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3:1 This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come.
3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own
selves,
covetous,
boasters,
proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
unthankful,
unholy, 3:3
Without natural
affection,
trucebreakers,
false accusers,
incontinent,
fierce,
despisers of those that are
good, 3:4
Traitors,
heady,
highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of
God; 3:5 Having a
form of
godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away.
3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly
women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
3:8 Now as
Jannes and
Jambres withstood
Moses, so do these also resist
the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be
manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
3:10 But thou hast fully known my
doctrine, manner of
life,
purpose,
faith,
longsuffering,
charity,
patience, 3:11
Persecutions,
afflictions, which came unto me at
Antioch, at
Iconium, at
Lystra;
what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered
me.
3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being
deceived.
3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast
been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 3:15 And that
from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all
good works.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
2 Timothy
Book: 2 Timothy
Chapter: 3
Overview:
The
Apostle foretells the rise of dangerous enemies to the
Gospel.
(1-9) Proposes his own
Example to
Timothy.
(10-13) And
exhorts him to continue in the doctrine he had learned from the
Holy Scriptures.
(14-17)
1-9 Even in
Gospel times there would be perilous times;
On
account of
Persecution from without, still more
On account of
corruptions within. Men
Love to gratify their own lusts, more
than to please
God and do their duty. When every
Man is eager
for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes
men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear
God, they
will not regard
Man. When children are disobedient to their
parents, that makes the times perilous. Men are unholy and
without the fear of
God, because unthankful for the mercies of
God. We abuse
God's
Gifts, if we make them the
Food and
Fuel of
our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents are without
natural
Affection to children. And when men have
No rule over
their own spirits, but despise that which is good and to be
honoured.
God is to be loved above all; but a
Carnal mind, full
of
Enmity against him, prefers any thing before him, especially
Carnal pleasure. A form of
Godliness is very different from the
power; from such as are found to be hypocrites, real Christians
must withdraw. Such persons have been found within the outward
Church, in every place, and at all times. There ever have been
artful men, who,
By pretences and flatteries, creep into the
favour and confidence of those who are too easy of belief,
ignorant, and fanciful. All must be ever learning to know the
Lord; but these follow every new notion, yet never seek the
Truth as it is in
Jesus. Like the Egyptian
Magicians, these were
men of corrupt minds, prejudiced against the
Truth, and found to
be quite without
Faith. Yet though the
Spirit of error may be
let loose for a time,
Satan can deceive the nations and the
churches
No further, and
No longer, than
God will permit.
10-13 The more fully we know the doctrine of
Christ, as taught
By the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it. When we
know the
Afflictions of believers only in part, they tempt us to
decline the cause for which they suffer. A form of
Godliness, a
profession of
Christian Faith without a godly
Life, often is
allowed to pass, while open profession of the
Truth as it is in
Jesus, and resolute attention to the duties of
Godliness, stir
up the scorn and
Enmity of the world. As good men,
By the
Grace
of
God, grow better,
So bad men, through the craft of
Satan, and
the power of their own corruptions, grow worse. The way of
Sin
is down-
Hill; such go
On from bad to worse, deceiving and being
deceived. Those who deceive others, deceive themselves, as they
will find at last, to their cost. The history of the outward
Church, awfully shows that the
Apostle spake this as he was
moved
By the
Holy Ghost.
14-17 Those who would learn the things of
God, and be assured
of them, must know the Holy Scriptures, for they are the Divine
Revelation. The
Age of children is the
Age to learn; and those
who would get true learning, must get it out of the Scriptures.
They must not
Lie By us neglected, seldom or never looked into.
The
Bible is a sure guide to eternal
Life. The prophets and
apostles did not speak from themselves, but delivered what they
received of
God, 2Pe 1:21. It is profitable for all purposes
of the
Christian Life. It is of use to all, for all need to be
taught, corrected, and reproved. There is something in the
Scriptures suitable for every case. Oh that we may
Love our
Bibles more, and keep closer to them! then shall we find
benefit, and at last gain the happiness therein promised
By
Faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the main subject of both
Testaments. We best oppose error
By promoting a solid knowledge
of the
Word of
Truth; and the greatest kindness we can do to
children, is to make them early to know the
Bible.