2 Timothy 3:1-17 / 4:1-5

Are you ready

Paul was a mentor to Timothy

Timothy was from Lystra of Derbe, in fact this is where Paul was stoned. It is possible that Timothy was there when Paul was stoned. Timothy was a young man who was probably brought up being taught the word of God. His mom and grandmother who were believers probably taught Timothy scripture. He had mom and grandma as the example to live a Godly life. Timothy was probably converted on Paul’s first visit. Paul decides to choose Timothy probably because of His character.

But there was a problem with Timothy. There were many Jewish men in that region. Those Jewish men being Jewish were or might have been circumcised but also knew that Timothy’s father was Greek. Which Timothy was not circumcised. If Paul wanted Timothy to go on with him without conflict, he then needed to circumcise Timothy which he did.

Jews were primarily monotheistic (meaning 1 God), adhering to a strict ethical and religious code based on the God’s Law, while Greeks were largely polytheistic (worship of more than 1 God) and emphasized philosophy, art, and intellectual pursuits. 

That was probably the main reason Paul needed to Circumcise Timothy. Bringing him closer to the Jewish culture versus the Greek culture.

Had nothing to do with his faith in God but more the surrounding culture of the region as stated in the bible.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:1-17 and 4:1-5

Perilous- In the Bible, "perilous" signifies a time of intense danger, hardship, and moral decay. It's often used in the context of the "last days" or the end times, indicating a period of fierce wickedness and difficult circumstances.

Full of danger risk

I believe we are living in the end times.

As you take a look at world you will notice how things are out of control. As we read this list you will notice how everything applies to us today.

We see politicians arrested for various crimes.

We see how drugs are entering the country.

It does not matter who the president is.

We see stores vandalized and and the criminals getting off easily.

We have lost our moral compass as a nation in the world.

If we do not have a strong biblical moral compass or base then we do not have morals.

We see the lawlessness and the anarchy taking place.

The reason for the perilous times are mentioned as follows.

Men will be lovers of themselves- You see many people attempting diets for the wrong reason. They do it to look good but not to feel healthy.

The Greek word for love, in “lovers of self”, is “philos”, which is the kind of love that comes from our emotions. Basically, it is what we experience when we are attracted to someone. We put ourselves above others.

lovers of money

boasters- these were the quacks, they were people who would go around selling medicine boasting that their medicine would cure every thing.

Socrates said they could be found in every walk of life.

proud-

blasphemers

disobedient to parents

unthankful

unholy

unloving

unforgiving

slanderers

with-out self control

brutal

despisers of good

traitors

headstrong

haughty

lovers of pleasure rather then lovers of God.

People would rather go see a NFL, NBA, MLS, MLB game rather than being at church. I am not saying going to those games is wrong, but I am saying that is where the heart is.

Where your heart is there you treasure is also

having a form of godliness but denying its power.

The denial of the power of God. The church has become a social center. People come to church not to seek God but to seek solutions to their problems. ‘

How to be a better husband

How to be a better wife

How to be a better father, mother

How to be whatever,

but not seeking after God for their own growth towards their relationshiop with God.

Verse 7- Always learning and never coming to the knowledge of truth- always looking for the next best thing. What makes you feel better.

Verse 8- Jannes and Jambres- they were the 2 magicians who came against Moses. They dropped their staffs and they turned to serpents. The also made the water become blood. They resisted Moses. In fact if you remember Moses’s staff ate Jannes and Jambres staff.

These 2 magicians did have power, but that power did not come from God.

Paul had writings that we do not have, and he discloses their name.

Men of corrupt mind, resisting the truth. Just like today. Men having corrupt minds resisting the truth.

We have this thing that has been around for about 30-40 years- Political Correctness.

Verse 10-

Paul was stoned, shipwrecked, beaten, and much more. Timothy saw what Paul went through. He saw Paul as an example. That is why Paul was his mentor.

Verse14-

From a child you have known the Holy scripture

Verse 16

There are some people that teach that only some scriptures are inspired by God.

But when they do this then they become the authority, they will tell you what you need to believe because everything was not inspired of God. Only certain words.

They would sit around and vote, to see which scripture is inspired and which is not.

As I have heard many times they do not agree amongst themselves.