C G 3:1-9 The last days. Their character.
H K 3:10-13. Paul's sufferings.
L 3:14-4:2. Timothy. Ministry.
G 4:3,4. The last days. Their character.
H L 4:5. Timothy. Ministry.
K 4:6-8. Paul's reward.
2 Timothy 3)
1 This know also, that in the last days hard (difficult, grievous) seasons shall come.
(Face the facts. Difficult times will come.)
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (We are in the fig tree generation, that is to say the last days. If you don't think this prophecy is coming to pass, you haven't watched the evening news, lately. It just may be that God wanted the third of His children that followed Satan it the 1st earth age to be on earth in this end generation. There are troubled times on the horizon. Why? Satan and his angels will be here on earth. What would you expect from them? Dynasty of education instil thoughts of failure, like socialism.)
3 Without natural affection (heard-heated towards family.), truce-breakers, slanderers, (gossipers) incontinent, (self willed) fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(They hate God's Word. Watch their faces when you mention it.)
4 Traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (Incontinent means lack of self control. We have nothing to fear from these evil people. We know how to order evil away from us in the name of Jesus Christ. We are taking ground, not giving ground. Loving the world more than God will be their downfall. Political correctness, the majority doesn't rule. That is why you want to cleverly devise to separate yourself from them.)
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: and from these turn away. (They like to look holy. They claim to be servants of God. Some even claim to be preachers, but they deny the very power of God. Beware! Don't allow them to lead you astray. We are to plant seeds, however, don't allow yourself to be deceived with false doctrine, even if it comes from a Christian pulpit.)
6 For of these are they which creep into the houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (They creep into the house of God, and they lead silly women and men captive by not teaching truth. Vain babblings. Spiritually, we are all the bride of Christ. Note that the bride is laden with sins. In other words, she hasn't even been taught to repent. These teachers claim to be holy, but they are unholy.)
7 Always learning, and not at any time able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (It is no wonder they never come to knowledge when all they study is fairy tales about the apple in the garden of Eden and their rapture security blanket written by man. That is sad. They sit in the pews Sunday after Sunday and never gain knowledge concerning the truth.)
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men utterly corrupted, reprobate concerning the faith. (Jannes and Jambres were the names of the magicians of Ex. 7:11 that caused their staffs to appear to turn serpents just as the staff of Aaron had turned into a serpent. Don't overlook this. These are seducing spirits. God is warning this generation that you had better be ready for some pretty good magic tricks. Satan will be very convincing.)
9 But they shall not proceed further (the magicians were allowed to imitate Moses to a certain point, and then God stopped them when Aaron's which had turned into a serpent devoured the other serpents): for their folly shall be thoroughly manifest to all men, as theirs also was.
(They will be shown as fools.)
10 But you did follow up my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra (see Acts 13:50; 14:5,19); what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. (God will deliver you also. He will never give you more than you can bear without giving you a way out [1 Cor. 10:13].)
12 Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (We are going to be persecuted, but it doesn't matter what men say. Men can't change your relationship with your Father, unless you allow them to do so. Badge of honor, because they can't hurt you. Satan will give it to you every time you let your guard down. Don't let your Guard down! We are standing with our gospel armor on, and we are "kicking dragon". We have nothing to fear, if we only exercise the power Christ gave us [Luke 10:18-19].)
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax to the worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (Unfortunately, you will find many of these seducing spirits playing church. They deceive from the very pulpits that should be teaching God's truth. It will get worse before it gets better. False teachers love to deceive themselves and others. Check out what some one is telling you in God's Word, before you call that person your teacher. No one can improve on the doctrine of Christ. You find the doctrine of Christ in the Bible, and no where else.)
L M 3:14,15. Exhortation.
N 3:16,17. All Scriptures inspired. Statement.
M 4:1. Exhortation.
N 4:2. All Scriptures inspired. Consequence.
14 But abide you in the things which you did learn and was assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;
15 And that from a child you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (Taught by the Lord. The words of men do not make you wise unto salvation. It is God's Word that makes you wise unto salvation. Stick to His word.)
N q 16-. God's Divinity inspired Word.
r -16-. For Doctrine. Teaching what is true.
s -16-. For reproof. Convicting of what is false.
s -16-. For correction of what is wrong.
r -16. For instruction in what is right.
q 17. God's Divinity fits man.
16 All scripture is God-breathed, (breathed into you, the unction of learning, to know of a truth, that it is a reality.)
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: (Things are going to get much worse, before the Lord returns. God's Word gives us the ability to deal with difficult times. Knowledge of His Word will help you cleverly devise to discern falsehoods from truth.)
17 In order that the man of God may be fitted (mature, so you can help them. See 1 Thess. 4:9), equipped to every good work. (The apostasy will happen just as it is written. Make sure that you are thoroughly furnished so that no man can deceive you and make you part of that falling away.)