Paul addresses Timothy's future ministry
3
What relativistic humanism produces
1 Now understand this: In the last days there will be grievous times; 2 because people will be self-lovers,* money lovers, boasters, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without family affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 betrayers, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;† 5 wearing a form of godliness while having denied its power!‡
You must avoid such people; 6 because they are the sort that press§ into households and ‘capture’ gullible women loaded down with sins, who are led along by various lusts, 7 always learning yet never being able to come to a real knowledge of truth.* 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres† opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth—men of depraved mind, disqualified as regards the faith‡— 9 but they will not advance any further because, as in the case of the former, their folly will become evident to all.
“Continue in the things you have learned”
10 You, however, have carefully followed my doctrine, my lifestyle, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance; 11 the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured; yet the Lord delivered me out of them all. 12 In fact, any one who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted;§ 13 while malignant men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you, continue in the things you have learned and to which you were committed,* knowing from whom you learned, 15 and that from infancy you have known the Sacred Scriptures which are able to make you wise into salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed† and is valuable for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for training in righteousness,‡ 17 so that the man of God may be fully competent, thoroughly equipped for every good work.§
* 3:2 Recent studies indicate that the vast majority of young people in North America (and presumably also elsewhere) are now ‘narcissists’—they are totally self-centered, with no concern for others. They have been ‘programmed’ through their portable access to TV and the Internet. † 3:4 Verses 2-4 give a terrifyingly accurate description of contemporary society; two thousand years ago Paul gave a prophetic description of what relativistic humanism produces. ‡ 3:5 “Having denied” is in the perfect tense; they start out by not believing in true godliness and hence deny that it would have any power. But living in a culture that still has vestiges of a former godliness, they find it useful to pretend. § 3:6 The description of such persons, given in verses 2-5, does not agree with ‘sneaking’ or ‘worming’—they enter openly, exuding confidence and competence. I follow the best line of transmission, albeit a minority reading (20% of the Greek manuscripts, here). * 3:7 Who are these ‘little women’? Hardworking mothers and homemakers in families that are struggling to make ends meet have no leisure to indulge in a variety of lusts or to spend time listening to purveyors of high-sounding nonsense. Where do arrogant lovers of money, pleasure and self go? They go where the money and pleasure is, the high society. So the reference is probably to high society dames who have the money and leisure to indulge themselves, but enough conscience left to be bothered by it. But they don't really want to give up their lifestyle. † 3:8 Paul got these names from an extra-biblical source that was nonetheless accurate history. ‡ 3:8 The reference is clearly to servants of the enemy. § 3:12 If no one is persecuting you, why not? * 3:14 In the next verse Paul harks back to Timothy's childhood and the influence of his mother and grandmother; just as we dedicate our children to God, Timothy was doubtless so dedicated. “To which you were committed” fits the context very nicely—I follow the best line of transmission, albeit a minority reading (20% of the Greek manuscripts, here). † 3:16 Paul coins an expression to describe the intimate connection between God and His written revelation; it is like His very breath. ‡ 3:16 Notice the sequence: 1) the Scripture provides objectively true information; 2) then the Holy Spirit uses His Sword to convict of sin; 3) this leads to repentance and conversion; 4) then the Word is our food and water for spiritual growth. As we grow, we can help others move through the sequence. § 3:17 Access to Scripture is necessary for spiritual growth and work.