2 Timothy 3: 1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;
The Spirit gives us dynamite power.
Avoid such men as these.
We need to be careful whom we choose as friends.
6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
We need to respect women as our girlfriend / wife / sister or daughter.
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.
Are we learning about Jesus when we study or are we focusing on things that aren’t eternal?
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres (Egyptian magicians) opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch (A city of Pisidia that persecutes Paul Acts 13:14-52; 14:19-22; 18:22) at Iconium (Paul was persecuted in this city of Asia Minor)and at Lystra (One of two cities of Lycaonia, to which Paul and Barnabas fled from persecutions in Iconium Acts 14:6-23; Congregation whose elders were ordained by Paul and Barnabas Acts 14:23. Timothy was a resident of Acts 16:1-4)
what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Please keep those who are persecuted in your prayers. See www.persecution.com
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Some people go from home tolow to medium to high to maximum security prisons.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Old Testament) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4: 1 (I) solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Name it / claim it, mark it, park it, put it on the wall and frame it? :)
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Only about 5-10% have each spiritual gift, but all of us should appropriately share Jesus with others. Find out what the gifts are (1 Cor 12, Romans 12, Eph 4), figure out what yours are (with confirmation from Christian leaders), and use them for Jesus’ glory.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, wrote “So undoubtedly God had shown him.”
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness (with many jewels?:), which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
9 Make every effort to come to me soon;
10 for Demas, (Paul’s companion who deserted him) having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica (Macedonia, they persecuted Paul) Crescens (disciple with Paul at Rome) has gone to Galatia, (This province within the limits of which these Celtic tribes were confined, was the central region of Asia Minor) Titus (a faithful Greek companion of Paul, left by Paul in Crete {who wrote to him}Titus 1:5 To rejoin him in Nicopolis Titus 3:12) to Dalmatia. (not a dog:) A mountainous country on the eastern shore of the Adriatic, a part of the Roman province of Illyricum. It still bears its ancient name. During Paul's second imprisonment at Rome, Titus left him to visit Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10) for some unknown purpose. Paul had himself formerly preached in that region (Romans 15:19). The present Emperor of Austria bears, among his other titles, that of "King of Dalmatia.")
11 Only (Dr) Luke (who wrote Luke and Acts) is with me. Pick up Mark (A nephew of Barnabas Colossians 4:10 A disciple of Jesus Acts 12:12,25; 13:5,13 Paul and Barnabas contend concerning Acts 15:36-39 A convert of Peter 1 Peter 5:13 Fellow-worker with Paul at Rome Colossians 4:10,11; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24 and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
12 But Tychicus (An Asian companion of Paul, accompanies Paul from Greece to Asia Acts 20:4 With Paul in Nicopolis Titus 3:12 With Paul in Rome, with postscripts to Ephesians and Colossians Ephesians 6:21,22; Colossians 4:7,8 Paul’s amanuensis (copyist) in writing to the Ephesians and Colossians, see the postscripts to Ephesians and Colossians; Sent to Ephesus Ephesians 6:21,22; 2 Timothy 4:12 Sent to Colossae)
I have sent to Ephesus. Paul visits and preaches in Acts 18:19-21; 19; 20:16-38 Apollos visits and preaches in Acts 18:18-28 Sceva’s sons attempt to expel a demon in Acts 19:13-16 Timothy directed by Paul to remain at 1 Timothy 1:3 Paul sends Tychicus to 2 Timothy 4:12 Onesiphorus lives at 2 Timothy 1:18 The congregation at Revelation 1:11 Apocalyptic message to Revelation 2:1-7 See Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians 1
13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas (A seaport of Mysia, in Asia Minor Paul visits with Carpus (a Christian), and the books, especially the parchments.
This was on the library at www.pts.edu
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Romans 12:19 states “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
Do we let the Lord take revenge or do we try to do it?
15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
Matthew 7:15-16 . "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 2 Tim:
16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles (non-Jews) might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. (Like Daniel from the Old Testament book)
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, (Christians at Corinth Acts 18:1-3,18,19,26 who are friends of Paul) and the household of Onesiphorus (a Christian at Ephesus)
20 Erastus (convert / friend of Paul) remained at Corinth, (A city of Achaia, Visited By Paul and by Apollos by Titus by Erastus, a Christian of the congregation of C; Schism in; Immortalities; Alienation of C from Paul; Abuse of ordinances in; Heresies in; Lawsuits in; Liberality of but Trophimus (From Ephesus, a companion of Paul) Accompanies Paul from Greece to Asia Acts 20:4 With Paul in Jerusalem; made the occasion of an attack on Paul Acts 21:27-30 I left sick at Miletus ( MILETUM, A seaport in Asia Minor (Paul visits Acts 20:15 And sends to Ephesus for the elders of the congregation, and Addresses them at Acts 20:17-38
21 Make every effort to come before winter. (A Presbyterian pastor in Philadelphia preached on this yearly for 37 years) Eubulus (Paul’s friend) greets you, also Pudens and Linus (Christians in Rome; play Charlie Brown song?) and Claudia (female disciple) and all the brethren.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
https://www.cru.org/us/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html has had a big effect on me since the mid 1980s:
Principle 1: God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because...
Principle 2: All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
We Are Separated "The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God]. Romans 6:23
Principle 3: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through Him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our life.
He Died in Our Place; He Rose From the Dead; He Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'" John 14: 6
It is not enough just to know these three principles...
Principle 4: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
We Must Receive Christ.
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." John 1: 12
We Receive Christ Through Faith.
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2: 8,9
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth; We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3: 20
Matthew 28: 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
See biblemaster.com
