Day 672: 2 Timothy 3- The Last Words Of Paul (3)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

​Meditation
Paul’s last words recorded in Scripture challenge the Church to follow faithful, not false, teachers. In difficult days (1) Christians must discern distorted truth from Divine teaching. Rather than conform to the patters of this world we must respond to God’s grace with total trust in God’s word to be formed in godliness and used for God’s work.
 
“In the last days” the difficulties will justify distortions of truth because of the depravation of humanity. The descriptions of people listed in verses 2-5 are extremely disturbing. Corrupt people will oppose the truth and teachers of the truth as they promote a self-centered culture (6-9).
 
“But you,” Paul says to Timothy (10, 14), doubling down on the contrast of faithful versus false teachers, follow what you have been taught. Paul had discipled Timothy and prepared him in every way to endure the difficult days. But lest we think suffering during difficult days is reserved only for leaders of the church Paul says, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (12). The Church must hold fast as the conflict with false teaching and proponents of self-centered living intensifies.
 
Christians endure difficult days through faith in Christ demonstrated by total trust in His word (15-17). All of God’s word is breathed by God to give life to the people of God, profitable for all of life. Scripture equips Christians for “every good work.” Faithful Christians are formed by God’s word to live fruitful lives for God’s glory.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in the contrast of false and faithful teachers? Why?
 
-How does Paul’s prediction feel, that all who seek to live godly lives in Christ will be persecuted?
 
-How can the word of God, Scripture breathed out by God, give you life? In other words, how can God’s word be more of a foundation for you and authority over you?
 
Key Verse
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.