"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the apperance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
You however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at lconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation throught faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy Chapter 3, ESV
Explanation for verses: 2 Tim. 3:1; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:8; 3:13; 3:16 from the MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, pages 1830-1831.
"3:1 the last days. This phrase refers to this age, the time since the first coming of the Lord Jesus. See note on 1 Tim. 4:1. times of difficulty. "Difficulty" is used to describe the savage nature of two demon-possessed men (Matt. 8:28). The word for "times" had to do with epochs, rather than clock or calendar time. Such savage, dangerous eras or epochs will increase in frequency and severity as the return of Christ approaches (2 Tim. 3:13). The church age is fraught with these dangerous movements accumulating strength as the end nears. Cf. Matt. 7:15; 24:11-12, 24; 2 Pet. 2:1-2."
"3:5 having the appearance of godliness. . . denying its power. "Appearance" refers to outward shape or appearance. Like the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees, false teachers and their followers are concerned with mere external appearances (cf. Matt. 23:25; Titus 1:16). Their outward form of Christianity and virtue makes them all the more dangerous."
"3:6 weak women. Weak in virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and weighed down with emotional and spiritual guilt over their sins, these women were easy prey for the deceitful false teachers. See notes on 1 Tim. 2:13-14; 5:11-12."
"3:7 a knowledge of the truth. First Timothy 2:4 uses this same phrase, equating it with being saved. Here Paul identified those women (2 Tim. 3:6) and men who were often jumping from one false teacher or cult to another without ever coming to an understanding of God's saving truth in Jesus Christ. The present age, since the coming of Jesus Christ, has been loaded with perilous false teaching that can't save, but does damn (cf. vv. 14, 16-17; 1Tim. 4:1)."
"3:8 Jannes and Jambres. Although their names are not mentioned in the OT, they were likely two of the Egyptian magicians that opposed Moses (Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18-19; 9:11). According to Jewish tradition, they pretended to become Jewish proselytes, instigated the worship of the golden calf, and were killed with the rest of the idolaters (Ex. 32). Paul's choice of them as examples may indicate the false teachers at Ephesus were practicing deceivng signs and wonders. the truth. See note on 2Tim. 3:7. opposed. The same word is translated "debased" in Rom. 1:28 (see note there) and comes from a Greek word meaning "useless" in the sense of being tested (like metal) and shown to be worthless."
"3:13 All dangerous movements of the false teachers (cf. vv. 1-9) will become increasingly more successful until Christ comes. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:11."
"3:16 All Scripture. Grammatically similar Greek constructions (Rom. 7:12; 2 Cor. 10:10; 1Tim. 1:15; 2:3; 4:4) argue persuasively that the translation "all Scripture is breathed out. . ." is accurate. Both OT and NT Scripture are included (see notes on 2Pet. 3:15-16, which indentify NT writings as Scripture). breathed out by God. Sometimes God told the Bible writers the exact words to say (e.g., Jer. 1:9), but more often he used their minds, vocabularies, and experiences to produce his own perfect infallible, inerrant word (see notes on 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 1:1; 2Pet. 1:20-21). It is important to note that the inspiration applies only to the original autographs of Scripture, not the Bible writers; there are no inspired Scripture writers, only inspired Scripture. So identified is God with his word that when Scripture speaks, God speaks (cf. Rom. 9:17; Gal. 3:8). Scripture is called "the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:2), and cannot be altered (John 10:35; Matt. 5:17-18; Luke 16:17; Rev. 22:18-19). teaching. The divine instruction or doctrinal content of both the OT and the NT (cf. 2Tim. 2:15; Acts 20:18, 20-21, 27; 1Cor. 2:14-16; Col. 3:16; 1John 2:20, 24, 27). The Scripture provides the comprehensive and complete body of divine truth necessary for life and godliness. Cf. Ps. 119:97-105. reproof. Rebuke for wrong behavior or wrong belief. The Scripture exposes sin (Heb. 4:12-13) that can then be dealt with through confession and repentance. correction. The restoration of something to its proper condition. The word appears only here in the NT, but was used in extrabiblical Greek of righting a fallen object, or helping back to their feet those who had stumbled. Scripture not only rebukes wrong behavior, but also points the way back to godly living. Cf. Ps. 119:9-11; John 15:1-2. training in righteousness. Scripture provides positive training (originally used in reference to training a child) in godly behavior, not merely rebuke and correction of wrong behavior (Acts 20:32; 1Tim. 4:6; 1Pet. 2:1-2)."
Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those who don't understand the truth of Your Word and therefore don't know You. I pray that You will show them the truth and that they will hear, and not only hear it but, understand it before it is too late.
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