2 Timothy 3:1-13

The Grievous Times That Are Coming And What Timothy’s Response Is To Be (2 Timothy 3:1-13 ).

Paul now stresses that Timothy must expect the grievous times that were prophesied for ‘the last days’. He describes what is involved at length and then calls on Timothy to follow his own example, and to remember that all who would lie godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.

Analysis.

a But know this, that in the last days grievous times will come (2 Timothy 3:1).

b For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2-4).

c Holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. From these also turn away (2 Timothy 3:5).

d For of these are they who creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:6-7).

e And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth (2 Timothy 3:8 a).

d Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith (2 Timothy 3:8 b).

c But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be (2 Timothy 3:9).

b But you are familiar with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patient endurance, persecutions, sufferings, what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

a Yes, and all who would live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, but evil men and impostors will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12-13).

Note how in ‘a’ grievous times will come, and in the parallel these grievous times are exemplified. In ‘b’ we find a list of men’s evils, and in the parallel a list of the evils that come on Paul. In ‘c’ the true status of the false teachers is described, and in the parallel their resulting fate is described. In ‘d’ the behaviour of the false teachers is described, and in the parallel the state of their minds. Central in ‘e’ is the example of the magicians of Pharaoh, the foolish opposers of God.