A Message for the Last Days

2 Timothy 3:1-17

2 Timothy 3:1–17 (NLT)

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.

7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)

8 These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.

9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.

11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

INTRODUCTION:

Paul now looks down through the years and with the eyes of the prophet tells us what to expect. This chapter is his prophetic appeal to Timothy, his charge in the light of the future of the church.

I. An Explanation of the Future ( 2 Timothy 3:1–9)

2 Timothy 3:1–9 (NLT)

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.

7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)

8 These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.

9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

A- The times will be difficult. (2 Timothy 3:1)

2 Timothy 3:1 (NLT)

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

(Τοῦτο δὲ γίνωσκε ὅτι ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἐνστήσονται καιροὶ χαλεποί·)

1- What are the “last days?”

a- “The last days” is a period of time that actually began with the life and ministry of Christ on earth (Heb. 1:1–2).

b- The NT indicates that “the last days” refers particularly to the state of the church before the coming of Christ.

2- There will be difficult times.

a- χαλεποί· = ‘troublous, distressful, violent

b- καιροὶ = points of time consisting of occasions for particular events—‘time, occasion.’

B- The people will be difficult. (2 Timothy 3:2-9)

1- Misplaced love. (2 Timothy 3:2)

2 Timothy 3:2 (NLT)

2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

(ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι φίλαυτοι, φιλάργυροι, ἀλαζόνες, ὑπερήφανοι, βλάσφημοι, γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς, ἀχάριστοι, ἀνόσιοι,)

a- love of self (φίλαυτοι =pertaining to self-centered love or concern for one’s own self—‘selfish love, self-centered love.’)

b- Love of money (φιλάργυροι = love of wealth or money—‘loving wealth, lover of riches)

2- Arrogant and boastful

a- “They will be boastful and proud” (ἀλαζόνες, ὑπερήφανοι,)

ἀλαζόνες = one who is pretentiously proud and given to bragging about it—‘braggart, arrogant person.

ὑπερήφανοι = pertaining to being ostentatiously proud—‘arrogant, haughty, contemptuous.’

3- Disrespectful toward God (scoffing at God)

βλάσφημοι = pertaining to being insulting and slanderous—‘insulting, slanderous, blasphemous

4- Disobedient to their parents (disobedient to their parents)

γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς = disobedient to their parents/guardian

5- ungrateful

ἀχάριστοι = pertaining to a complete lack of thankfulness—‘unthankful, ungrateful.

6- Consider nothing sacred.

ἀνόσιοι = pertaining to what is not consecrated or devoted to God—‘unholy, impious, godless.

7- Hostile toward others (2 Timothy 3:3)

2 Timothy 3:3 (NLT)

3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

(3 ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,)

unloving (ἄστοργοι = ‘without normal human affection, without love for others.)

unforgiving (ἄσπονδοι = ‘irreconcilable, unwilling to be at peace with others)

slanderous (διάβολοι = one who engages in slander—‘slanderer.’)

no self-control (ἀκρατεῖς = ‘uncontrolled, lacking in self-control)

cruel (ἀνήμεροι = ‘fierce, vicious, untamed.)

Hate what is good and right ( ἀφιλάγαθοι = ‘not loving what is good, being an enemy to what is good, being against what is good.

8- Self-focused (2 Timothy 3:4)

2 Timothy 3:4 (NLT)

4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

(προδόται, προπετεῖς, τετυφωμένοι, φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλόθεοι,)

betrayers (προδόται = ‘betrayer, one who betrays)

reckless (προπετεῖς = ‘reckless, impetuous.)

Puffed up with pride (τετυφωμένοι = ‘to be insanely arrogant, to be extremely proud, to be very arrogant.)

Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλόθεοι)

φιλήδονοι = given over to pleasure, lover of pleasure, loving pleasure

9- Deceptive and misleading (2 Timothy 3:5-9)

2 Timothy 3:5–9 (NLT)

5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.

7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)

8 These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.

9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

Hypocrites (They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.)

Manipulative (v. 6-9)

prey on the gullible

Oppose the truth

depraved minds

counterfeit faith

II. An Example from the Past ( 2 Timothy 3:10–13)

2 Timothy 3:10–13 (NLT)

10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.

11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

A- Recognize Positive examples. (2 Timothy 3:10-11)

2 Timothy 3:10–11 (NLT)

10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.

11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

1- Paul lived a positive example for Timothy to follow.

(Acts 20:24; 2 Tim. 4:7)

Acts 20:24 (NLT)

24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

B- Remember Problems Will Come. (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

2 Timothy 3:12–13 (NLT)

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

1- Persecution is not something that Christians should deliberately encourage, but if they live godly lives, persecution will come automatically (see 1 Peter 4:12–19).

1 Peter 4:12–19 (NLT)

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?

18 And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

III. An Exhortation for the Present ( 2 Timothy 3:14–17)

2 Timothy 3:14–17 (NLT)

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

A- Remain faithful to the truth. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

2 Timothy 3:14–15 (NLT)

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

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B- Remember to source of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

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Timothy’s relationship to the Bible is outlined in these verses. It began when he was a child and learned the OT Scriptures from his mother and grandmother. They did not merely teach him the facts of the Bible; they gave him assurance and spiritual understanding. Timothy knew for himself the truth of the Word; he did not depend on others to defend the Word for him. This Word imparted faith to him (Rom. 10:17), and this faith in Christ brought salvation.

Verses 16–17 are a great testimony to the divine origin and character of the Bible. Some say, “The Bible only contains the word of God,” or “The Bible is inspired the way Shakespeare is inspired.” But Paul would not agree with these statements. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. The word “inspired” means “God-breathed—filled with the breath of God.” The Spirit of God enabled men of God to write the Word of God (see 2 Peter 1:20–21), for the Spirit of God is the “breath” of God (John 3:1–8; Ezek. 37:1–14). While men like Shakespeare may have had literary inspiration of a high quality, they did not write the very words of God. “All Scripture” means that every word of God is inspired.

The great need among churches and Christians today is to return to the Bible. If the churches do not get back to God’s Word, the satanic deceivers will take over and millions of lost sinners will go to hell because they were led astray by religious lies.