2 Timothy 3:10-13

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

you have carefully followed (v.10) — parakoloutheo, “to follow after, so to follow one as to be always at his side, to follow faithfully (a standard or rule), to conform one’s self to.” The simple verb akoloutheo means “to join one as a disciple, become his disciple, conform wholly to another’s example.” … “Thou wert attracted as a disciple to me on account of.” It is not necessarily implied that Timothy had copied his master in all these respects. The aorist is appropriate here, because Paul is recalling to Timothy’s recollection the definite occasion in the past when the youth cast in his lot with him. He is not thinking, as in 1 Timothy 4:6, of Timothy’s consistent discipleship up to the moment of writing. The pronoun is used here for emphasis. It is, “But as for you in distinction from others.” — Wuest, page 148.

manner of life (v.10) = conduct — an external expression of his doctrine

love (v.10) = agape

It’s a possibility that the apostle refers to his “persecutions and afflictions” in these three cities in their chronological order, because they demonstrate the growing intensity of the opposition against his message. At Antioch the Jews, “filled with envy, spoke against” Paul’s teachings, “contradicting and blaspheming,” until finally he and Barnabas were “expelled” from the area (Acts 13:45, 50). At Iconium “an assault was made” against them, and at attempt “to stone them” (Acts 14:5). At Lystra Paul’s enemies actually did stone him, dragging him out of the city and leaving him for dead (Acts 14:19). — Stam, page 201

the Lord delivered me (v.11) — 2 Timothy 4:17

desire (v.12) = a determined and constant exercise of will — not just a desire

godly (v.12) = with an attitude toward God that is pleasing to Him — as opposed to the “form of godliness” in v.5

in Christ Jesus (v.12) — the order of His names emphasizes His deity and power and ability to sustain in the face of persecution

will suffer persecutions (v.12) — 2 Timothy 1:8

evil (v.13) = evil in active opposition to the good, pernicious

imposters (v.13) = lit. “wailers, howlers, jugglers, enchanters (incantations used to be uttered in a kind of howl) — so, one who chants a spell, a wizard, a sorcerer — so, a cheat, a seducer, a deceiver

will grow (v.13) = increase, make progress

We cannot look upon the words of verse 13 as predicting a sustained and steady increase of evil all through the course of the present dispensation, for then the condition would long ago have become wholly intolerable. Rather we must again bear in mind that the passage represents (1) Paul’s word to Timothy regarding the immediate outlook, and (2) God’s Word to His people in any part of the Church’s history, to the effect that they should not expect any consistent improvement in moral and spiritual conditions, but rather the opposite.

Certainly verse 13 refutes the doctrine that the teaching of Christianity will ultimately bring in the kingdom reign of Christ. Those who teach this have not yet learned that the “leaven” that leavened “the whole loaf,” in Matthew 13:33, is not representative of the gospel, but of false teaching (1 Corinthians 5:6-7; Galatians 5:7-9). — Stam, pages 203-204.

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