Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 3:1-9
Helpful thoughts:
- The “last days” Paul speaks of in this passage are the days after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ.
- The list of characteristics and sins in theses verses were occurring when Paul wrote this letter, and they continue to happen now.
- We can certainly see these sins in our culture, but Paul is warning about the ways they creep into the life of the church.
- When people portray an appearance of godliness but deny its power and exhibit the carnality and self-centeredness as described in these verses, we are not to fellowship with them. We are to avoid them.
- Jannes and Jambres are the names that were believed to be the Egyptian “magicians” who contested Moses in Exodus 7:8-13. They could “do miraculous things” too.
- When people have big stories and unbelievable experiences (“God stories” to share), when these stories are used to “prove” how in tune they are with God (Most often, particularly with the Spirit), and when these stories come with the expectation that you join them, affirm them, marvel at them, give to them…watch out!
Questions to consider:
- How does the person we are being warned of in this passage compare to the person of chapter 2:15? What place does the Word of God have in relation to our experiences (Which one holds authority)?
- How does being a “lover of self” correlate with not being that interested in truly learning and applying the Word of God? How does being a “lover of self” set the stage for every other sin in this passage?
- Why was Timothy (Serving as a pastor) told to avoid such people? Was Timothy to be concerned for his own well-being or was he being tasked with protecting others (Verse 6)? How does our pursuit of knowledge and obedience (Fearing God over man) benefit others in the church?