I just completed a personal study of 1 and 2 Timothy, and zeroed
in on 2 Timothy 3:1-5, which reads:
“But mark this: There will
be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers
of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful,
unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal,
not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have
nothing to do with such people.”
The
study guide I used, Walking in Power, Love, and Discipline by Kay Arthur, David
Lawson and Bob Vereen, provided the following commentary on 2 Timothy
3:1-5 which I found to be quite sobering. The author's definitions of the words used in
this passage are fodder for honest reflection on the condition of our hearts.
“disobedient
to parents—a person who resists the authority of his parents, leading him to
resist all other authority, both human and divine.
revilers—a
person who uses his speech to cause harm to people, attempting to ‘tear them
down’ in his conversations with other individuals.
irreconcilable—a
person who will not accept a truce but continues in his enmity and
unforgiveness.
malicious
gossips—a person who intentionally thinks up evil reports and accusations and
falsely accuses someone else. (This word is the same word used to describe the
devil).
without
self-control—a person who is void of any self-imposed restraints over his
passions and lusts. (Note that in 2 Timothy 1:7, God has given believers power,
love, and discipline. The word discipline could be translated ‘self-control’).
brutal—a
person who is untamed, savage, and wild in his actions and attitudes.
treacherous—a
person who betrays any confidence and trust placed in him—a traitor.
conceited—a
person who knows it all and cannot be told anything by anybody.
lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of God—a person who loves what is pleasurable to
himself rather than what pleases God; a person who is controlled by satisfying
his passions—food, drink, recreation, entertainment, success, sex, etc.—rather
than being controlled by what pleases God.”
holding
to a form of godliness—a person who holds to an appearance of religion, a mask
of godliness. This person would attend church as a ritual and embrace some of
the traditions of religious activity (like celebrating Christmas and Easter),
but would not have a personal relationship with Christ.”
Now,
surely we all have been plagued by the above characteristics. Reading the above
can elicit overwhelming sorrow in our hearts. But 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.”
There
is no time like now to do personal business with God. He is awaiting our
response to His call.
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