2Ti 3:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | . To do the will of God the circumstances are not particularly favorable. Paul wants you to realize that we live in the “last days” and that the times in these days will be ”difficult”. With ‘last days’ is indicated that we have come to the closing stages of the era of the church as a testimony on earth. With “difficult times” it is indicated that you do not see any more directly a clear distinction between true Christians and those who are that only by name. The devil will do everything to make as many Christians as possible to become unfaithful to the Lord. He will as he always did tempt Christians to sin, but he will make maximum efforts to introduce worldly elements into Christian living. . That appears from the list of characteristics that Paul summarizes after this. If you compare this list with the list in Romans 1 ( ) you will see a great similarity. Only in Romans 1 it is about characteristics of people who live without God, while here the characteristics are written of people who profess to be in relationship with God. In that way you see that the devil seeks to undermine the Christian testimony by introducing worldly elements in order to make it nothing more than an empty case. In that way the same degeneration that existed among the Gentiles will appear again under the cloak of Christendom. The result of this is that to the sins of Romans 1 the sin of hypocrisy is added. Going down the list, you can see how numerous the forms are in which evil comes to expression among religious people. We don’t need to dwell too long on each expression. Do try to be honest with yourself and confess before the Lord the things you recognize in your own life and ask His help to stop doing or being that way. 1. The list starts tellingly with “lovers of self”. 2. The next is “lovers of money”, materialism. 3. When they open their mouth they appear to be “boastful”. 4. What they say shows that they are “arrogant”. 5. “Revilers” speak evil, bad things about others to harm them. 6. They have no respect for their father and mother but are “disobedient to parents”. It demonstrates the degeneration of the family life. 7. These people are also “ungrateful”, an attitude that takes everything for granted and demands to be served any time. It is the blown up feeling of being entitled to anything I want and don’t need to thank anyone for it. 8. Such people often live an “unholy” life, a life that is filled with uncleanness and ungodliness. 9. They are “unloving”. There is no mention of love with them. They even lack natural love, which can lead to homosexual relationships. 10. They are also “irreconcilable”. They cannot tolerate anyone else and are not willing to forgive anybody. 11. They love to put other people in a bad light which they show by “malicious gossips”. 12. “Self-control” is a strange matter to them, there is no self-restraint, 13. whereby they do not shun “brutal” behavior in words and deeds. 14. That’s because in their life they show to be “haters of good”. They have no eye and no taste for the good. They act almost like robots. There is almost nothing really human in their performance. 15. “Treacherous” people are willing to commit treason. Judas is an example of that ( ; cf. ). 16. Without considering the consequences they speak and act “reckless”. It is no use to warn them. 17. “Conceited” as they are they are themselves the center of their thinking. 18. It is therefore not surprising that the list concludes with the absolutely lowest point: “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”. The love for God has totally been driven out by the love for pleasure. The whole list describes a life that only consists of the pursuit of selfish goals, whereby the rights of God are totally ignored. . It is all about instruments of the enemy that give the appearance that they live in fear for God. But it is only a form ( ). Their life does not radiate the power of a life with God. They even deny that God is able to give them some strength. They keep the Word of God that is living and powerful closed. They have their own ideas about God. God is for them Someone Who supplies their need, while they count on themselves when it comes to the fulfillment of those needs. In fact they are God themselves. You cannot afford to remain in contact with such people. You are not to argue with them, but you ought to obey God and avoid them. . Such a company is an ideal place for those who creep in, people who say and teach wrong things to undermine the testimony of God. It is often women by whom the false teachings are spread. Generally speaking, women are more emotional by nature than men. There is nothing wrong about that and that doesn’t automatically have to lead to a way of acting as it is described here. It is not surprising that John writes his second letter, concerning false teachings, to a woman ( ). She is supposed to recognize a false teacher. But if emotion rules a woman and if she also lives in sin – driven therein by a depraved heart – false teachers will find in her a willing tool. The false teacher only needs to flatter her to win her for himself. He can then manipulate her in such a way that she becomes a propagator of his false teachings. . They are women who indeed want to learn. They always hunger for new teachings. But instead of “to come to the knowledge of truth” they deviate further and further away from the truth. They are always searching, but never come to a firm conviction. Nowadays there are many new teachings that respond and adapt to the desire after a spiritual life. These teachings consist of a gospel without the cross, without a crucified and risen Christ. The cause that a person cannot come to the knowledge of the truth often is due to the fact that one does not subject oneself to the truth, but wants to subject the truth to oneself, to set it to one’s own will and feelings.. Then the emotion determines the standard of truth. When it feels good, it is true. But to come to the knowledge of the truth there must first be a living relation with the Lord Jesus. Now read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 again. Reflection: Which warnings do you find for yourself in this section?

‏ 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Last Days and Difficult Times

2Tim 3:1. To do the will of God the circumstances are not particularly favorable. Paul wants you to realize that we live in the “last days” and that the times in these days will be ”difficult”. With ‘last days’ is indicated that we have come to the closing stages of the era of the church as a testimony on earth. With “difficult times” it is indicated that you do not see any more directly a clear distinction between true Christians and those who are that only by name. The devil will do everything to make as many Christians as possible to become unfaithful to the Lord. He will as he always did tempt Christians to sin, but he will make maximum efforts to introduce worldly elements into Christian living.

2Tim 3:2-4. That appears from the list of characteristics that Paul summarizes after this. If you compare this list with the list in Romans 1 (Rom 1:29-32) you will see a great similarity. Only in Romans 1 it is about characteristics of people who live without God, while here the characteristics are written of people who profess to be in relationship with God. In that way you see that the devil seeks to undermine the Christian testimony by introducing worldly elements in order to make it nothing more than an empty case. In that way the same degeneration that existed among the Gentiles will appear again under the cloak of Christendom. The result of this is that to the sins of Romans 1 the sin of hypocrisy is added.

Going down the list, you can see how numerous the forms are in which evil comes to expression among religious people. We don’t need to dwell too long on each expression. Do try to be honest with yourself and confess before the Lord the things you recognize in your own life and ask His help to stop doing or being that way.

1. The list starts tellingly with “lovers of self”.

2. The next is “lovers of money”, materialism.

3. When they open their mouth they appear to be “boastful”.

4. What they say shows that they are “arrogant”.

5. “Revilers” speak evil, bad things about others to harm them.

6. They have no respect for their father and mother but are “disobedient to parents”. It demonstrates the degeneration of the family life.

7. These people are also “ungrateful”, an attitude that takes everything for granted and demands to be served any time. It is the blown up feeling of being entitled to anything I want and don’t need to thank anyone for it.

8. Such people often live an “unholy” life, a life that is filled with uncleanness and ungodliness.

9. They are “unloving”. There is no mention of love with them. They even lack natural love, which can lead to homosexual relationships.

10. They are also “irreconcilable”. They cannot tolerate anyone else and are not willing to forgive anybody.

11. They love to put other people in a bad light which they show by “malicious gossips”.

12. “Self-control” is a strange matter to them, there is no self-restraint,

13. whereby they do not shun “brutal” behavior in words and deeds.

14. That’s because in their life they show to be “haters of good”. They have no eye and no taste for the good. They act almost like robots. There is almost nothing really human in their performance.

15. “Treacherous” people are willing to commit treason. Judas is an example of that (Lk 6:16; cf. Acts 7:52).

16. Without considering the consequences they speak and act “reckless”. It is no use to warn them.

17. “Conceited” as they are they are themselves the center of their thinking.

18. It is therefore not surprising that the list concludes with the absolutely lowest point: “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”. The love for God has totally been driven out by the love for pleasure.

The whole list describes a life that only consists of the pursuit of selfish goals, whereby the rights of God are totally ignored.

2Tim 3:5. It is all about instruments of the enemy that give the appearance that they live in fear for God. But it is only a form (Mt 23:25). Their life does not radiate the power of a life with God. They even deny that God is able to give them some strength. They keep the Word of God that is living and powerful closed. They have their own ideas about God. God is for them Someone Who supplies their need, while they count on themselves when it comes to the fulfillment of those needs. In fact they are God themselves. You cannot afford to remain in contact with such people. You are not to argue with them, but you ought to obey God and avoid them.

2Tim 3:6. Such a company is an ideal place for those who creep in, people who say and teach wrong things to undermine the testimony of God. It is often women by whom the false teachings are spread. Generally speaking, women are more emotional by nature than men. There is nothing wrong about that and that doesn’t automatically have to lead to a way of acting as it is described here. It is not surprising that John writes his second letter, concerning false teachings, to a woman (2Jn 1:1). She is supposed to recognize a false teacher.

But if emotion rules a woman and if she also lives in sin – driven therein by a depraved heart – false teachers will find in her a willing tool. The false teacher only needs to flatter her to win her for himself. He can then manipulate her in such a way that she becomes a propagator of his false teachings.

2Tim 3:7. They are women who indeed want to learn. They always hunger for new teachings. But instead of “to come to the knowledge of truth” they deviate further and further away from the truth. They are always searching, but never come to a firm conviction. Nowadays there are many new teachings that respond and adapt to the desire after a spiritual life. These teachings consist of a gospel without the cross, without a crucified and risen Christ.

The cause that a person cannot come to the knowledge of the truth often is due to the fact that one does not subject oneself to the truth, but wants to subject the truth to oneself, to set it to one’s own will and feelings.. Then the emotion determines the standard of truth. When it feels good, it is true. But to come to the knowledge of the truth there must first be a living relation with the Lord Jesus.

Now read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 again.

Reflection: Which warnings do you find for yourself in this section?