It Starts Small

¹⁰ But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, ¹¹ along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. ¹² In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³ Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, ¹⁵ and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:10-18

Verses 10-11 are in start contrast to 2-3.

These two powerful verses illuminate the incredible qualities we should fervently pursue in our lives! Timothy absorbed these profound character traits from the remarkable Paul. Now it’s time for us to dive deep into each one of them. We will explore their significance one by one!

Persecutions and sufferings

Jews from Antioch and Iconium relentlessly pursued Paul, viciously stoning him and leaving him for dead at Lystra. Timothy was destined to experience the same fierce persecutions. As he embraced Paul’s teachings, conduct, and purpose, he would inevitably face adversity. This is clearly shown in verse 12. But Timothy was called to stand firm and not be swayed by these trials.

In fact, this powerful message forms the very heartbeat of the entire book of 2 Timothy. Paul fervently urges Timothy to draw strength from God’s immeasurable grace. He reminds him that he has not been given a spirit of fear. Instead, he has been given a spirit bursting with power, love, and unwavering faith. He must cast aside any shame in Paul or fear of facing a daunting path ahead. Instead, Timothy is called to forge ahead on the divine journey laid out for him, to persevere with unmatched determination. He must stand tall, unwavering in his resolve. He must never give up, never compromise, and above all, never quit!

The godly in Christ will be persecuted

This is a call to arms! Do not be taken aback when persecution knocks at our door; it’s a reality we must embrace! We should anticipate it with unwavering resolve and prepare ourselves diligently. We must stand strong! As Paul urged Timothy, let us be fortified in grace. Let us never shrink back in shame for the Lord or His beloved people. Are we truly ready to lay down our lives for Christ? Are we prepared to sacrifice our freedoms for the sake of our faith?

While it may feel like that day is still a distant reality, the world around us is transforming rapidly. Governments are rising in opposition to the gospel with an alarming fervor. In our lifetimes, we could witness countless Christians around the globe facing imprisonment for their unwavering faith. Others may lay down their lives as martyrs. Now is the time to deepen our relationship with God! By fortifying our spiritual foundation, we will stand resolute upon the solid rock when the storms inevitably strike.

We cannot let the weight of pressures deter us from fully embracing our identity in Christ. The sting of persecution should not stop us from fervently serving Him. Let us not be taken aback when such trials arise. Instead, we must cultivate an intimate and unwavering relationship with Christ. This will ensure the roots of our faith run deep. It will empower us to stand strong and unyielding against the fiercest storm winds that threaten to shake us.

¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

Ephesians 6:13

Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

How can we keep from being deceived?

Instead of allowing ourselves to be misled, we must relentlessly pursue the lessons we’ve absorbed. A powerful theme of this book is Paul fervently urging Timothy to persist in his righteous path. Don’t surrender! Don’t waver! Don’t falter! Charge ahead with unwavering determination! Each of us is equipped with profound knowledge; you carry countless principles from the Bible within you. Are you actively embodying the truths you’ve learned? I want to emphasize the importance of obedience in the Christian walk. It is not just about knowing. It is about doing.

As we delve into verses 16-17, we discover a profound truth. Everything we’ve learned comes from God Himself. This truth resonates deeply within us. God, in His infinite wisdom, never deceives; His Word is the unwavering foundation of truth. Therefore, with fervent hearts, we are called to wholeheartedly obey His divine guidance.

 All Scripture is inspired by God

Not just part or most of it—all! He generously gives His Word for a powerful reason. In this, we discover four divine purposes of God’s Word: teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training. When we focus on just one of these purposes, we risk mishandling the profound truths of God by sidelining the others! Even if we embrace three, neglecting one leads us astray from the full potential of His Word! We must grasp all four! By doing so, we will be equipped for every good work. This will empower us to equip others with the same passion and truth!

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Cross-References

On Persecution:

• John 15:18
• 1 Peter 4:12-14
• Matthew 5:10
• Hebrews 12:3
• 1 Peter 4:19

On Inerrancy of Scripture:

• 2 Peter 1:20-21
• Isaiah 40:8
• Matthew 5:18
• Matthew 24:35

Discussion Questions

• How does the passage starting in verse 10 connect to the previous passage?
• What is the focus of these verses?
• In what ways had Timothy followed Paul’s example?
• How was Paul persecuted at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra?
• What does Paul mean that “from them all the Lord rescued me?”
• What promise is in verse 12?
• Is this one of the top cited promises of God in Scripture? Why or why not?
• What should Timothy do knowing that he would be persecuted (14?)
• From whom had he “learned it?” And why was this important?
• What were the sacred writings he had been familiar with?
• What exhortation for our own lives can we draw from this?
• Imagine you are explaining verses 16 and 17 to an unbeliever, what would you say? What important biblical doctrine or doctrines can we get from these verses?
• What implication do they have for us?

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