2 Timothy 3:10-17
Q.1. Why should believers expect opposition? How can we avoid falling away from the faith? – (2 Tim.3:10-13)
Paul urged Timothy to follow his example – his teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, and love … then he added – patience, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings – such as happened to me. He also added a number of places where he had endured persecution (2 Tim.3:10-11). There was no way that Timothy could have concluded that he would be spared persecution and opposition (2 Tim.3:12). We must all factor in such trials in our understanding of the faith and accept that this will be a growing feature in the Last Days. This will help us to not give up or fall away as commonly happens today, even in a much easier environment (2 Tim.3:13). Paul underscored this truth when he wrote – Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim.3:12). However, to balance the scales and encourage us, Paul testified – … out of them all the Lord rescued me (2 Tim.3:11).
Q.2. What means has God provided for us in order to give us assurance and to please God? – (2 Tim.3:14-17)
Timothy had some outstanding women in his family – his mother and grandmother (2 Tim.3:14-15). As well as that, he had one of the greatest models of faithful servanthood, in Paul. It is crucial to shun the ‘heroes’ of this world, and instead follow those who imitate Christ (c.f. 1 Cor.4:15-16). Beyond all this, Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to depend on the Scriptures. The Bible is ‘God-breathed’. It profits the hearer and heeder with its (i) teaching, (ii) reproof, (iii) correction, and (iv) training, to help us to please God, and become whom the Lord intends for us to be (2 Tim.3:15-17). It is a miracle that the Holy Spirit can achieve so many different things in the lives of those who read and heed the Scriptures.