2 Timothy 3:1-9

 We will cover questions 9 and 10 of the chapter on 2 Ti 3:1-9. The questions are:

9. a) Does 3:1-9 offer any warnings you think you should take to heart? If so, what are those warnings?  Are there any promises?
 Note 2 things Paul asks Timothy to do.

"Understand" (v.1) or "take note of" the fact that there are difficult times ahead because of the character of so-called Christians.

"Avoid" (v.5) 'these people. Because:

• they deceive vulnerable believers - they are engaging in evil practice
  
• they "oppose the truth" - they are an offence against God. 
  
• they are “corrupted in mind” and disqualified regarding the faith”  - they are not true Christians and associating with them will give others the wrong impression of our faith.
  
• "their folly will be plain to all" - so we should not get tainted with their reputation. This is a promise as well that their influence will be limited.
  

b) Is there anything you plan to do, or ask God to do, about those warnings?

We need to wisely apply the call to 'avoid' certain teachers. The call implies that it should be possible to know whom to avoid, and whom not to avoid. Jesus says,

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.(Mat 12:32-34)

⁴³ “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴ for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.(Lk 6:43-45)

This is to say, we can know a false teacher by the internal character (Do they have the fruit of the Spirit?) as well as their external multiplication of followers like themselves. Heresy is a clear marker , although we can differ as to what is heretical. It is harder to see the internal aspect of the fruit that Jesus talks about. It is not always easy to tell, and so we should ask for discernment to know who a false teacher is:

10. List any questions you have about 3:1-9. Take note of all the conjunctions ("but" "for") and explain their significance.

• "But understand this" (v.1) - God may grant some opponents repentance so they may come to their senses, but He may not.
  
• "For people will be" (v.2) - Difficult times for a pastor will be because his congregation will be difficult, and there will be those who will lead others astray.
  
• "For among them" (v.6) - Timothy should be aware of the dangerous activities of some of these people, who are so ready to harm others that
  
• "But they will not get very far" (v.9) - despite their opposition of the truth, because the truth of God's power (c.f v.5) will be plain to all. So their influence will have a limit.
  

 

We also spoke a little about whether Christians should rely on medication, or on God's healing power. We said that God uses medication as well as prayer to accomplish His good purposes, He ordains the means (methods) as well as the ends (purposes). We should certainly always trust ultimately in His goodness and care, not in the means He uses.