2 Timothy 3:5

‘Holding a form of religious behaviour, but having denied its power. From these also turn away.’

And yet they cling to some kind of ‘eusebeias’, religious thinking and behaviour. But they deny the source of true power in genuine religion, response to and recognition of the risen Christ (2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; 2 Timothy 2:8; 2 Timothy 2:10). Thus Timothy must turn away from them (compare 2 Timothy 2:16-17; 1 Timothy 1:4-7; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:3-5 with 1 Timothy 6:11; 1 Timothy 6:20-21). It is worthy of note how concerned Paul is in his final letters to warn against distortions of Christianity such as are found in the sects, which include Islam, a religion based on Mohammed’s distorted notions about Christian teaching.

‘Having denied its power.’ On one way or another they deny the resurrection and its significance. For example, they say that the resurrection is past already (2 Timothy 2:18). But its power can equally be denied by any failure to truly believe and come to a genuine knowledge of the truth. The power of the resurrection can only be experienced by becoming one with the risen Christ as a result of our opening our hearts to Him (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 3:17).