (p. 96). “When one imagines he gains anything by deceiving others, he badly deceives himself” (Lipscomb p. 235).

When a person begins deceiving others he eventually ends up believing his own erroneous assertions, the con-artist will end up fooling himself. “It seems that man, once he is determined to cast his life at variance with the ways of God, becomes all the more entangled and mislead in his own evil ways” (Reese p. 508).

3:14 “You, however, continue in the things you have learned”: The present tense is here used, Timothy must continue to abide in the sound doctrine (2 John 9). What he had learned were the words of truth that came from Paul (3:10). “And become convinced of”: Firmly persuaded of and sure of a thing. “He is not to be like those juggling heretics, blown about by every wind of doctrine, and always seeking some new thing” (Reese p. 509).

“Such an assurance produces personal stability. Doubts and uncertainties concerning the Word of God never foster moral steadfastness” (Hiebert p. 97). “Knowing from whom you have learned them”: Timothy had been taught by an apostle, who spoke the words of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:37). “Truthful people give assurance to the truth. Pay some attention to the character of the teacher who teaches you. You are ill advised to forsake people of spiritual stature and holy living simply to follow the latest religious quack” (Reese p. 509). Timothy had also been taught by Lois and Eunice, who had a genuine faith and who had taught him directly from the Scriptures (3:15). “Whom”: Depending upon the manuscript, the word “whom” here can either be singular or plural. “He has not received the knowledge of the truth from an unknown or suspicious source” (Hiebert p.

97).

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3:15 “And that from childhood”: The term “childhood” is rather elastic and can cover a range of time. Evidently at a very early age Timothy was taught about God and was schooled in the Scriptures. At the age of five most Jewish children would be enrolled in the synagogue school and even before this Jewish mothers had their children commit portions of the Law to memory. In fact they were taught to memorize Scripture as soon as they could speak. “A person’s starting point is a most important factor in the conclusions of his thinking and living.

Starting points can be changed in life, but not without great struggle and much effort. Timothy had a good starting point” (Reese p. 510). “You have known”: “The verb ‘hast known’ has the force of the present tense and denotes continuous action. His knowledge, begun in earliest childhood, continues through to the present time” (Hiebert p. 97). “The sacred writings”: That is, the Scriptures and not religious writings in general. The term “sacred” means consecrated to God, literally the holy letters. Do we view Scripture as sacred?

3:15 “Which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”: The surpassing value of the Old Testament Scriptures is that they point the reader to Christ, in fact they assist the reader in helping identify the Messiah (John 5:46-47). When Paul came preaching the gospel and using the Old Testament to prove that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 17:2-3), a person like Timothy who really knew the Old Testament could readily see that Paul was making the correct application of those prophecies. “Through faith which is in Christ Jesus”: A professed faith in the Old Testament does not save unless one is willing to believe in the Messiah promised in the Scriptures. Many Jews ended up lost because they professed faith in the Old Testament but refused to believe in the Christ it portrayed. Salvation is only in Christ (Acts 7

4:12), and is only available to those who believe (Hebrews 11:6; 4:2; John 8:24; Galatians 3:24).

3:16 “All”: “That is, every passage of Scripture” (Vincent p. 317).

“Scripture”: The Greek term here means that which is written, words, phrases, sentences, and not just ideas (see 1 Corinthians 2:9-13). “Is inspired of God”: This expression is the translation of one Greek word, theopneustos, which means literally, Godbreathed. There are many passages in the Old Testament that asserted that Scripture is the accurate record of what God has actually communicated (Exodus 20:1; 24:4; Jeremiah 30:2; Zechariah 7:12). Jesus had the same view of the Old Testament (Matthew 22:31), and Paul called the Scriptures the “oracles” or utterances of God (Romans 3:1). “Profitable”: Useful, beneficial, and advantageous. We would expect nothing less from the words of an all-powerful and all-wise God. “Since every Scripture is Godbreathed it follows that it is ‘also profitable’, proving serviceable to the moral and spiritual needs of man” (Hiebert p. 101).

Some have argued that this verse only applies to the Old Testament. While the Old Testament is in the context (3:15) so is the teaching that would composed the New Testament (3:10,14).

The New Testament is also called “Scripture” as well (2 Peter 3:1516; 1 Timothy 5:18).

3:16 “For teaching”: For teaching people what God expects of them. “All that man needs to be taught for salvation is found in Scripture. If the doctrine is not found in the Bible, we have no reason to accept it as spiritually significant” (Kent p. 290). For instruction in doctrine. “For reproof”: The idea is that of convicting or convincing a man of the error of his ways (Matthew 18:15; 1 Timothy 5:20). “Errors of doctrine and personal conduct are to be reproved by the truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures…

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not only does the Scripture point out error, but it is also the agent to be used in refuting that error” (Reese p. 514). “Detecting and exposing all that is false. It convicts all that is unholy and all ungodly men, exposing and refuting every religious error and falsehood” (Hiebert pp. 101-102). “For correction”: Or restoration, it restores the fallen sinner to an upright position and sets the erring one again on the right path. “Restoration to an upright or a right state, improvement of life and character” (Thayer p. 228).

“For training in righteousness”: “Providing the discipline that is needed in the sphere of righteousness” (Hiebert p. 102).

“Instruction that aims at the increase of virtue” (Thayer p. 473).

The term “righteousness” means integrity, virtue, purity, uprightness, and correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting.

“After a person is rebuked, and pointed in the proper direction, the Scripture is able to hold a man steady on the right path.

Scripture will instruct a man in regard to what is right. It will teach him what is required of him in order that he may lead a holy life.

The Scriptures are God’s textbook for instruction in all personal relations” (Reese p. 514).

3:17 “So that”: The purpose or result of Scripture, the purpose for which God intended the Scripture to be useful. “The man of God”: 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:24. “May be adequate”: Complete, perfect, fitted, capable, proficient, able to meet all demands, specially adapted. “The goal is that the believer, trained by the inspired Word, may be complete, complete in all parts and proportions” (Hiebert p. 102). This means that Scripture will make the believer into a perfectly balanced and well-rounded person, and able to handle and deal with all the truly important things in life. “Equipped”: To equip fully, to fit out exactly right. “The perfect tense denoting this as his abiding condition” (Hiebert p.

102). “The idea is that the man of God, with the Scriptures, is equal to any opportunity which may arise for engaging in good 9

works. Scripture in the hands of one who can handle it aright is a powerful instrument for good” (Reese pp. 515-516). “For every good work”: That is, every work that is intrinsically good. The word of God furnishes us completely with all the equipment necessary to do every good work. “Any writing which can produce such profitable results vindicates itself as inspired of God” (Vincent p. 318).

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