The character of heretics of latter days. He exhorts Timothy to
constancy. Of the great profit of the knowledge of the scriptures.
3:1. Know also this, that in the last days shall come dangerous times.
3:2. Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,
3:3. Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent,
unmerciful, without kindness,
3:4. Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasure more than of
God:
3:5. Having an appearance indeed of godliness but denying the power
thereof. Now these avoid.
3:6. For of these sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive
silly women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires:
3:7. Ever learning, and never attaining to the knowledge of the truth.
3:8. Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the
truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
Jannes and Mambres... The magicians of king Pharao.
3:9. But they shall proceed no farther: for their folly shall be
manifest to all men, as theirs also was.
3:10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
3:11. Persecutions, afflictions: such as came upon me at Antioch, at
Iconium and at Lystra: what persecutions I endured, and out of them all
the Lord delivered me.
3:12. And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
3:13. But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse: erring, and
driving into error,
3:14. But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned and
which have been committed to thee. Knowing of whom thou hast learned
them:
3:15. And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures
which can instruct thee to salvation by the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
3:16. All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to
reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice:
All scripture,... Every part of divine scripture is certainly profitable
for all these ends. But, if we would have the whole rule of Christian
faith and practice, we must not be content with those Scriptures, which
Timothy knew from his infancy, that is, with the Old Testament alone:
nor yet with the New Testament, without taking along with it the
traditions of the apostles, and the interpretation of the church, to
which the apostles delivered both the book, and the true meaning of it.
3:17. That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.