3:1 But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.
3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful,
arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3:3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
3:4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God;
3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof.
Turn away from these, also.
3:6 For of these are those who creep into houses, and take captive
gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
3:7 always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth.
3:8 Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the
truth;
men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
3:9 But they will proceed no further.
For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to
be.
Identify with the godly
3:10 But you did follow
my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
3:11 persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me
at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. Out of them
all the Lord delivered me.
3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution.
3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived.
3:14 But you remain in the things which you have learned and have
been assured of,
knowing from whom you have learned them.
3:15 From infancy, you have known the sacred writings
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which
is in Christ Jesus.
3:16 Every writing inspired by God {literally, God-breathed}is
profitable
for teaching,
for reproof,
for correction, and
for instruction which is in righteousness,
3:17 that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Discussion Questions
What characteristics in people make you want to be friends with them?
And what characteristics make you want to separate from them?
vs 5 From what kind of people should you separate and in what manner
should you separate?
(xrefs 1Cor 5:11; 2Cor 6:14-18)
Personal Evaluation: If people were evaluate your life would they label
you as one of the following?
narcissist
a lover of money
boastful
proud
abusive
disobedient to parents
ungrateful
unholy
without love
unforgiving
slanders others
lacks self-control
brutal
not a lover of good
treacherous
rash
conceited
loves pleasure more than God
has a form of godliness
(but denies its power)
Why does godliness attract persecution?
What role models have helped you put substance and application to your
Christian faith?
vs 10 Personal Evaluation: How might you identify with Paul in the
following areas:
Teaching
Way of Life
Purpose
Faith
Love
Patience
Endurance
Persecutions
Sufferings
Am I instructing others in the truth?
Am I deriving personal applications?
What is my objective?
How strong are my convictions?
How can I meet the needs of others?
How long can I tolerate opposition -
both from people and circumstances?
And if I'm not experiencing persecution, then why not?
vs 16,17 How might you categorize the various ways in which the scripture
is useful?
Teaching
Instructing in what is right in doctrine
Rebuking
Convicting of what is wrong in practice
Correcting
Convicting of what is wrong in doctrine
Training in Righteousness
Instructing in what is right in practice
Comment
Traditionally, Jannes and Jambres were the Egyptian sorcerers who opposed
Moses before Pharaoh. (Ex 7:11,12,22) With this in mind and the idea of
"gain control over" seems to indicate that he is referring to ungodly false
Christians acting as teachers. Christians are commanded to disassociate
from such as in 1Cor 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not
to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or
covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner;
with such an one no not to eat." This may seem contrary to the world's
concept of love and even many a Christian's concept of Jesus, for Jesus
did associate with sinners, but it was only because such people were willing
to listen to him. Disassociation is part of the Christian life. "Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2Cor 6:17