1-9 Godlessness in the Last Days
- The last days will be distressing, when people love only themselves and as a consequence oppose all that is good. Among other things, they are arrogant, unholy, and brutish.
- Besides a list of negative qualities we recognize in today's culture, Paul prophesies they will hold to the "outward form of godliness while denying its power." I see this today in people, like some celebrities, who talk about being "spiritual" but would probably deny they have an eternal soul accountable to God. Below is a quote from a website entitled "Spiritual Soul." Its home page quotes William Henley's poem that ends "I am the captain of my soul." At face value, "unconditional love" and "the importance of the Soul" look virtuous, but there is no acknowledgment of a Creator to whom we are accountable for our actions. [Hard as it is for me, I chose not to correct the British spellings nor the subject-verb and punctuation errors.]
Perhaps we can agree that Spirituality is an expression of whatever is positive. It strives for unconditional love, and places one on a path of Universal understanding and acceptance, where Judgement is lacking, and acceptance and tolerance is high. It's positive vibration brings with it a certain humbleness, which recognises the importance of the Soul rather than the flamboyance of the ego.
- Some are always learning, but never find the truth. In fact, they oppose the truth – but their folly eventually becomes apparent. Per the Jamieson, Faust, Brown commentary, Jannes and Jambres mentioned in this passage are the traditional names for the magicians that challenged Moses in Exodus 7:11, 22.
- Timothy has seen Paul's faith, his life, his conduct and also all the ways in which he has been persecuted, yet through God Paul has survived all of it.
- All who want to live a godly life can expect persecution. This phrase has always troubled me, and well it should: If we're not being persecuted, does that mean we're not living godly lives? Or is that true only at certain times in certain cultures? I have no easy answer for this.
- Wicked people will only get worse – both deceiving and being deceived. This seems to indicate that the reason they are deceivers is because they have been deceived by others. Yet Paul still calls them not victims of the deceit, but wicked, because they continue that cycle.
- As for Timothy, Paul encourages him to continue in the things he has learned from a child, for they offer salvation through Christ.
- The scriptures provide all that is necessary – not only for salvation, but for being effective in every good work. If we wish to be effective servants of God, we must know His Word and be faithful to it.
1-8 Paul's Charge to Timothy (cont'd)
- "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus..." Paul "solemnly urges" Timothy to preach the word at all times and in all circumstances. When I read the previous passage about persecution, I interpreted that as being external. This seems to be encouraging Timothy to persevere in light of pressure within the body to give in to false teachers and believers who insist on hearing only what makes them feel good.
- Paul encourages Timothy, no matter what, to be "sober, enduring suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully." If Timothy ever had illusions that the life of an evangelist would be easy, these admonitions would dispel such illusions.
- As for Paul, he was preparing himself for death – with confidence that he had finished the race well and – like all those who have "longed for" the appearance of Christ – would receive his reserved "crown of righteousness."
- (In light of this revelation of his imminent departure,) Paul expresses his desire to see Timothy right away, for – except for Luke (a physician) – he is alone.
- He also wants to see Mark (John Mark, who had deserted him on one of his mission trips, recorded in Acts 15 ).
- Even though others had deserted Paul along the way, God had not. God would continue to rescue him, saving him for his heavenly kingdom.
- Paul greets some where Timothy is, gives news of others, and passes on greetings from those whom he sees in Rome.
- "Do your best to come before winter." Is this because of traveling conditions during winter, or because Paul didn't expect to live that long? Commentators seem to agree it is a combination of traveling conditions and the fact that among Paul's requests, he wants his cloak for protection against the winter cold.
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