2Ti 3:8-9 | KingComments | STEP | . We are still in the section that describes the time where many people act outwardly as if they are Christians, but they are not inwardly. This is the result of the distortion of the truth. The truth is being imitated, but there is no inward relation with Christ Who is the truth. Imitation is possibly the strongest weapon of the devil. Paul quotes the example of two Egyptian magicians, of whom he seems to know the names, who were imitating Moses ( ). This performance of these magicians happened right before the departing of the people of God from Egypt. That’s what is happening now also. We live in the last days, right before the rapture of the church out of the world where imitation Christians are being manifest more and more. The Lord Jesus has also warned us for people who will say that they are the Christ ( ). In the last times signs and false wonders will happen that have the appearance that they come from God, but they come from the liar ( ; cf. ). John warns us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see, whether they are from God” ( ). Testing the spirits is possible by taking Christ as touchstone. Ask them what they think about Him and test whether it is according to the Word. The strategy of the devil is not new. Already in the time of Moses he used imitation. It even appeared as if he could claim some success. Indeed the magicians did imitate Moses, didn’t they? They didn’t fail, did they? No, but they practiced their magical acts out of resistance against Moses. Their goal was to keep the people of God in bondage. In the same way nowadays ‘Jannesses and Jambresses’ oppose the truth. They also respond with mockery to every reference of a soon rapture of the church out of the world ( ). That they are “men of depraved mind” is the result of opening their hearts for the devil and his evil powers. What they preach as faith comes from this source. It is only worth to be rejected, thrown away, without paying any further attention to it. It doesn’t offer any hope for today and no hope for the future. . Sometimes it seems that these evil people can unstoppably go their way. Then you read here that God has determined a limit to their wicked performance, both in duration and in their deeds. The magicians in the days of Moses were exposed at the crucial moment of bringing forth life out of death ( ). Seeming Christians may boast on theological discoveries, but that has never made them able to give new life to a person. The scope of their deeds is limited. For faith, this makes the nonsensicality of these magicians completely obvious. Also the end of their performance is approaching. You do not need to expect that the performance of ‘Christian magicians’ will slowly diminish. It will only become worse. But the end of the current age, the age of the church, is approaching. The folly of the deceivers and unbelievers will become completely clear when the Lord Jesus is revealed in glory. . As long as we are on earth the Lord Jesus provides us with remedies to remain kept with Him. How that works you see in the example that Paul presents to Timothy of himself. The contrast between the ‘Christian magicians’ and what you see in Paul is enormous. Paul addresses Timothy and points him to his own example, like the old Elijah took Elisha with him along several places to teach him ( ). Elijah took Elisha by the hand and gave him understanding in the situation of the people. Therefore Elisha was able to approach the people in the spirit and strength of Elijah, with a double part of that of Elijah’s. Timothy is able to minister the church in the spirit and strength of Paul by observing how he did everything. Not that Paul says anything new to Timothy. He only reminds him of that, for Timothy has already followed or examined it. He did not follow Paul for no reason. 1. First of all Paul points at “my teaching”. Only he, the apostle, can say that. The teaching is the basis. Without teaching there can be no practice. 2. But Paul didn’t only teach, he can also point at his “conduct”. He consistently practiced what he was passing on through his teaching. His life is based on his teaching. 3. Also in his “purpose” he was clear. He had no hidden purposes. He had a clear goal in mind which was not vague to Timothy. His purpose was to glorify God in everything whatever the cost was. 4. From what he taught, in how he did and in his purpose his “faith” in and his faithfulness to the Lord appeared. With full confidence in Him Paul fulfilled his service. In doing so, he met hostility and was put to the test. 5. But precisely in that situation Timothy saw his “patience”. He didn’t respond irritated and didn’t repay evil for evil. 6. The hostility of the enemy revealed his “love” for the Lord and for those who are His. 7. Also his “perseverance” or “steadfastness” was remarkable. All adversary and the fact that he was left alone didn’t make him depressed. He did not collapse because of the pressure, but he continued with what the Lord ordered him to do. 8. . Everyone who opens his mouth with proclaiming the truth will suffer “persecutions”. That indicates the insecurity of freedom, having no place of rest because they are chasing you. 9. He also lost his freedom several times. His enemies did not spare him, but made him “suffer” ( ). He speaks particularly about three places he visited during his first mission trip ( ). Paul has suffered all those persecutions, but he doesn’t boast about that as if he has achieved something. The Lord receives the honor, for it was He Who rescued him “out of them all” ( ). ‘Out of them all’ shows that there is nothing that could stop Paul, no matter how severe the opposition was. ‘Out of them all’ also shows that Paul indeed endured it all and was not spared it. . What is mentioned previously does not only apply to Paul but to all Christians “who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus”. If you live your life with reverence for God in fellowship with Christ Jesus you will also share in persecution. Persecution is not only literally being opposed and persecuted, but also not to be understood and to be despised. You experience that in any way you testify of the Lord. It doesn’t apply to all Christians. If you do not want to suffer reproach you simply should not make clear that you know the Lord. You should “desire” that. Persecution is only the part of faithful Christians. . This persecution will not diminish, for “evil men and imposters will proceed [from] bad to worse”. The word ‘imposters’ is literally ‘magicians’. That may probably indicate the increase of occultism. You may have heard of Christians who seek their luck with magnetizers. They say that these people claim to have received this gift from God. In that way they deceive even Christians, while these people are being deceived themselves by the devil. Mind you that these are ‘evil men’. They are instruments of the devil to whom they have delivered themselves. With all their nice talks they do not seek your luck, but your destruction. . Then here comes a “you, however” (cf. ). This indicates the contrast with the previous verse. In that verse the environment where you find yourself is depicted, an environment that fully opposes God and His Word. To remain protected against that influence Paul gives Timothy an assurance. Timothy can trust in this assurance to remain steadfast in the truth and in the enjoyment of the salvation of God. He must continue in the things which he has learned and must not be involved with new teachings. There is nothing missing in what he has learned; for that reason there is also nothing to be improved. He is also fully convinced of this because he has learned it from someone to whom it was directly made known through Divine inspiration and who has the authority of God to communicate it. Paul is a unique servant. What he has taught we have in God’s Word. The teachers whom the Lord has given as a gift to His church do not bring new truths. They explain the truths of the apostles: truths that are written in God’s Word. Our source is not Calvin or Darby, but the Word of God. It is not necessary to empower your words by referring to certain teachers, however much you ought to appreciate them and how gifted they were or are. . The second reason for Timothy to remain in the things which he had learned, are “the sacred writings” he has known “from childhood”. The words of the apostle are in no way in contrast to the writings of the Old Testament – those are ‘the sacred writings’ –, but are perfectly consistent with them. Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother in them. This is an important instruction for parents to make their children known and familiar with the Scripture as early as possible in their childhood. The Word has been put in writings so in that way God can use it as a permanent authority. Everything that is permanently of profit for the church has been written down in the Scriptures. It is also permanently profitable for your personal life of faith. You find everything you need in the Scripture “to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”. Without God’s Word you led a lost life. Through God’s Word you have come to faith in Christ Jesus. You have been saved for eternity. If you as a Christian lead a life without consulting God’s Word in everything, you will lead a lost life. Listening to the Scripture makes you wise to avoid all the traps of life and to arrive safely with the Lord. Now read 2 Timothy 3:8-15 again. Reflection: Which contrasts do you find in this portion?

‏ 2 Timothy 3:8-9

You, However

2Tim 3:8. We are still in the section that describes the time where many people act outwardly as if they are Christians, but they are not inwardly. This is the result of the distortion of the truth. The truth is being imitated, but there is no inward relation with Christ Who is the truth. Imitation is possibly the strongest weapon of the devil. Paul quotes the example of two Egyptian magicians, of whom he seems to know the names, who were imitating Moses (Exo 7:11 ; 22 ; Exo 8:7). This performance of these magicians happened right before the departing of the people of God from Egypt.

That’s what is happening now also. We live in the last days, right before the rapture of the church out of the world where imitation Christians are being manifest more and more. The Lord Jesus has also warned us for people who will say that they are the Christ (Mt 24:5 ; 23-24). In the last times signs and false wonders will happen that have the appearance that they come from God, but they come from the liar (2Thes 2:9; cf. Acts 2:22). John warns us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see, whether they are from God” (1Jn 4:1). Testing the spirits is possible by taking Christ as touchstone. Ask them what they think about Him and test whether it is according to the Word.

The strategy of the devil is not new. Already in the time of Moses he used imitation. It even appeared as if he could claim some success. Indeed the magicians did imitate Moses, didn’t they? They didn’t fail, did they? No, but they practiced their magical acts out of resistance against Moses. Their goal was to keep the people of God in bondage. In the same way nowadays ‘Jannesses and Jambresses’ oppose the truth. They also respond with mockery to every reference of a soon rapture of the church out of the world (2Pet 3:2-3).

That they are “men of depraved mind” is the result of opening their hearts for the devil and his evil powers. What they preach as faith comes from this source. It is only worth to be rejected, thrown away, without paying any further attention to it. It doesn’t offer any hope for today and no hope for the future.

2Tim 3:9. Sometimes it seems that these evil people can unstoppably go their way. Then you read here that God has determined a limit to their wicked performance, both in duration and in their deeds. The magicians in the days of Moses were exposed at the crucial moment of bringing forth life out of death (Exo 8:18). Seeming Christians may boast on theological discoveries, but that has never made them able to give new life to a person. The scope of their deeds is limited. For faith, this makes the nonsensicality of these magicians completely obvious.

Also the end of their performance is approaching. You do not need to expect that the performance of ‘Christian magicians’ will slowly diminish. It will only become worse. But the end of the current age, the age of the church, is approaching. The folly of the deceivers and unbelievers will become completely clear when the Lord Jesus is revealed in glory.

2Tim 3:10. As long as we are on earth the Lord Jesus provides us with remedies to remain kept with Him. How that works you see in the example that Paul presents to Timothy of himself. The contrast between the ‘Christian magicians’ and what you see in Paul is enormous.

Paul addresses Timothy and points him to his own example, like the old Elijah took Elisha with him along several places to teach him (2Kgs 2:1-10). Elijah took Elisha by the hand and gave him understanding in the situation of the people. Therefore Elisha was able to approach the people in the spirit and strength of Elijah, with a double part of that of Elijah’s. Timothy is able to minister the church in the spirit and strength of Paul by observing how he did everything. Not that Paul says anything new to Timothy. He only reminds him of that, for Timothy has already followed or examined it. He did not follow Paul for no reason.

1. First of all Paul points at “my teaching”. Only he, the apostle, can say that. The teaching is the basis. Without teaching there can be no practice.

2. But Paul didn’t only teach, he can also point at his “conduct”. He consistently practiced what he was passing on through his teaching. His life is based on his teaching.

3. Also in his “purpose” he was clear. He had no hidden purposes. He had a clear goal in mind which was not vague to Timothy. His purpose was to glorify God in everything whatever the cost was.

4. From what he taught, in how he did and in his purpose his “faith” in and his faithfulness to the Lord appeared. With full confidence in Him Paul fulfilled his service. In doing so, he met hostility and was put to the test.

5. But precisely in that situation Timothy saw his “patience”. He didn’t respond irritated and didn’t repay evil for evil.

6. The hostility of the enemy revealed his “love” for the Lord and for those who are His.

7. Also his “perseverance” or “steadfastness” was remarkable. All adversary and the fact that he was left alone didn’t make him depressed. He did not collapse because of the pressure, but he continued with what the Lord ordered him to do.

8. 2Tim 3:11. Everyone who opens his mouth with proclaiming the truth will suffer “persecutions”. That indicates the insecurity of freedom, having no place of rest because they are chasing you.

9. He also lost his freedom several times. His enemies did not spare him, but made him “suffer” (2Cor 11:24-25). He speaks particularly about three places he visited during his first mission trip (Acts 13:14-52 ; Acts 14:1-20).

Paul has suffered all those persecutions, but he doesn’t boast about that as if he has achieved something. The Lord receives the honor, for it was He Who rescued him “out of them all” (Psa 34:19). ‘Out of them all’ shows that there is nothing that could stop Paul, no matter how severe the opposition was. ‘Out of them all’ also shows that Paul indeed endured it all and was not spared it.

2Tim 3:12. What is mentioned previously does not only apply to Paul but to all Christians “who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus”. If you live your life with reverence for God in fellowship with Christ Jesus you will also share in persecution. Persecution is not only literally being opposed and persecuted, but also not to be understood and to be despised. You experience that in any way you testify of the Lord. It doesn’t apply to all Christians. If you do not want to suffer reproach you simply should not make clear that you know the Lord. You should “desire” that. Persecution is only the part of faithful Christians.

2Tim 3:13. This persecution will not diminish, for “evil men and imposters will proceed [from] bad to worse”. The word ‘imposters’ is literally ‘magicians’. That may probably indicate the increase of occultism. You may have heard of Christians who seek their luck with magnetizers. They say that these people claim to have received this gift from God. In that way they deceive even Christians, while these people are being deceived themselves by the devil.

Mind you that these are ‘evil men’. They are instruments of the devil to whom they have delivered themselves. With all their nice talks they do not seek your luck, but your destruction.

2Tim 3:14. Then here comes a “you, however” (cf. 2Tim 3:10). This indicates the contrast with the previous verse. In that verse the environment where you find yourself is depicted, an environment that fully opposes God and His Word. To remain protected against that influence Paul gives Timothy an assurance. Timothy can trust in this assurance to remain steadfast in the truth and in the enjoyment of the salvation of God. He must continue in the things which he has learned and must not be involved with new teachings. There is nothing missing in what he has learned; for that reason there is also nothing to be improved.

He is also fully convinced of this because he has learned it from someone to whom it was directly made known through Divine inspiration and who has the authority of God to communicate it. Paul is a unique servant. What he has taught we have in God’s Word.

The teachers whom the Lord has given as a gift to His church do not bring new truths. They explain the truths of the apostles: truths that are written in God’s Word. Our source is not Calvin or Darby, but the Word of God. It is not necessary to empower your words by referring to certain teachers, however much you ought to appreciate them and how gifted they were or are.

2Tim 3:15. The second reason for Timothy to remain in the things which he had learned, are “the sacred writings” he has known “from childhood”. The words of the apostle are in no way in contrast to the writings of the Old Testament – those are ‘the sacred writings’ –, but are perfectly consistent with them. Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother in them. This is an important instruction for parents to make their children known and familiar with the Scripture as early as possible in their childhood.

The Word has been put in writings so in that way God can use it as a permanent authority. Everything that is permanently of profit for the church has been written down in the Scriptures. It is also permanently profitable for your personal life of faith. You find everything you need in the Scripture “to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”.

Without God’s Word you led a lost life. Through God’s Word you have come to faith in Christ Jesus. You have been saved for eternity. If you as a Christian lead a life without consulting God’s Word in everything, you will lead a lost life. Listening to the Scripture makes you wise to avoid all the traps of life and to arrive safely with the Lord.

Now read 2 Timothy 3:8-15 again.

Reflection: Which contrasts do you find in this portion?