2 Timothy chapter 3
The Apostasy Predicted: the Christians Resource – the Scriptures
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(3: 1) Apostasy, or “falling away” is the act of professed Christians who deliberately reject revealed truth as to; the Deity of Jesus Christ the Lord, and redemption through His atoning and redeeming sacrifice. (See 1 John 4: 1-3; Philippians 3: 18; 2 Peter 2:1).
The apostle Paul perfectly describes an apostate in chapter 4: 3-4 below:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; And they shall turn away from their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.”
Apostates depart from the true faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity (see 3; 5).
If we are diligent, discerning, and living by the true faith of Scripture, and we are aware we can see the apostasy growing around us by the day. One does not have to look or go far to find apostates at every turn.
Also of note in 2 Timothy chapter 3, beyond the nourishment of every word, it is important to focus on verse 16.
Inspiration: Every word of Holy Scripture is inspired by God, or “God-breathed” (the Greek word; theopneutos).
Without impairing the intelligence, individuality, literary style, or personal feelings of the human authors, God supernaturally directed the writing of every word of Scripture so that they recorded in perfect accuracy His comprehensive and infallible revelation to man. If God Himself had done the writing, the written word wold be no more accurate and authoritative than it is – because God did literally write every word of Scripture by “breathing” His inspiration into each author, by His Spirit.
Further references on the inerrant and true inspiration of Scripture by the Spirit and “breath” of God can be found in the following;
2 Samuel 23: 2-3; Isaiah 59: 21; Jeremiah 1: 9 along with hundreds of instances where the words ‘thus saith the Lord” or its equivalent appear.
Matthew 5: 18; 22: 42-43; Mark 12: 36; John 10: 35; Acts 1: 16; 4: 24-25; 28: 25; Hebrews 3: 7; 10: 15-16; 2 Peter 1: 20-21 as well as many other references throughout the Newer Testament each reader can search and discover through their personal study.
Further study in 2 Timothy chapter 3 with Blue Letter Bible
Further study of the Greek word “theopneustos”
Audio sermons by A. W. Tozer:
(1 Peter – Part 12): As Obedient Children by A.W. Tozer
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