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2 Timothy 3:12 |
Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
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This section consists of four verses.
2 Timothy 3:10-13
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of
life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at
Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I
endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
We generally begin with the Barclay on this set of
verses. However it is rather long and I do not
want to repeat it verbally for all four verses, so I
am placing it here and picking it up below in the
text. Scroll down to the Instruction: "CONTINUE
HERE." [click on the
link]
THE DUTIES AND THE QUALITIES OF AN APOSTLE
2 Timothy 3:10–13
Verses 10-13 paraphrased:
But you have been my disciple in my teaching, my
training, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my
love, my endurance, my persecutions, my sufferings,
in what happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at
Lystra, in the persecutions which I underwent; and
the Lord rescued me from them all. And those who
wish to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go
from bad to worse, deceived themselves and deceiving
others.
PAUL contrasts the conduct of Timothy, his loyal
disciple, with the conduct of the heretics who were
doing their utmost to wreck the Church. The word we
have translated as to be a disciple includes so much
that is beyond translation in any single English
word. It is the Greek parakolouthein and literally
means to follow alongside, but it is used with a
magnificent breadth of meaning. It means to follow
someone physically, to stick by that person through
thick and thin. It means to follow someone mentally,
to attend diligently to that person’s teaching and
fully to understand the meaning of what is being
said. It means to follow someone spiritually, not
only to understand what is being said, but also to
carry out that person’s ideas and become everything
that that person would want us to be. Parakolouthein
is indeed the word for the disciple, for it includes
the unwavering loyalty of the true comrade, the full
understanding of the true scholar and the complete
obedience of the dedicated servant. Paul goes on to
list the things in which Timothy has been his
disciple; and the interest of that list is that it
consists of the strands out of which the life and
work of an apostle are woven. In it, we find the
duties, the qualities and the experiences of an
apostle.
First, there are the duties of an apostle. There is
teaching. We cannot teach what we do not know, and
therefore before we can teach Christ to others we
must know him for ourselves. When the father of the
Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle was
discussing the kind of minister his parish needed,
he said: ‘What this parish needs is a man who knows
Christ other than at second hand.’ Real teaching
always comes out of real experience. There is
training. The Christian life does not consist only
in knowing something; it consists even more in being
something. The task of the apostle is not only to
tell men and women the truth; it is also to help
them do it. The true leader gives training in
living.
Second, there are the qualities of the apostle.
First and foremost, he has an aim in life. Two men
were talking about a great satirist who had been
filled with serious moral resolve. ‘He kicked the
world about,’ said one, ‘as if it had been a
football.’ ‘True,’ said the other, ‘but he kicked it
to a goal.’ As individuals, we should sometimes ask
ourselves: what is our aim in life? As teachers, we
should sometimes ask ourselves: what am I trying to
do with these people whom teach? Once Agesilaus, the
king of Sparta, was asked: ‘What shall we teach our
boys?’ His answer was: ‘That which will be most
useful to them when they are men.’ Is it knowledge,
or is it life, that we are trying to transmit?
As members of the Church, we should sometimes ask
ourselves: what are we trying to do in it? It is not
enough to be satisfied when a church is humming like
a dynamo and every night in the week has its own
crowded organization. We should be asking: what, if
any, is the unifying purpose which binds all this
activity together? In all life, there is nothing so
creative of really productive effort as a clear
sense of purpose.
Paul goes on to other qualities of an apostle. There
is faith, complete belief that God’s commands are
binding and that his promises are true. There is
patience. The word here is makrothumia; and
makrothumia, as the Greeks used it, usually meant
patience with people. It is the ability not to lose
patience when people are foolish, not to grow
irritable when they seem unteachable. It is the
ability to accept the folly, the perversity, the
blindness and the ingratitude of others and still to
remain gracious, and still to labor on. There is
love. This is God’s attitude to us. It is the
attitude which puts up with everything we can do and
refuses to be either angry or embittered, and which
will never seek anything but our highest good. To
love others is to forgive them and care for them as
God Forgives and cares - and it is only God who can
enable us to do that.
PAUL completes the story of the things in which
Timothy has shared and must share with him, by
speaking of the experiences of an apostle; and he
prefaces that list of experiences by setting down
the quality of endurance. The Greek is hupomone¯,
which means not a passive sitting down and bearing
things but a triumphant facing of them so that even
out of evil there can come good. It describes not
the spirit which accepts life but the spirit which
takes control of it.
And that quality of conquering endurance is
necessary, because persecution is an essential part
of the experience of an apostle. Paul cites three
instances when he had to suffer for Christ. He was
driven from Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50), he had
to flee from Iconium to avoid lynching (Acts
14:5–6), and in Lystra he was stoned and left for
dead (Acts 14:19). It is true that these things
happened before the young Timothy had definitely
entered on the Christian way; but they all happened
in his home district, and he may well have been an
eyewitness to them. It may well be a proof of
Timothy’s courage and consecration that he had seen
very clearly what could happen to an apostle and
still had not hesitated to throw in his lot with
Paul.
It is Paul’s conviction that the real follower of
Christ cannot escape persecution. When trouble fell
on the Thessalonians, Paul wrote to them: ‘When we
were with you, we told you beforehand that we were
to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you
know’ (1 Thessalonians 3:4). It is as if he said to
them: ‘You have been well warned.’ He returned after
the first missionary journey to visit the churches
he had founded, where ‘they strengthened the souls
of the disciples, and encouraged them to continue in
the faith, saying “It is through many persecutions
that we must enter the kingdom of God”’ (Acts
14:22). The kingdom had its price. And Jesus himself
had said: ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake’ (Matthew 5:10). Anyone who
proposes to accept a set of standards quite
different from the world’s is bound to encounter
trouble. For anyone who proposes to introduce into
life a loyalty which surpasses all earthly
loyalties, there are bound to be clashes. And that
is precisely what Christianity demands that we
should do.
[CONTINUE
HERE in the audio]
Persecution and hardships will come; but of two
things Paul is sure.
He is sure that God will rescue those who put their
faith in him. He is sure that in the long run it is
better to suffer with God and the right than to
prosper with the world and the wrong. Certain of the
temporary persecution, he is equally certain of the
ultimate glory.
He is sure that the ungodly will go from bad to
worse and that there is literally no future for
those who refuse to accept the way of God.
This is an important bit of commentary so let us do
a recap:
1] The word disciple is the Greek word
parakolouthein [para-ko-lou-thein] means:
a) to follow someone [the apostle/teacher]
physically.
b) to follow the apostle/teacher mentally
c) to attend diligently to the apostle/teacher's
teaching.
d) to fully understand the meaning of what is being
said by the apostle/teacher.
e) to follow the apostle/teacher spiritually.
2] To be a disciple of Christ is to have unwavering
loyalty. It is to fully understand Him. It is being
in complete obedience to Him.
3] Firstfruits cannot teach what they do not know.
Before we can be examples of Christ, we must know
Him.
4] Being a firstfruit is not knowing something, it
is being something.
5] Apostles, ministers and teachers not only tell
firstfruits the truth, they help and encourage them
to do it. They give training in living.
6] Teachers teach more than knowledge. They teach
life.
7] The entire congregation must have a clear sense
of purpose.
8] Apostles, ministers and teachers [and
all firstfruits] must have:
---faith
---belief that God's commands are binding.
---belief that God's promises are true.
---ability not to lose patience when people are
foolish.
---ability to accept the folly, the perversity, the
blindness and the ingratitude of others and still to
remain gracious, and still to labour on.
---love
---endurance. Triumphantly facing the hardships of
being a disciple of Christ.
---a spirit that does not just accept life but takes
control of it. This is a "conquering endurance."
9] Paul had the quality of conquering endurance. He
speaks of them in verse 11 [Antioch,
Iconium and Lystra].
10] A real follower of Christ cannot escape
persecution.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting
them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God.
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
11] Firstfruits accept a set of standards quite
different from the world. Trouble will be
encountered because they do.
12] Firstfruits have a loyalty that surpasses all
earthly loyalties.
13] God will rescue those who put their faith in
Him. Firstfruits are certain of ultimate glory.
14] Firstfruits know that the ungodly will go from
bad to worse.
Now to the other commentaries. As usual, we
will begin with the general commentaries and go to
the specific.
Let us begin in the Matthew Henry Main, which is a
long commentary piece on verses 10-17. We are about
to jump in where verse 12 is discussed.
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution: not always alike; at that time
those who professed the faith of Christ were more
exposed to persecution than at other times; but at
all times, more or less, those who will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. They must
expect to be despised, and that their religion will
stand in the way of their preferment; those who will
live godly must expect it, especially those who will
live godly in Christ Jesus, that is, according to
the strict rules of the Christian religion, those
who will wear the livery and bear the name of the
crucified Redeemer. All who will show their religion
in their conversation, who will not only be godly,
but live godly, let them expect persecution,
especially when they are resolute in it. Observe,
(1.) The apostle's life was very exemplary for three
things: for his doctrine, which was according to the
will of God; for his life, which was agreeable to
his doctrine; and for his persecutions and
sufferings.
(2.) Though his life was a life of great usefulness,
yet it was a life of great sufferings; and none, I
believe, came nearer to their great Master for
eminent services and great sufferings than Paul: he
suffered almost in every place; the Holy Ghost [Spirit]
witnessed that bonds and afflictions did abide him,
Acts 20:23. Here he mentions his persecutions and
afflictions at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra,
besides what he suffered elsewhere.
Quoted verse:
Acts 20:23
Save that the Holy Ghost [Spirit]
witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me.
Note: "abide me" here is shown in many biblical
margins and in commentaries to mean that Paul is
acknowledging that persecutions wait for him and
that he must expect to suffer them.
(3.) The apostle mentions the Lord's delivering him
out of them all, for Timothy's and our encouragement
under sufferings.
(4.) We have the practice and treatment of true
Christians: they live godly in Jesus Christ - this
is their practice; and they shall suffer persecution
- this is the usage they must expect in this world.
~Matthew Henry Main
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise:
Let them not think that Paul left Asia for fear of
persecution; he was in full expectation of trouble,
yet resolved to go on, well assured that it was by
Divine direction. Thanks be to God that we know not
the things which shall befall us during the year,
the week, the day which has begun. It is enough for
the child of God to know that his strength shall be
equal to his day. He knows not, he would not know,
what the day before him shall bring forth. The
powerful influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true
Christian to his duty. Even when he expects
persecution and affliction, the love of Christ
constrains him to proceed. None of these things
moved Paul from his work; they did not deprive him
of his comfort. It is the business of our life to
provide for a joyful death.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Now some things from the Biblical Illustrator:
A good man a miracle of preservation
It is a miracle of mercy to consider how the lily
subsists in the midst of so many briars and thorns,
how the Lord’s wheat grows in the midst of so many
tares, how His doves live in the midst of so many
birds of prey, and His lambs in the midst of so many
roaring lions. Were not the Almighty her defense,
those bands of ungodliness would soon destroy her.
~Biblical Illustrator
God honoured by His suffering servants
Hereby we honour God, and so bring honour to
ourselves. God hath much honour by His suffering
servants, when out of love to Him they can sacrifice
their lives and estates for Him. God glories in
such; as He suffers in their sufferings so He
triumphs in their conquests.
~Biblical Illustrator
The good man happy in adversity, the bad man
miserable in prosperity
See the happiness of a child of God. Take him at
worst, and he is better than a wicked man at best.
The one in prosperity hath no joy, the other in
adversity is full of joy.
~Biblical Illustrator
Brave martyrdom
At Perth, in 1554, there were three male prisoners
and one woman—Helen Stirk [who
had a young child with her]—put to death
for their adherence to the gospel of Jesus. The
latter was taken to see her husband suffer before
she followed him. They embraced under the gallows.
“Husband,” she said, “we have lived together many
joyful days; but this day in which we must die ought
to be most joyful to us both, because we must have
joy for ever. Therefore I will not bid you
good-night. Certainly we shall meet again in the
Kingdom of [God]”
The executioners seized their prey, and she, too,
was then led away to be drowned. When she reached
the water’s edge she gave the child to a nurse, she
was hurled in, and the justice of the Church was
satisfied. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries:
Most commentaries have this as one statement. The
John Gill handles "shall suffer persecution" as a
separate phrase.
We will begin with the Barnes Notes. This commentary
really gets into the verse:
Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution
- Paul takes occasion from the reference to his own
persecutions, to say that his case was not unique.
It was the common lot of all who endeavored to serve
their Redeemer faithfully; and Timothy himself,
therefore, must not hope to escape from it. The
apostle had a particular reference, doubtless, to
his own times; but he has put his remark into the
most general form, as applicable to all periods. It
is undoubtedly true at all times, and will ever be,
that they who are devoted Christians - who live as
the Saviour did - and who carry out his principles
always, will experience some form of persecution.
The “essence” of persecution consists in “subjecting
a person to injury or disadvantage on account of his
opinions.” It is something more than meeting his
opinions by argument, which is always right and
proper; it is inflicting some injury on him;
depriving him of some privilege, or right;
subjecting him to some disadvantage, or placing him
in less favorable circumstances, on account of his
sentiments.
This may be either an injury done to his feelings,
his family, his reputation, his property, his
liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him
of an office which he held, or preventing him from
obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by
subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to
banishment, torture, or death. If, in any manner, or
in any way, he is subjected to disadvantage on
account of his religious opinions, and deprived of
any immunities and rights to which he would be
otherwise entitled, this is persecution. Now, it is
doubtless as true as it ever was, that a man who
will live as the Saviour did, will, like him, be
subjected to some such injury or disadvantage. On
account of his opinions, he may be held up to
ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from
society to which his attainments and manners would
otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who
might otherwise value his friendship. These things
may be expected in the best times, and under the
most favorable circumstances; and it is known that a
large part of the history of the world, in its
relation to the church, is nothing more than a
history of persecution. It follows from this:
(1) that they who make a profession of religion,
should come prepared to be persecuted. It should be
considered as one of the proper qualifications for
membership in the church, to be willing to bear
persecution, and to resolve not to shrink from any
duty in order to avoid it.
(2) they who are persecuted for their opinions,
should consider that this may be one evidence that
they have the spirit of Christ, and are his true
friends. They should remember that, in this respect,
they are treated as the Master was, and are in the
goodly company of the prophets, apostles, and
martyrs; for they were all persecuted. Yet,
(3) if we are persecuted, we should carefully
inquire, before we avail ourselves of this
consolation, whether we are persecuted because we
“live godly in Christ Jesus,” or for some other
reason. A man may embrace some absurd opinion, and
call it religion; he may adopt some mode of dress
irresistibly ludicrous, from the mere love of
singularity, and may call it “conscience;” or he may
be boorish in his manners, and uncivil in his
deportment, outraging all the laws of social life,
and may call this “deadness to the world;” and for
these, and similar things, he may be contemned [kuh
n-tem-ed], ridiculed, and despised. But
let him not infer, “therefore,” that he is to be
enrolled among the martyrs, and that he is certainly
a real Christian. That persecution which will
properly furnish any evidence that we are the
friends of Christ, must be only that which is “for
righteousness sake” Matthew 5:10, and must be
brought upon us in an honest effort to obey the
commands of God.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
(4) let those who have never been persecuted in any
way, inquire whether it is not an evidence that they
have no religion. If they had been more faithful,
and more like their Master, would they have always
escaped? And may not their freedom from it prove
that they have surrendered the principles of their
religion, where they should have stood firm, though
the world were arrayed against them? It is easy for
a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he
yields every point in which religion is opposed to
the world. But let not a man who will do this,
suppose that he has any claim to be numbered among
the martyrs, or even entitled to the Christian name.
~Barnes Notes
Now the Adam Clarke:
All that will live godly
- So opposite to the spirit and practice of the
world is the whole of Christianity, that he who
gives himself entirely up to God, making the Holy
Scriptures the rule of his words and actions, will
be less or more reviled and persecuted. “If religion
gives no quarter to vice, the vicious will give no
quarter to religion and its professors.”
~Adam Clarke
Now the John Gill:
Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus - All that live
according to the will of God revealed in his word;
and to the glory of God, as the end of all their
actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel,
and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have
the principles of a godly life from Christ, and
derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from
him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and
who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and
that will live so, are desirous of living after this
manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will
and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise
with them: these
Shall suffer persecution
- it is the will of God, and the appointment of
heaven; Christ has foretold it, that so it shall be;
and he the head has suffered it himself, and it is
necessary that his members should, that they may be
conformed unto him; it is the way Christ himself
went to glory, and through many tribulations his
people must enter the kingdom; and this is the
common lot and certain case of all the saints, in
one shape or another; for though all do not suffer
confiscation of goods, beating, scourging,
imprisonment, or a violent death; yet all are more
or less afflicted and distressed by wicked men, and
are subject to their reproaches and revilings, which
are a branch of persecution; and that for professing
Christ, and living a godly life in him and under his
influence: and since such suffer as Christians, and
not as evildoers; and this is the common condition
of the people of God, in this world, it should not
be thought strange, but be cheerfully endured; to
encourage to which is the apostle's view in this
passage. ~John Gill
Scripture referred to:
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting
them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God.
Some quotes on suffering persecution:
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
"Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's
own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or
persecution of others."
~John F. Kennedy
"You should read history and look at ostracism,
persecution, martyrdom, and that kind of thing. They
always happen to the best men, you know."
Take another look at our scripture:
2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
Who will suffer persecution? Answer: Those that will
live godly in Christ Jesus.
This is the lesson of verse 12. |
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