Lesson 11
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the ministry of Your Word. We claim the promise that Your Word will accomplish its purpose and will not return to You void, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
2 Timothy 3:1-17, apostasy, heresy, Word of God
VV 1-5, 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
In the last days, difficult times will come and people will fall away from the faith. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderous, defiant, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, traitorous, unfriendly, pleasure-seeking, and ungodly.
VV 6-9, 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
Ungodly men would come into houses to take advantage and seduce gullible women. Jannes and Jambres were Pharaoh’s magicians who could replicate some of the miracles of Moses., Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:22, Exodus 8:7. Paul could have quoted non-biblical sources in antiquity as the names Jannes and Jambres are not found in the Old Testament. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, these ungodly men opposed the truth of the gospel.
Exodus 7:11, “Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts”.
Exodus 7:22, “But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said’’.
Exodus 8:7, “But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt”.
VV 10-11, 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Timothy was a godly man who followed Paul’s doctrines with purpose, faith, patience, love, and perseverance. Paul remembered persecutions and afflictions under by the hostile Jews at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra and how the Lord had rescued him.
VV 12-15, 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Everyone who lived godly lives in Christ will suffer persecution by evil men and imposters. Timothy must continue to remain faithful to Holy Scriptures because it had the power to save those who believe in Christ.
VV 16-17, 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible is written through God’s inspiration and is useful for teaching, convicting, correcting, encouraging, training, and equipping Godly people in righteous living and to do God’s work.
2 Peter 1:21, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Application:
In the last days, false teachers will appear and many will fall away from the faith. Godly people will suffer persecutions in the hands of the antichrist. We must continue to remain faithful to Christ and share the gospel. The acronym for BIBLE is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. We should have a high view of scripture and study it diligently.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray for divine protection in the face of trials, tribulations, sufferings, and persecutions in the last days. We pray for divine assistance to remain strong in the faith and stay true to Your calling, in Jesus’ name, Amen.