2 Timothy 3.12-The Christian Who Desires to Live a Godly Life By Means of Fellowship with Christ Jesus Will Be Persecuted
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday July 28, 2015
Second Timothy: Second Timothy 3:12-The Christian Who Desires to Live a Godly Life By Means of Fellowship with Christ Jesus Will Be Persecuted
Lesson # 76
2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (NASB95)
Not translated is the conjunction de (δέ), which is introducing an assertion which marks a transition from Paul’s assertions in verse 11 to a statement which asserts all those Christians who desire to live a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus will be persecuted as well.
“Indeed” is the conjunction kai (καί), which is advancing upon and intensifying the previous statements regarding Paul experiencing and enduring and being delivered from persecutions in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra.
“All” is the nominative masculine plural form of the adjective pas (πᾶς), which means “each and every one” since the word pertains to the totality of individuals who compose the church and is used in a distributive sense.
“Who desire” is the articular nominative masculine plural present active participle form of the verb thelō (θέλω), which is used of human volition and means “to desire” since it pertains to a strong intention or purpose in life.
Here it speaks of the function of the volition of Christians.
Thus, the word refers to the Christian who “desires” to live a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus in the sense that it is their strong intention and goal in life.
The present tense is a gnomic present which is used to make a statement of a general timeless fact and says that something does take place or does happen.
It is used to describe something that is true any time.
This would indicate that each and every one who “does, at any time” desire to live a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
“To live godly” is composed of the following: (1) present active infinitive form of the verb zaō (ζάω), “to live” (2) adverb of manner eusebōs (εὐσεβῶς), “godly.”
The verb zaō means, “to live, to conduct oneself in a particular manner” specified by the context.
The subject of this verb is the Christian and it is modified by the adverb of manner eusebōs, “godly.”
Therefore, this verb is used here of the Christian conducting himself in a godly manner on planet earth in the devil’s world and speaks of the way the Christian behaves in a godly manner while living in the devil’s world.
The adverb of manner eusebōs means “godly manner” referring to conduct that reflects the character and nature of God and thus honors God because it is the direct result of experiencing eternal life.
“In Christ Jesus” is composed of the following: (1) preposition en (ἐν), “in” (2) dative masculine singular form of the proper name Christos (Χριστός), “Christ” (3) dative masculine singular form of the proper noun Iesous (Ἰησοῦς), “Jesus.”
Christos, “Christ” emphasizes that Jesus of Nazareth, the incarnate Son of God delivered the believer from the sin nature, personal sins, the devil and his cosmic system, spiritual and physical death and eternal condemnation through His substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths and resurrection.
This word is the object of the preposition en which is a marker of means indicating the means by which the Christian lives a godly life.
It contains the figure of metonymy meaning that the person of Christ is put for fellowship with Him.
Therefore, the proper name Christos functions as a dative instrumental of means containing the figure of metonymy indicating that the Christian who does at any time desire to live a godly life “by means of fellowship with” the Christ who is Jesus, will be persecuted.
Christos is modified by the proper name Iēsous which means “Jesus” and refers to the human nature of the incarnate Son of God.
The word functions as a “dative of simple apposition” meaning that it stands in apposition to the dative form of the noun Christos, “Christ” and simply clarifies who is Christ here, namely Jesus of Nazareth since there were many in the first century who made the claim.
“Will be persecuted” is the third person plural future passive indicative form of the verb diōkō (διώκω), which is used of the Christian being persecuted because they live a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus.
The future tense of this verb is a predictive future expressing the certainty that the Christian who lives a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus will be persecuted by others.
Second Timothy 3:12 Now, in fact, each and every one who does at any time desire to live a godly life by means of fellowship with the Christ, who is Jesus, will certainly be persecuted. (My translation)
Paul’s declaration here in Second Timothy 3:12 that each and every Christian who does at any time desire to live a godly life by means of fellowship with Jesus Christ will certainly be persecuted is a divine promise to the Christian.
It is designed to reassure the godly Christian that persecution is a part of the Father’s plan for the Christian to advance them to spiritual maturity.
It is designed to draw them into a more intimate fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit.
One of the identifying marks of a spiritually mature Christian is that of being persecuted by others for not conforming to the ungodly way of life in Satan’s cosmic system.
“Each and every one” emphasizes that there no exceptions that any Christian who desires to follow Paul’s example in living a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus will certainly be persecuted.
“Who does at any time desire” speaks of the function of the volition of those Christians whose goal in life is to live godly by means of fellowship with Jesus Christ.
“To live a godly life” is used here of the Christian conducting himself in a godly manner on planet earth in the devil’s world.
It speaks of the way the Christian behaves in a godly manner while living in the devil’s world.
It is referring to conduct that reflects the character and nature of God and thus honors God because it is the direct result of experiencing eternal life.
This is accomplished by appropriating by faith the Spirit’s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ.
It refers to conduct that reflects God’s character and nature and thus honors God because it is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, ways and will.
It also denotes that this conduct reflects God’s character and nature and thus honors God because it is in obedience to His commands and prohibitions and is empowered by His Spirit.
This conduct expresses one’s reverence for God and is thus an act of worshipping Him.
“By means of fellowship with the Christ who is Jesus” is expressing the means by which the Christian lives a godly life.
He does so by experiencing fellowship with Jesus Christ.
Fellowship with Jesus Christ is accomplished by exercising faith in the Spirit inspired commands and prohibitions in the Word of God.
This results in obedience to these commands and prohibitions.
Specifically, the Christian experiences fellowship with Jesus Christ by appropriating by faith their union and identification with Him in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the right hand of the Father.
This results in obedience to the commands and prohibitions in the gospel.
Indeed, for the Christian, fellowship with Jesus Christ is experienced by appropriating by faith one’s union and identification with Him in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the right hand of the Father.
“Will certainly be persecuted” emphasizes the certainty that any Christian who does at any time desire to live a godly life will be persecuted by others.
It is used of the Christian being persecuted because they live a godly life by means of fellowship with Christ Jesus.
It is used of the systematic organized program to oppress and harass Christians.
To persecute someone is to inflict suffering or pressure, mental, moral, or physical, on a person or a group especially for opinions or beliefs, with a view to their subjection by recantation, silencing, or, as a last resort, execution.
This persecution can be inflicted upon the godly Christian by either by either unregenerate non-Christians or regenerated Christians in apostasy.
Persecution can take various forms in different countries and in different ages.
Some persecution is blatantly overt and some persecution is very subtle taking the form of rejection which can include being ignored, patronized or mocked.
It can take the form of condescension as well.
Both forms express the hostility of those who are enslaved to sin and Satan and his cosmic system.
This persecution inflicted upon the godly Christian who is faithful to the gospel will come from three sources which constitute the three great enemies of the godly Christian: (1) Satan, our chief adversary, the devil: (1 Pet. 5:8-9; Eph. 6:12; John 16:11; Col. 2:15; but note 1 John 2:13-14). (2) The world, a system and arrangement of the affairs of men and government under the control of the evil one and opposed to God and His purposes for man: (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4; Eph. 2:2). (3) Indwelling Adamic sin nature or the flesh and all its corrupting power and life-dominating patterns: (Rom. 7:15; 8:4-8, 13; Gal. 5:16-26).