THE SAFEGUARD AGAINST APOSTASY – 2 Timothy 3:13-17

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on January 14, 2015 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; January 14, 2015 from 2 Timothy 3:13-17

Theme: Paul exhorts Timothy to faithfulness in preaching by reminding him of his own example of endurance.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

As we have seen over the past few weeks, the focus of the third chapter of Paul’s letter to Pastor Timothy has been on urging him to conduct his ministry with eyes wide open. He wanted to impress Timothy with an awareness that a time of difficult challenges were coming for the man who would faithfully preach God’s word. Paul has already urged Timothy in the first chapter to accept that the ministry involves suffering. Paul also said, in the second chapter, that Timothy should—in spite of the suffering—give himself to the pursuit of an acceptable ministry in the sight of God. The work is a worthy one, and the eternal rewards for faithfulness are immeasurably great. But Paul gives no false promise of happy days ahead! Paul wanted Timothy to be fully aware that “perilous times will come” (v. 1)—times in which people will not hear or heed God’s word . And now, in this third chapter, the focus has been on making sure Timothy braces himself for the times of ‘apostasy’.

The word ‘apostasy’ is one that speaks of a “turning away”—a revolt against truth and against God’s revealed standards of righteousness. Paul has warned Timothy in several places in his two letters that, in the later days, times of great apostasy will come. And in the prospect of such times, it’s even more important for Timothy to personally commit to staying true to the truth of God’s word. It is the one sure safeguard against apostasy.

I. THE DANGERS THAT ARE COMING (v. 13).

A. Paul had affirmed that Timothy had watched Paul’s own experience. Timothy knew—just from what he had learned of Paul—that the work of the ministry involves not only hardship and suffering, but also the good hand of God’s deliverance (see vv. 10-11). The lesson to be learned is, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (v. 12). And it’s in the context of all that Paul had already suffered that he gives Timothy this sober warning: “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (v. 13). As bad as the times had already been for the faithful preacher, they will grow harder.

B. There are some who teach that, as the gospel spreads, the times will get better and better; and the kingdom of Jesus will be brought about upon the earth. But the Bible—taken as a whole—teaches us the opposite. As the message of Christ spreads, and lives are transformed by it, the enemy will ramp-up his opposition with even greater intensity before His return. As Jesus said about the times that lead up to His second advent; “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:9-12).

II. THE RESOLVE TO BE MADE (vv. 14-15).

A. It’s in the prospect of such difficult times—times in which it might be tempting to abandon the hard work of declaring the faith—that Paul urges Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them . . .” (v. 14). The word translated “learned” speaks of learning by observation and experience; and the word translated “been assured of” speaks of the experience of those things being established as trustworthy and certain. Timothy must not let go of those things in difficult times; but determine that he will remain in them—even in times when apostasy is prevalent.

B. Furthermore, he is to draw from the experiences of the past; “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (v. 15). Timothy had a great upbringing in Christ. His father was a Greek; but the Scriptures describe his mother Eunice as “a certain Jewish woman who believed” (Acts 16:1). In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul said that he called to fond remembrance “the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” From the time that Timothy was a small child, he had been taught the saving power of the sacred writings of God’s revealed word. He knew—by observation, and by personal experience—that the word is life-transforming; and that faith in the Savior that they present to us leads to salvation. No matter what the times may be like, and no matter how fiercely the unbelieving people of this world may fight against it, we too must continue in those things that we have “learned and been assured of”. A whole world of rebellious unbelief and sinful skepticism cannot stand up against one faithful man or woman of God who is captivated by a Spirit-empowered, unrelenting conviction of the truth in Christ.

III. THE RESOURCE TO BE USE (v. 16).

A. In 4:1-2, Paul places a strong charge upon Timothy to preach the word. It’s the only true safeguard against apostasy. And so, before he gives that charge, he reminds Timothy of the nature of the word. He writes first, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . .” The word “inspired” is made from two words that are joined together: the word for God (theos), and the word for breath (pnuma). And so; the word theopneustos means that all Scripture is “God-breathed”. It has its source in God Himself. It does not have its source in man; because, as Peter put it, “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

B. Because it is God-breathed, Paul can go on to also affirm, “and is profitable” (that is, beneficial and useful). Note the four ways that the God-breathed word is profitable: “for doctrine” or “teaching” (giving the faithful preacher not only the impulse to preach and teach and declare a sure word from God to the world, but also the very life-changing content and material for preaching and teaching); for “reproof” (as that which is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”; Hebrews 4:12); for “correction” (a word that basically means ‘to set something upright again’; showing that the Scriptures sets us on the right track); and for “instruction” (that is, “training”) “in righteousness”. As one great preacher put it, the word of God shows us (1) what is right, (2) what is not right, (3) how to get right, and (4) how to stay right.

IV. THE RESULT TO BE EXPECT (v. 17).

A. Note that this is so “that the man of God” (in the sense of either a man or a woman) “may be complete”. The word translated “complete” means to “fit” or “adapt” someone—to make them “entirely suited” for the matters of life. You might think of it in the sense of someone made “physically fit” for a great mountain climb.

B. And just as someone who climbs a mountain needs to be “fit” for the task, they also need to be properly outfitted. And that’s what the word also gives us—making us “thoroughly equipped for every good work”. The two words truly have that kind of a relationship: artios (fit) and eksărtizō (out-fit). In other words, the word of God is sufficient to both make us complete and to give us everything we need for the challenges of life. No wonder Timothy was to faithfully preach it!

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The times ahead will be hard. People won’t want to listen to a word from God. But there’s never a more important time to proclaim that word than in apostate days. May God help us to resolve to faithfully proclaim the word that leads us to Christ. It is the greatest safeguard against apostasy!