Daily Bible Reading Thursday 15th February 2024
by William Moody
2 Timothy 3
Godlessness in the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom1 you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God2 may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Footnotes
[1] 3:14
The Greek for whom is plural
[2] 3:17That is, a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression) (ESV)
Paul does not give a positive picture of the ‘last days’ (v1-5). The ‘last days’ are generally accepted as being the time between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming at the end of the world. Paul’s description of people during this time is not pretty (v2-4). Go through these traits carefully one by one and confess where you are guilty of them and seek Christ’s forgiveness and cleansing.
The shocking thing is that Paul is saying that these traits are common in religious people (v5). It is possible to be going through the motions of religion, to be involved in the life of the church but still be consumed with these sins as we don’t have a real and ongoing walk with Christ. This is why self-examination is very important for us all.
Paul has in mind particular people who are even leaders and teachers in the church who are leading others astray (v6-7). The Jannes and Jambres mentioned in v8 are according to Jewish writings the magicians who opposed Moses when he went to Pharaoh to ask for the Israelites to be granted their freedom. False teachers are dangers but in the end their efforts will fail (v9).
We need to be watchful for false teaching today. Even Christians can share many unbiblical viewpoints on life. We must always be watchful and keep close to Christ and His truth. The more saturated our thinking is with God’s word the easier it will be for us to spot false teaching.
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