In verse 12 of this passage, Paul lays out an alarming truth and reality for believers. Paul was telling Timothy that people who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Paul knew that truth from his own experience. Jesus had warned his disciples in John 15:20: “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you”.Today, most Christians do not face outright persecution just for being Christians (although being a Christian is still against the law in some places in the world). Those who worship freely and unhindered should be deeply grateful. However, we should not assume that this verse does not apply to us. If we stand up for Christian values, we can expect opposition and hostility from the world.
Based upon the testimony of countless believers who have lived before us, we can expect to meet with some form of persecution or resistance if we persist in living in obedience to Christ. Absence of persecution may not mean unfaithfulness, but if our lives as Christians never affect the world, we may have to question the depth of our commitment.
But even as believers faced persecution, evil people and imposters will flourish. These wicked people were progressing toward their wicked goal and dragging others down with them (1 Peter 4:2-5). Besieged by false teachers and the inevitable pressures of a growing ministry, Timothy might have been tempted at times to abandon his faith or modify his doctrine.
Paul counseled Timothy to look to his past and remain faithful to the things he had been taught about Jesus that he knew were eternally true. The false teachers might constantly move on to new and more exciting concepts and ideas for discussion and argument, but Timothy needed to stand secure on what he had learned and firmly believed. This did not mean that Timothy needed no further study, but that the basics that Timothy had learned from people he trusted would never change.
Timothy was one of the first second-generation Christians: he had become a Christian, not because an evangelist preached a powerful sermon, but because his mother and grandmother had taught him the Scriptures when he was a small child. For Timothy, the holy Scriptures were primarily the Old Testament—Genesis to Malachi. The sources for Timothy’s faith could provide another encouragement to continue in the faith: Paul, his mentor and friend, who provided an unmistakable example of God’s faithfulness; the inerrant Scriptures that Timothy had studied and loved since childhood.
In verse 16, Paul reminded Timothy that because Scripture is inspired and infallible, it is also useful. The Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or merely human ideas about God. It is not a human book. Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed his person and plan to certain believers, who wrote down his message for his people. This process is known as “inspiration.” The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural contexts. Although they used their own minds, talents, language, and style, they wrote what God wanted them to write. Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writing. Its words are entirely authoritative for our faith and lives.
By calling the Bible “God-breathed,” Paul was identifying its divine source; by making it the source of doctrine, he was reminding Timothy of its authority. Scripture’s purpose is to prepare and equip believers for every good thing God wants them to do. Timothy carried a heavy responsibility in Ephesus, but through his faith in and reliance on God’s word, he was capable and proficient—able to meet all duties and challenges. Believers should study the Bible so that they will know how to do Christ’s work in the world. Knowledge of God’s word is not useful unless it strengthens our faith and leads us to do good (Ephesians 2:10).
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
This is one of my favorite passages of scripture. It is filled with so many rich, meaningful and life changing truths and principles.
My question for those who read this blog today is simple a bit biting, but simple - (John Wesley is the first one I am aware of that posed this question to his congregation) - if you were out on trial for suspicion of being a christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
I ask this, because I 100% absolutely believe that every person has a God-given dream deep inside of their hearts. The problem is, we get distracted. We get caught up into unhealthy habits and unhealthy lifestyles and that God-given dream gets buried.
We forget, we lose sight of, we get off the path that HE has set for us. My encouragement today; come back home to the life God would have you live. I pray that you will be discover what God created you to do with your one and only life and that you would be passionate about pursuing that dream. Be sold out to that dream. Give yourself wholly to that dream. My prayer for you is that others would catch on fire because of your fire.
Lord, draw people to COV this morning. Change lives this morning. Do something great this morning. Speak through me for Your glory and honor. Build Your church.
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