2 TIMOTHY 3:6-13 - NOW, WORSE NEWS

2 TIMOTHY 3:6-13

NOW, WORSE NEWS

2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Susie: Since the early church most often met in homes, the false teachers would seek out a vulnerable woman (possibly a widow) and hold meetings in her home.

Susan: They slithered in like snakes to spread their poisonous venom of false teaching.

Susie: They made sexual advances toward some of these women as another means of leading them astray.

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Susie: These people attended many meetings with these false teachers but never found the saving knowledge of the gospel message because it was not taught there.

Susan: These teachers presented themselves as prophets when, in fact, they were posers.

2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Susie: You may be asking, “Who are Jannes and Jambres? I don’t recall those names in the book of Exodus.” John MacArthur can help us out with that:

Note from The MacArthur Study Bible:

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 deceiving signs and wonders.

Susie: False teachers, now as well as in Timothy’s time, deny the truth of the gospel by trying to add or subtract from it. They added things such as specific works being necessary for salvation or the idea of a “higher knowledge” than scripture alone (Gnosticism). They subtracted the power to save which is found in Jesus alone. Judaizers insisted that converts adhere to the law as prescribed by the Pharisees (who, by the way, had added their own interpretation to it) and others taught that freedom in Christ was complete license to do as one pleased.

Susan: Jesus Himself addressed this issue:

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.

2 Timothy 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

Susan: Just as Jannes and Jambres were exposed as false, so these false teachers will be unmasked so all may see who they really are—deceptive imposters who are held captive by the spell of Satan’s treacherous web.

Susie: God will give His chosen children discernment to see these false teachers and those who follow them as foolish.

2 Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 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.

Susie: Timothy had learned the gospel and how the Old Testament scriptures validated its message directly from Paul. He knew firsthand that Paul’s life backed up what he preached. He lived what he believed and proclaimed. He remained intent on following the calling that Jesus placed on him to declare the good news to both Jews and Gentiles.

Susan: The persecutions that Paul endured could not persuade him to change his message or water it down. He stayed true to his impassioned proclamation of Jesus’s love to the lost no matter the cost. He preached repentance and the grace of God in sending Jesus to pay the ransom for theirs sins with His own blood.

Susie: Timothy had grown up in the region Paul referenced concerning his persecutions and would have known better than most all that Paul had suffered.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Susie: Note that it does not say “may” suffer, but “shall” suffer. There are varying degrees, but to some extent every believer goes through some level of persecution. This can range from teasing or taunting to the extremes of being disowned by family or even suffering martyrdom.

John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

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.

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Susie: False teachers will increase as will the crowds who follow them as the time of Jesus’s return nears.

Susan: Some of these false teachers are so deluded under Satan’s spell, they honestly think they are helping people. However, they are leading them directly to damnation and hell.

Susie: If anyone teaches a path to eternal life with the Lord other than the gospel message that Jesus, the Son of God, lived as the God-Man, performed many signs as proof of His deity, died on the cross as the sacrifice for sins, was raised on the third day and is now seated in the heavenlies interceding for believers with the Father, RUN AWAY. If anyone teaches a salvation based on human effort or works, FLEE IMMEDIATELY!

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

QUESTIONS

1.        What group of people did false teachers target with their charming deceptiveness?

2.        In what ways do false teachers deny the truth of the Gospel?

3.        Why could Timothy be certain of the truth as taught by the Apostle Paul?

4.        Read 2 Timothy 3:12 again. Do you believe this applies to believers today? How does this make you feel?

5.        Do you believe the prophesy of verse 13 is coming true even now? Why or why not?