CHAPTER 3
In this chapter is a prophecy of a great apostasy concerning the church.
Also, there are some details about how and why that would happen.

However, there is also an admonishment to CONTINUE studying the
Scriptures, and to be made WISE from them.

Vs 1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Let me refer to two words first: LAST DAYS.
In the Greek it is eschatos hemera.
Eschatos, meaning latter, towards the end, final.
Hemera, meaning age, time, years.

Putting the two words together, yields a sense of latter age.
Or, perhaps, in the days when time (which God created, and will
also bring to an END) is getting close to an end.

Now, the Greek word for "perilous" is chalepos,
meaning reducing strength because of fierce or furious times.

The Scripture had already spoken concerning this in 1Tim. 4:1,
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils."

In fact, the Scripture says, in verse 13 of this chapter, that things
will get "worse and worse" because of seducers and evil
men!

Now, the Scripture goes into detail about these troublesome
times.

Vss 2-5
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.

The description of the state of mankind here is breathtaking!
A) Lovers of their own selves - not caring about anything but
promotion of self.
B) Covetous - desiring what they don't have.
C) Boasters - bragging of self to reduce the input of others.
D) Proud - appearing and acting haughty - putting self above others.
E) Blasphemers - railing with despite against men AND GOD!
F) Disobedient to parents - not giving honor or respect that is
due to parents. ( Romans 1:30).
G) Unthankful - Ingratitude, failing to give thanks for benefactors,
and especially to God who gives us life.
H) Unholy - those who fail in performing their duty to God, the
unreligious in respect to yielding to God.
I) Without natural affection - an intentional lack of regard for children.
Abortion, inordinate child labor, child porn, child molestation,
child trafficking.
J) Trucebreakers - those who refuse to be reconciled when
breaches have been made.
K) False accusers - The Greek word is diaboloi, meaning
DEVILS. Those who are constant in contention and slander!
L) Incontinet - without strength, weak morally.
M) Fierce - not gentle, severe, harsh, hard-hearted.
N) Despisers of those that are good - set against those that are
kind, gentle, moral.
O) Traitors - one who betrays friend or country.
P) Heady - rash, rushing headlong into things without deliberation.
Q) High-minded - lifted up with pride.
R) Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God - living for vain
amusement rather than a serious pursuit of God.

Those characteristics of mankind listed above, have been, and
still are practiced in the world yesterday and today!

He who REFUSES God RECEIVES a "reprobate mind!"
The word reprobate is translated from the Greek adokimos,
meaning worthless and/or rejected.
BECAUSE .... Vs 5
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.

Rom. 2:32 says this, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that
they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only DO
the same, but have pleasure in then that do them."

One note here; being an ACTING Christian means following
God's will expressed in the Bible.
To ACT like a Christian and NOT perform the duty of sharing
Christ with others is "DENYING the POWER of God" that
is given by His Holy Spirit!

Vss 6-7
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

One of the ways weak men seek to make themselves seem
more powerful and intelligent is to subvert weak women.
This is indicative of a man who really has no "backbone," so to speak;
but flatters and charms so to seem powerful; then MISUSES
the gain!

Verse 7 refers again to the weak women who follow religious
teachers.
They learn many things.
But never come to the TRUTHS of the Bible!

This is the same way Satan tempted Eve: sneaky, questioning
God, proposing doubt and leading astray from truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do
these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate
concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be
manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

Here is a Biblical example of the things spoken earlier.
Janes and Jambres were probably the two magicians who
opposed Moses in Pharoah's court.
Supposedly, with magic, they threw down snakes; but,
Moses threw down his staff - it became a snake and ate
all the magicians snakes!
( Exodus 7:11-12).

Those magicians could not overcome God's power in
His representative Moses!

And, even today (or tomorrow) evil seducers will be made
known, if only Christians will NOT DENY the power of God
working IN and THROUGH them!

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch,
at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of
them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.

Paul had suffered.
Again I say, God had one Son with no sin; but has NO sons
without suffering!!
( 2 Timothy 3:12).

Paul was persecuted and afflicted in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra.
But in all JESUS DELIVERED HIM!

His life exhibited:
1) staying with doctrine (truths from God's Word);
2) a life with the purpose God had given him;
3) enduring by faith;
4) showing love and patience.

Timothy (and you and I) KNEW this; and Timothy and you
and I are to take that life as an EXAMPLE!

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Yes! Mankind CONTINUES to grow worse and worse, as they
find out they can deceive others to their profit!

The admonition in vss 14-15 is CONTINUE in the truths of the
Word of God.
Those truths ASSURE us of an eternity with Christ when we
live according to the faith Christ has given us!

REMEMBER, salvation, by process of sanctification is an
ONGOING thing until we physically die.

Living as a Christian is not always pretty because WE fail,
and others sins do AFFECT our lives.
It is good then to remember Philippians 4:6-7. ( Philippians 4:6-7).

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The words "given by inspiration of God," are translated from ONE
Greek word - theopneustos - meaning literally that God BREATHED
the word into the earthly penman!
That word, theopneustos, is found no where else in the New Testament!
It is UNIQUE, and describes basically the same as Gen. 2:7, where God,
breathed into Adam's nostrils and man became an EXISTING (eternal) being!

REGARDLESS of who physically is considered to have been the one
who wrote the book or chapter; the words were BREATHED into the
writer by the Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus said in John 6:63 that HIS words were "spirit" and "life."
And, Prov. 4:22 says that the Words from God are "LIFE to those who
find them, and health to all their flesh!"

The Word of God (the Bible) is given BY God FOR people!
And, the Bible is "PROFITABLE"!

The Bible provides "doctrine" which is TRUTH from God!!
The Bible provides "REPROOF" convincing that man is
a sinner in need of a Savior.
The Bible provides "CORRECTION" restoration from sin to
salvation through Jesus Christ.
The Bible provides "INSTRUCTION in righteousness" because
it shows that man can be TRANSFORMED by surrender to Christ
and STUDY of the Word!

When a person chooses and determines to live for Christ, the Bible
provides ALL the person needs to be a man/woman "of God!"
He she is THOROUGHLY FURNISHED with the text book for
righteous living and doing "good works" in the world.

The FIRST rule of business is GOOD COMMUNICATIONS!
That requires TWO-WAY conversations.
It requires that business purposes be fully explained, WITH
understanding to all employees.

Take that as you will, it actually is a principle in Christianity!
God talks and explains FULLY!
But are we LISTENING, ABSORBING and PUTTING what He
says into PRACTICE in our living?

For instance, I have been studying (not just reading) the Bible
for almost 70 years.
And almost EVERY time I sit down, read and meditate on
the words of God, He is MORE DISTINCTLY teaching me
about His principles of TRUTH!

Consider the Bible to be a LOVE LETTER from God to YOU!
AS you study, God's Holy Spirit AIDS you in understanding.
( John 14:26).

The Bible will teach a person WHY he/she needs to be SAVED!
The Bible will teach a person what he/she needs to DO to be saved!
The Bible will teach a person how to LIVE a saved life!
The Bible will teach a person how to TEACH others WHY they
need to be saved, and HOW to LIVE a saved life.

Thus, the Bible presents absolute and inerrant truths to
fallible human beings, and OFFERS God's REAL PURPOSE
for them.
That purpose is to perpetuate the Gospel of Christ to ALL!
( Matthew 28:18-20).