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| 2 Timothy 3:11 |
| 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. |
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.
Every commentary I went to had this verse broken out
in different ways. We will begin with the general
and go to the specific.
First, go to the Matthew Henry. We are breaking into
a longer commentary here that discusses verses
10-17.
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.
~Matthew Henry Main
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise:
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.
In the stern experiences of human life there is no
stay that is comparable to the Holy Scriptures. The
infinite variety of Scripture adapts itself to
different states of the soul. Whatever our need, we
can find its solace and remedy here. Thus we may
live a complete life, finding in the Bible an
equipment for all our emergencies. In this armory is
every weapon for offense and defense; in this
pharmacopoeia is a medicine and antidote for every
wound. ~Matthew Henry Concise
Now some things from the Biblical Illustrator:
Apostolic imitation
The following is a list of nine words attempting to
define the life of Paul. "Apostolic imitation" had
the meaning of our lives as firstfruits being much
the same way. We imitate or follow Paul as he
follows Christ.
1. Doctrine.
2. Conversation.
3. Purpose.
4. Faith.
5. Long-suffering.
6. Love.
7. Patience.
8. Persecutions.
9. Afflictions. ~Biblical Illustrator
Note: These words aptly describe the life of a true
Christian. This is explained in the next item from
the Biblical Illustrator:
Precedents better than precepts
Now since we are more easily led by precedents than
by precepts, the apostle propounds his own example
for our imitation, wherein we have the lively
pattern and portraiture [pawr-tri-cher-a portrait
or verbal picture] of a faithful pastor, whose
office it is not only to preach sound doctrine, but
also to practice what he preacheth in his own life,
that so he may be able to speak from the heart to
the hearts of his people, and may not bring his food
as birds do to their young ones—in their beaks, not
in their breasts. ~Biblical Illustrator
Note: Paul lived the gospel. Unlike a bird
feeding their young by placing food in their open
mouth, Paul brought the message of Jesus Christ to
the heart and soul of the firstfruits. Clearly he is
doing this with all of us involved in this series of
Bible studies.
Here is another piece from the Biblical Illustrator
The example of superiors powerful
In that Paul propounds his own example for Timothy
to consider and follow. That the pious example of
the godly must be imitated by us. Younger ministers
especially must observe the doctrine and
conversation, the pious ways and walking of the
elder and graver ministers, and must follow them.
Aged Paul propounds his virtues to young Timothy for
imitation. Many young men praise the gravity,
solidity, wisdom, industry, mortification, and
self-denial of ancient ministers, but they do not
follow them. They deal by them as the world doth by
honesty, they praise it, but they never practice it.
As Gideon said to his soldiers (Judges 7:17), “Look
upon me, and do likewise”; so you that are young and
unsettled, rash, and conceited, look upon the
doctrine, discipline, hair, habit, ways and works of
the holy, and the grave; follow them now you are
young, and then you will be good long. Great is the
power of the example of superiors. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Quoted verse:
Judges 7:17
And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise:
and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp,
it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
This brings up a wonderful subject. I wrote on this
a long time ago in a Minister Notebook piece:
"You Are Following a Man"
–common accusation
Situation: There is an age-old accusation that if a
firstfruit is following a man, he or she is not
following God. Is this a valid accusation?
This is not necessarily a valid accusation.
--"Following a man" is not an action.
--It is a matter of the heart or an attitude.
--In fact, there are two ways in which a true
Christian may follow a man. One is biblical and
justified while the other is not.
---If a person is worshipping a man or following a
man because of the man, himself, the person is
spiritually wrong in doing so.
---This is the Work of God and not one of man.
---Having said this, there is a biblically justified
and clear admonition to follow men under specific
circumstances. Notice:
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them
which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now
tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of
the cross of Christ. –Philippians 3:17-18
In verse 17, Paul is encouraging people to follow
him and to follow those who follow Christ.
In verse 18, Paul warns against those who seem to
follow Christ but are actually enemies of the cross
of Christ.
"Enemies of the cross [stake] of Christ"
denotes those who do harm to Christ, His Work or to
His Church. It does not speak of personal sin.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.
–Hebrews 6:12
This verse is saying we should not become
spiritually dull and indifferent, but that we be
anxious to follow the example of those who receive
all that God has promised them because of their
strong faith and patience.
James 5:10-11 from the Living Bible:
For examples of patience in suffering, look at the
Lord’s prophets. We know how happy they are now
because they stayed true to him then, even though
they suffered greatly for it. Job is an example of a
man who continued to trust the Lord in sorrow; from
his experiences we can see how the Lord’s plan
finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness
and mercy.
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. –1
Corinthians 4:16
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for
we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. –2
Thessalonians 3:7
The word "disorderly" means loafing, so the verse
could read, "you never saw us loafing around". (See
Vines)
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
–1 Corinthians 11:1
As you can see from these examples, we witness Paul
as a good example to follow because he followed
after Christ. But notice the following…
Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from
the body of this death? –Romans 7:24
Wow! The man who urges us to follow him is a man who
laments his sinful, fleshly nature. I believe by
calling himself a "wretched man" we are talking
about something more severe than an occasional
taking of the Lord’s name in vain or breaking of the
Sabbath. Don’t you? Therefore, we cannot dismiss
following a specific man because he sins and is
subject to sin. We follow him as he is used by God,
does the Work of God and is in close adherence to
scripture as stated in Matthew 7:15-20, which speaks
to true and false ministers. ~Minister's
Notebook
Two more things from the Biblical Illustrator:
Persecution beneficial
Such shakings make way for Christ. The Church, like
a quick-set hedge, grows the thicker for cutting,
this vine is the better for bleeding, and this torch
burns the better for beating. The more Pharaoh
oppressed the Israelites the more they increased
(Exodus 1:12). ~Biblical Illustrator
Quoted verse:
Exodus 1:12
But the more they afflicted them, the more they
multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because
of the children of Israel.
Deliverances, to be noted
Not only our dangers, but also our deliverances must
be observed and recorded by us. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries.
Here is what Barnes Notes has:
Persecutions - On the meaning of this word, see the
notes at Matthew 5:10.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Afflictions - Trials of other kinds than those which
arose from persecutions. The apostle met them
everywhere; compare the notes at Acts 20:23.
Quoted verse:
Acts 20:23
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Which came unto me at Antioch - The Antioch here
referred to is not the place of that name in Syria
(see the notes at Acts 11:19); but a city of the
same name in Pisidia, in Asia Minor; notes, Acts
13:14. Paul there suffered persecution from the
Jews; Acts 13:45.
Quoted verses:
Acts 11:19
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the
persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as
far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching
the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to
Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on
the sabbath day, and sat down.
Acts 13:45
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were
filled with envy, and spake against those things
which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming.
At Iconium; - notes, Acts 13:50. On the persecution
there, see the notes at Acts 14:3-6.
Quoted verses:
Acts 13:50
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable
women, and the chief men of the city, and raised
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled
them out of their coasts.
Acts 14:3-6
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in
the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his
grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by
their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and
part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And when there was an assault made both of the
Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to
use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and
Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that
lieth round about:
At Lystra; - Acts 14:6. At this place, Paul was
stoned; notes, Acts 14:19. Timothy was a native of
either Derbe or Lystra, cities near to each other,
and was doubtless there at the time of this
occurrence; Acts 16:1.
Quoted verses:
Acts 14:6
They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and
Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that
lieth round about:
Acts 14:19
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and
Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having
stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he
had been dead.
Acts 16:1
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a
certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son
of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and
believed; but his father was a Greek:
But out of them all the Lord delivered me - See the
history in the places referred to in the Acts .
~Barnes Notes
Let me read from the John Gill on this last phrase:
But out of them all the Lord delivered me - see 2
Corinthians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:17, this he says to
the glory of the grace and power of God, to whom he
ascribes all his deliverances; and for the
encouragement of Timothy, and other saints, under
sufferings, who may hope and believe that the Lord
will deliver them in his own time and way, Psalm
34:19. ~John Gill
Quoted verses:
2 Corinthians 1:10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth
deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver
us;
2 Timothy 4:17 [See
Lesson]
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and
strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be
fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:
and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the
LORD delivereth him out of them all.
...and these are the lessons of verse 11. |
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