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Survey
of the Letters of Paul |
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| 2 Timothy 3:10 |
| But thou hast fully known my
doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, |
Survey of the Letters of Paul
Lesson:
2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of
life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience,
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.
Let us begin with the Barclay
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.
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. ~Barclay
Commentary
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 rest of the commentaries. As our
tradition here dictates, we will begin with the
general and go to the specific.
From the Matthew Henry:
Here the apostle, to confirm Timothy in that way
wherein he walked,
I. Sets before him his own example, which Timothy
had been an eye-witness of, having long attended
Paul (2 Timothy 3:10): Thou hast fully known my
doctrine. The more fully we know the doctrine of
Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall
cleave to it; the reason why many sit loose to it is
because they do not fully know it. Christ's apostles
had no enemies but those who did not know them, or
not know them fully; those who knew them best loved
and honoured them the most. Now what is it that
Timothy had so fully known in Paul?
1. The doctrine that he preached. Paul kept back
nothing from his hearers, but declared to them the
whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), so that if it
were not their own fault they might fully know it.
Timothy had a great advantage in being trained up
under such a tutor, and being apprised of the
doctrine he preached.
Quoted verse:
Acts 20:27
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the
counsel of God.
2. He had fully known his conversation: Thou hast
fully know my doctrine, and manner of life; his
manner of life was of a piece with his doctrine, and
did not contradict it. He did not pull down by his
living what he built up by his preaching. Those
ministers are likely to do good, and leave lasting
fruits of their labors, whose manner of life agrees
with their doctrine; as, on the contrary, those
cannot expect to profit the people at all that
preach well and live ill.
3. Timothy fully knew what was the great thing that
Paul had in view, both in his preaching and in his
conversation: “Thou hast known my purpose, what I
drive at, how far it is from any worldly, carnal,
secular design, and how sincerely I aim at the glory
of God and the good of the souls of men.”
4. Timothy fully knew Paul's good character, which
he might gather from his doctrine, manner of life,
and purpose; for he gave proofs of his faith (that
is, of his integrity and fidelity, or his faith in
Christ, his faith concerning another world, by which
Paul lived), his long-suffering towards the
churches to which he preached and over which he
presided, his charity towards all men, and his
patience. These were graces that Paul was eminent
for, and Timothy knew it.
5. He knew that he had suffered ill for doing well
(2 Timothy 3:11): “Thou hast fully known the
persecutions and afflictions that came unto me” (he
mentions those only which happened to him while
Timothy was with him, at Antioch, at Iconium, at
Lystra); “and therefore let it be no surprise to
thee if thou suffer hard things, it is no more than
I have endured before.”
6. He knew what care God had taken of him:
Notwithstanding out of them all the Lord delivered
me; as he never failed his cause, so his God never
failed him. Thou hast fully known my afflictions.
When we know the afflictions of good people but in
part, they are a temptation to us to decline that
cause which they suffer for; when we know only the
hardships they undergo for Christ, we may be ready
to say, “We will renounce that cause that is likely
to cost us so dear in the owning of it;” but when we
fully know the afflictions, not only how they
suffer, but how they are supported and comforted
under their sufferings, then, instead of being
discouraged, we shall be animated by them,
especially considering that we are told before that
we must count upon such things (2 Timothy 3:12): 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 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.
(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.
II. He warns Timothy of the fatal end of seducers,
as a reason why he should stick closely to the truth
as it is in Jesus: But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, etc., 2 Timothy 3:13. Observe,
As good men, by the grace of God, grow better and
better, so bad men, through the subtlety of Satan
and the power of their own corruptions, grow worse
and worse. The way of sin is down-hill; for such
proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being
deceived. Those who deceive others do but deceive
themselves; those who draw others into error run
themselves into more and more mistakes, and they
will find it so at last, to their cost. ~Matthew
Henry Main
From the F. B. Meyer
The world does not love Christ or Christians any
better than of old; and all who are minded to live
godly lives will come inevitably to the cross in one
form or another. To be without persecution should
put us in serious doubt as to whether we are right.
The spirit of the gospel is in absolute disagreement
with the spirit of the world. But, whatever the
losses and trials, let the children of God abide in
the things which they have learned, and walk in
blameless purity and consistency. The conduct,
purpose, and patience of this great and holy Apostle
gleam in front of us for our inspiration and
guidance; and his experience will be ours-that there
is no sorrow out of which we shall not be delivered,
when we have learned the lesson it was sent to
teach. ~F. B. Meyer
From the Matthew Henry Concise:
The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ, as
taught by the apostles, the more closely we shall
cleave to it. When we know the afflictions of
believers only in part, they tempt us to decline the
cause for which they suffer. A form of godliness, a
profession of Christian faith without a godly life,
often is allowed to pass, while open profession of
the truth as it is in Jesus, and resolute attention
to the duties of godliness, stir up the scorn and
enmity of the world. As good men, by the grace of
God, grow better, so bad men, through the craft of
Satan, and the power of their own corruptions, grow
worse. The way of sin is down-hill; such go on from
bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Those
who deceive others, deceive themselves, as they will
find at last, to their cost. The history of the
outward church, awfully shows that the apostle spake
this as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. ~Matthew
Henry Concise
Now to the specific commentaries
But thou hast fully known my doctrine - Margin,
“been a diligent follower of.” The margin is more in
accordance with the usual meaning of the Greek word,
which means, properly, to accompany side by side; to
follow closely; to trace out; to examine Luke 1:3,
and to conform to. The meaning here, however, seems
to be, that Timothy had an opportunity to follow
out; i. e., to examine closely the manner of life of
the apostle Paul. He had been so long his companion,
that he had had the fullest opportunity of knowing
how he had lived and taught, and how he had borne
persecutions. The object of this reference to his
own life and sufferings is evidently to encourage
Timothy to bear persecutions and trials in the same
manner; compare 2 Timothy 3:14. He saw, in the
events which began already to develop themselves,
that trials must be expected; he knew that all who
would live holy lives must suffer persecution; and
hence, he sought to prepare the mind of Timothy for
the proper endurance of trials, by a reference to
his own case. The word “doctrine,” here, refers to
his “teaching,” or manner of giving instruction. It
does not refer, as the word now does, to the
opinions which he held; see the notes at 1 Timothy
4:16. In regard to the opportunities which Timothy
had for knowing the manner of Paul’s life, see the
introduction to the Epistle, and Paley, Hor. Paul.,
“in loc.” Timothy had been the companion of Paul
during a considerable portion of the time after his
conversion. The “persecutions” referred to here 2
Timothy 3:11 are those which occurred in the
vicinity of Timothy’s native place, and which he
would have had a particular opportunity of being
acquainted with. This circumstance, and the fact
that Paul did not refer to other persecutions in
more remote places, is one of the “undesigned
coincidences,” of which Paley has made so much in
his incomparable little work.
Quoted verses:
Luke 1:3
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect
understanding of all things from the very first, to
write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
2 Timothy 3:14 [See
Lesson]
But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom
thou hast learned them;
1 Timothy 4:16 [See
Lesson]
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;
continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both
save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Timothy 3:11[See
Lesson]
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.
Manner of life - Literally, “leading, guidance;”
then, the method in which one is led - his manner of
life; compare the notes at 1 Thessalonians 2:1.
Quoted verse:
1 Thessalonians 2:1
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto
you, that it was not in vain:
Purpose - Plans, or designs.
Faith - Perhaps fidelity, or faithfulness.
Long-suffering - With the evil passions of others,
and their efforts to injure him. See the word
explained in the notes at 1 Corinthians 13:4.
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity
envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not
puffed up,
Charity - see the notes at 1 Corinthians 13.
Patience - “A calm temper, which suffers evils
without murmuring or discontent.”
~Barnes Notes |
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