2 Timothy 3:1-9: Perilous Times
2022-02-19
2 Timothy 3:1
Here, we have a mention of the “last days.” We have before affirmed that we are in the last days; there is no doubt about that. God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 11:2). If the last days were in the first century, then surely we are in the last times now, nearly 2,000 years later.
However, this is the future tense. Perhaps here Paul is thinking of a future time where things will get more dangerous. This word “perilous” is translated “fierce” when describing the men with Legion that Jesus confronted (Matthew 8:28). These would be scary times. From the subsequent verses, we see that these would be times of evil men that are seeking to destroy. Over the next several verses, we will see what people are like in an end times culture. Initially, it seems to speak of people in general, but as the passage progresses, we may be looking at false prophets. Either way, we must be wary of our culture and that we will not be influenced by its ways.
2 Timothy 3:2
Here is what like end times people are like. We can see a lot of parallels of this in our own society. Much of this is also reminiscent of the attributes of the reprobate mind found in Romans 1:28-32.
They are “lovers of their own selves” or selfish. In our culture, we can think of all the “selfie” photographs and all the self-promotion through platforms like Facebook. Selfishness is the opposite of godliness and Christ-centeredness. Pride was the quintessential sin of Satan: “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty” (Ezekiel 28:17). “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Pride is also the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride...” (Ezekiel 16:49). Pride is also the key to self-destruction: “And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass” (Leviticus 26:19). The Lord humbles the proud with the hopeful result that they turn to Him. He uses famine and failed crops here, though He may use any way that will help them. However, in many cases, people will not turn to Him and end up like Satan or the people of Sodom.
They are covetous. The word is used of the Pharisees, who derided Jesus after He told them, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13-14). With all the advertising of Madison Avenue and seeing others’ possessions flaunted on spaces like Facebook, people want more things. There is no contentment, like we are told, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). The world tells us, “You deserve to treat yourself to X.” The Lord warns us, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Remember our discussion on lust in the previous chapter, and we considered James 4:1-3. People are willing to harm others to get the things they want. These people do the same.
They are boasters. They forget that their life “is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). This goes along with pride. Cain, in brazen defiance to the grace God had given him after his crime, he built a city in his son’s honor instead of being the vagabond he was told to be. The Flood ended his ambition. Babel likewise saw its end in the language confusion.
We saw being proud already before. It screams “look at me, I am great!” However, here is the attitude that any person should have: “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Everything we have, be it possessions or personal traits, is because God has given it to us. How can we be boast and be proud of anything, except it be of God?
They are blasphemers. The natural progression of the pride of humanity is to desecrate God. This is a reversal of proper roles: lifting humanity and pulling God down. Think of names of rock bands: Judas Priest (a priest to honor Jesus’ betrayer), Black Sabbath (a desecration of God’s holy day), Panthera (the man the Jews say had relations with Mary to have Jesus), Godsmack. There is a man named Marilyn Manson who has a rock album Antichrist Superstar, improving upon the already blasphemous Jesus Christ Superstar. In western society, blasphemy is a regular part of pop culture. It is normal to drag the Savior, the One who wants to save them, through the mud.
They are disobedient to parents. This is one way the bond of family has disintegrated. Parents who guide their children in love are rejected, and children go their own way. I have seen families with Christian parents who have had children who have rejected Christ and have the lifestyle to prove it. It could be that the parents raised them wrong, it could be that the public school system and the media have gotten to them, it could be broken families, it could be any reason. Whatever it may be, we see fruit of this today.
They are unthankful. We live in the entitlement generation. People expect things to be given to them, by somebody, somewhere out there. We live in a wealthy society, but no one thanks God for the material blessing we have seen for decades. People do not realize that we as Americans are riding the coattails of God’s blessings of yesteryear, as we dangle by a gracious thread over destruction.
They are ungodly. They are the least like God, which means they are anti-God and evil in every respect.
2 Timothy 3:3
They are “without natural affection.” I think of women who are proud of having abortions. This is not characteristic of most women who have done this. But there are some out there that proudly wear shirts that say they had an abortion, and recently there was a woman who took an abortion pill on live video. A mother is supposed to love her children, but on the contrary, we see there are some who do not. People who should love those closest to them, don’t.
They are trucebreakers. People make promises to do something, and then they break that promise. Promises do not mean anything. It is translated implacable in Romans 1:31. Nothing can be done to stop them from what they want.
They are false accusers. The word is διάβολος, and it is translated “devil” throughout the New Testament. That is what the devil does (Revelation 12:10). For someone to accuse someone falsely is to destroy them because they are an obstacle to what they want. We see a lot of this in our prominent political parties. They blame each other for things that are often not in their control so they can maintain their power and their votes. They also blame others for what they do themselves.
They are incontinent. They are without self-control. In the “#MeToo” movement, how many celebrities have been exposed for hurting people for their own pleasure. They do not even try to stop themselves, acting on impulse no matter who gets hurt in the process.
They are fierce. They are aggressively powerful and intimidating. The previous example applies here as well.
They are “despisers of those that are good.” These are the enemies of everything good. Given all that was said so far, being anti-God and all for themselves, there is nothing good about them. They are against everything good. I know someone who takes the ungodly position on every subject you could think of, and there is no convincing him otherwise.
2 Timothy 3:4
They are traitors. These people betray their friends or their country. Many government employees have betrayed the U.S. government by accepting money from foreign governments to give them secrets. They have no conscience in making their country less safe so they can benefit.
They are heady, or rash. They do not think through the consequences of their actions. For the traitor, they do not realize they would get punished severely for their actions. The January 6, 2021, insurrectionists in Washington, DC, and those behind the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone would be like this. They think they can threaten the government and get away with it.
They are highminded. As we have seen, they are proud.
They are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” We live this in our society. How much time and money are spent on entertainment? How many hours is spent in front of a television set? How much time and money are spent on food? Gluttony is epidemic in our society.
Consider Philippians 3:18-19. After a discourse on false prophets who require circumcision and works for godliness and salvation, the Spirit tells us that the true god of such a man is his “belly.” This could be the literal belly, and that is certainly true. However, it is desire to please self and fulfill our longings that is really in control.
The love of God is contrary to the love of pleasure. In fact, we cannot love God as we should. The way through the Christian life is the same way as salvation: faith in Christ. We believe that Christ has accomplished all for us already: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). It is believing that our death with Him is how He produces His life within us. With our minds oriented that way, we are redirected from the self-life to the Christ-life.
2 Timothy 3:5
They have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” So much could be said about this. What power do we deny God?
We do not believe that God is active and sovereign over our lives. Consider the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Do we believe that all power has been given to Him? Do we believe that He can do anything? When the hurricane came through a couple years ago, I was floored. I did not know how to handle a lot of the situations that came my way. I believed that my circumstances were on my shoulders and that the Lord could not provide during that time. However, He did. When harder times than those come, are we willing to believe that all power is given to Him? Do you believe that He is with us always, all the way to the end of time?
We believe God needs help from government programs. Do we have more faith in the White House, the congress, and the courts than we do in Christ? Do we believe that they are going to solve our “problems”? Or do we believe that Christ has all power over these entities? “...the government shall be upon his shoulder” (Isaiah 9:7). There is another king, one Jesus. However, we have come to the place where Christianity is married to partisan politics. We have denied God’s power here as well.
We believe that He can no longer do miracles. We say stuff like miracles stopped after the apostolic age. The Scriptures do not teach that. The Enlightenment and modern science taught us all that. God, who created all things, can control the creation, and suspend its physical laws contrary to normal reason.
We want to maintain a degree or religiosity to save face in our community, but do not want to really submit to the power of God. We do not want to tell the world that the God who raises the dead is still active in our society and can provide for our needs.
We are told “from such turn away.” The Spirit tells us “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). Perilous times are coming because of people described in the previous verses. We cannot be hanging out with these because our own faith will be distracted. The only exception is to share the hope of Jesus Christ with them.
Habits of the End Times Prophet
2 Timothy 3:6
The end times prophet, who is led completely by his flesh, has the desire to control people. How does he do this? He would “creep into houses.” How does he do this? He shows up at the door and seems friendly, sort of like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. They seem like nice people, and they might really be nice. However, their ways are evil. Their kindness comes with a motive to manipulate and get followers after themselves. Therefore, we are told of such, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (2 John 1:10). They creep in, and the homeowner does not even realize there is a motive because of their persistent kindness.
It is easier to sneak into houses today, because it can be done through the television set and the Internet. It can be done impersonally this way.
Part of their strategy is to “lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.” I am not for sure what it means to be a “silly woman” as the word is only used here. However, this is a pattern Satan has used in the past. Satan went to Eve, not Adam, when challenging God’s Word, because she was not there when the oracle was given. He was counting on the commandment being corrupted so he could question it. Eve was beguiled, then Adam outright rebelled. Eve would not have been “silly.” On the contrary, not yet having a corrupted nature, she would have been intellectually strong and morally pure. How much more though, would Satan and his minion go to a woman who was not those things to corrupt an entire household? He uses this pattern again in 1 Corinthians 11:10. “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.” An improper order of headship in a house attracts this spiritual element, just like in the garden. The false prophet copies his master’s plan in overthrowing people’s lives.
2 Timothy 3:7
In these last days, so many are into continuous learning, but they never come to a saving knowledge found only in Jesus Christ. I had a professor in my first college, a teacher of wisdom literature and Old Testament who had a doctoral degree in Hebrew Bible, wrote commentaries on books of the Bible, and was a pastor at some time in the past. However, he was an agnostic and believed in evolution, both by his admission. He was always looking for ways to undermine the Scriptures in class.
There are many that are looking for answers to spiritual questions, and they never stop reading and researching, but there is no rebirth. This is a great tragedy.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life (John 5:39-40)
Many first century Jewish people, such as the Pharisees, studied the Old Testament Scriptures, memorized the Scriptures, and never stopped learning about the Scriptures. However, they would not come to Jesus. The entire Scriptures, from beginning to end, embody the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can you see the danger in having much Bible knowledge but not knowing the Son of God, to whom the Scriptures point? Your faith is in your memory and ability. Great pride is harbored there. Great deception veils our eyes when we confuse Scripture knowledge and spirituality.
2 Timothy 3:8
These “last days men” are likened to Jannes and Jambres. They have fake spiritual power. These men somehow withstood Moses. I believe these men were magicians in Pharaoh’s court; you can see a discussion on this here. If this is true, then the passage most likely speaking of them is in Exodus 7:8-13. How did they resist the truth? They clearly had some demonic power behind all what they were doing. However, in the swallowing of their rods by Aaron’s rod, the power of God demonstrated itself stronger than the impostor power of these men. It was clear by the events that transpired that day. However, they resisted the truth that day.
The men mentioned in this passage are the same. He sees the evidence of Jesus Christ, but says, “Nope!” He turns to something else that cannot save. “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).
They have “corrupt minds” as we have already seen. They may have a lot of Bible knowledge, but their hearts are hardened. “...having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). To be a reprobate is to never be able to learn the truth and ever being hardened to the faith. We discussed this in a previous lesson. There is no way back once one is hardened against the Gospel; what other way of salvation is there?
2 Timothy 3:9
How shall these last days men “proceed no further”? How was Jannes and Jambres’ folly made manifest? There was a point where their magic could not keep up with the Word of God. They could create serpents from rods. They could even bring up “frogs upon the land of Egypt” when the 10 plagues began (Exodus 8:7). However, when the plague of lice began, they could not do it:
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said (Exodus 8:18-19)
They had to concede. This thing was from God. The powers of darkness could not replicate it. This is not all:
And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? (Exodus 10:7)
Maybe these are not the same as the magicians at this point, but if Jannes and Jambres were the powerful magicians of Egypt, it follows they must have been with these prominent advisors at a minimum. But after the great loss of life, they still tried one last effort to fight against the Lord:
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him (Exodus 14:5-6)
We all know how this ended in the Red Sea: “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.” (Exodus 14:30)
The enemies of the Lord will ultimately have a public ending in shame so that the world will know that the Lord is the only God: “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen” (Exodus 14:18). These men will keep fighting against God until they are dead.