2 Timothy 3

    3:1-17.  Those who use the Scriptures as a place to search for omens, the way a Roman general might have a priest examine a bird’s entrails, will get all excited at v.1.  This is about the last days!  Well, it does use the future tense, and perfectly describe our time; men will be lovers of self, etc.  But this approach misses a couple of things.  This is a warning to Timothy that the false and powerless godliness of some in the present church would grow even worse (cf. Acts 20:29-30).  He was to avoid such men as these (5).  The inescapable fact is that Timothy was living in the last days, and Paul’s description of those times was as apt then as it is now.  The last days will continue like this until the Last Great Day.  While the Scripture’s descriptions of the last days are always current, those who interpret them by current events soon sound dated and foolish.

     3:6.  The weakness of women here is no more a general statement about all women than vv.2-5 is of all men of the church.  There are faithful men and strong women, by God’s grace.

     3:7.  Apart from God, the learning of man is vanity (cf. Job 12:13).

     3:8.  Jannes and Jambres are nowhere else named in Scripture, but are apparently the Egyptian magicians of Ex.7:11.

     3:9.  One should not conclude from this that the struggle against them is easy, as vv.11-13 show.  But folly must always lead to shame in the end, or else it wouldn’t be called folly.  It’s like living high on credit.

     3:11.  Cf. Acts 13-14.

     3:13.  Cf. Job 12:16.  Who has been deceived more than the deceiver?  Who is more deceived than he who deceives himself?

     3:14-17.  Timothy’s teacher (Paul) has been trustworthy, just as are the Scriptures God has given us.  Vv. 15-17 refer to the OT, which Timothy was taught as a child (cf.1:5).  The OT supports the NT, and is able to give the “wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,” for it speaks of him (cf. Luke 24:44-45; Acts 2:29-31; 3:21-22).