Bible Diary - 2 Timothy 3:1-9
March 14, 2008
“The last days” is an enigmatic term. Jesus promised his followers that he would return, and the early church naturally hoped it would be sooner rather than later. Paul warns Timothy that most people, not knowing Jesus, could care less and are living out their lives in selfish ignorance, just doing what comes naturally. It is safe to assume that the last days began with the birth of Christ and will end at his promised return. We are still living in the last days.
Ministry in the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 3:2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. 3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. 3:6 For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. 3:7 Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith – also oppose the truth. 3:9 But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.
Paul’s long list of the characteristics of a wayward people can easily be applied to the world I see around me, both inside and outside the church. And, indeed, too often to myself. I think that Timothy had no trouble seeing these things around him, and Paul reminds him that when Jesus returns their foolishness will become obvious to all, just as it was with Jannes and Jambres (the traditional names of a pair of Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses prior to the Exodus).
If I flip the coin of Paul’s list of godless activities, I see the church as it should be. I believe this is the real message of Paul to Timothy and his flock, and it is certainly the message to the church today, entangled as we are in the mesh of a godless culture. If people look at the church and can’t see much difference from the Rotary club, we need to drop to our knees.
Dave
-sdg-
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