1 + 2 Timothy | Reading Plan + Study QuestionsSample

2 TIMOTHY 3

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD’S WORD

Offering a warning, Paul cautions Timothy to be aware of godlessness amongst the people.

Before the return of Jesus, people will become self-absorbed, greedy, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient, and ungrateful. Paul continues to list traits of those who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God: unholy, heartless, slanderous, brutal, and conceited. Many of these people will claim to believe in God, but do not allow their lives to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.

For those who follow false teachers, they will always be learning something new and never be able to gain knowledge of the truth. People will spend their whole lives searching for something meaningful, but miss out on the message of truth: Jesus.

Paul mentions Jannes and Jambres who once opposed two righteous leaders, Moses and Aaron. Although they were able to do some miraculous signs, Moses and Aaron relied on God’s strength to do far greater miracles (Exodus 7). At the time of this letter, Paul was warning Timothy of men who oppose the truth with corruption. Like those who opposed Moses, their message may be appealing, but it is disingenuous and fleeting.

Recalling the persecution he endured along his missionary journey, Paul reminds Timothy that he faced opposition in Iconium, Lystra, and Antioch (Acts 14). Paul views this as a sign that he is living a righteous life, because all those who pursue godliness will face persecution. To endure these hard times, Paul teaches Timothy to cling to His belief in Jesus and trust God as his source of wisdom.

Paul urges believers to focus on the core message of the Scriptures and remember the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. Because the entirety of Scripture points to the coming of Christ, wisdom can lead to salvation through faith in Jesus. All of this is breathed by God and has a specific purpose. Encouraging Timothy, Paul says that all Scripture is useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness. Through knowing God’s word, believers are equipped for every good work God has for them!

STUDY QUESTIONS

How did Paul describe people in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-9)? Which of these qualities do you see in today’s culture?

In 2 Timothy 3:10-17, what did Paul list as the purpose and value of Scripture?