Глава III.

The onset of difficult times (1–9). Example of the Apostle Paul (10–12). Admonition to Timothy (13–17). 2Tim.3:1. Know that in the last days difficult times will come. "Last Days". Christians of the apostolic era believed that they had already entered the “last days” (Heb 1:2; cf. Acts 2:17). And here the apostle undoubtedly understands not some very distant times, but in general the “following” days. This is proven by the fact that the apostle advises Timothy to “depart” from the people who will live in these last days: it is clear that Timothy will see them (2 Tim. 3:5). The same is indicated by the use of the present tense in speech about future false teachers (2 Tim. 3:6 and 2 Tim. 3:8). 2Tim.3:2. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfriendly, 2Tim.3:3. implacable, slanderers, intemperate, cruel, not loving good, 2 Timothy 3:4. traitors, arrogant, pompous, more voluptuous than God-loving, “People” – humanity in its entirety. "Proud". Self-love is the main driving cause of human corruption. 2 Timothy 3:5. having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Get rid of such people. “Away from such people,” that is, from all the above-mentioned people. Obviously, the apostle saw that such people were already growing in the environment in which Timothy moved, namely in Christian society (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:7). Over time, this wickedness (2 Tim. 2:16) will only reach its highest degree of tension. But in the last days the wicked will not act as openly as they did during the time of the Apostle Paul, directly, for example, declaring that the resurrection has already taken place. 2 Timothy 3:6. To these belong those who sneak into houses and deceive women who are drowning in sins, led by various lusts, 2 Timothy 3:7. always students and never able to reach the knowledge of the truth. The Apostle speaks with contempt about women who will follow false teachers (women - τα γυναικάρια - diminutive - contemptuous expression instead of αί γυναϊκες). Women will look to these false teachers for teaching how to achieve holiness and get rid of the burden of sin in the easiest way, and they will answer their questions with importance, trying to reconcile the demands of Christianity with the rather low passions that women did not want to renounce. 2 Timothy 3:8. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also resist the truth, men of depraved minds, ignorant of the faith. The apostle, of course, learns the names of the magicians who opposed Moses from Jewish tradition. Without a doubt, these names were often mentioned in the Ephesian Christian community by the false teachers operating there. 2 Timothy 3:9. But they won't have much time; for their madness will be revealed to everyone, just as it happened to them. 2 Timothy 3:10. And you followed me in teaching, life, disposition, faith, generosity, love, patience, 2 Timothy 3:11. in the persecutions and sufferings that befell me in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from them all. 2 Timothy 3:12. And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Timothy always followed the example of the Apostle Paul regarding patience with suffering and other virtues. The apostle reminds us of this now to encourage him to continue to stay away from false teachers. “Those who befell me...” Possible translation: “And what sufferings befell me!.. What persecution I suffered. And the Lord delivered me from all of them.” "At Antioch" - see Acts 13:14. “In Iconium” – Acts 14:2 et seq. “In Lystra” – Acts 14:19 et seq. “Yes, and everyone who wants to live piously” - Wed. Matthew 5:10 et seq. 2 Timothy 3:13. Evil people and deceivers will prosper in evil, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:14. And you continue in what you have been taught and what has been entrusted to you, knowing by whom you were taught. While false teachers will succeed in leading people into errors to which they themselves are subject, Timothy must stand firm in the teaching that he received from the Apostle Paul (“knowing by whom you have been taught”). 2 Timothy 3:15. Moreover, from childhood you know the sacred scriptures, which can make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:17. May the man of God be complete, equipped for every good work. Timothy will be helped in this case by his familiarity with the Holy Scriptures, which he studied as a child, apparently under the guidance of his mother and grandmother (cf. 2 Tim. 1:5). Scripture testifies of Christ (John 5:39, 45 et seq.). “To make wise for salvation” - that is, in relation to the essence of salvation; they will enable him to correctly understand what exactly salvation consists of. And this salvation is achieved by faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Rom 3:25 “purification by faith”). “All Scripture” can be translated “every scripture inspired of God is also useful for teaching reproof...”. Thus the particle και - and must be omitted, as it is issued in the Pescito, in some manuscripts of the Vulgate and in many ancient commentators. The expression πασά (without the article) cannot mean the entire totality of Old Testament books (they are called in the New Testament, for example in the Gospel Matthew 21:42, writings αί γραφαί), but means any inspired scripture, including New Testament books, some of which already existed at that time. The apostle could also call his writing inspired by God, since he said about his oral preaching and that of the other apostles that it had its source in the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:3). “Let the man of God be perfect...”, that is, you need to read inspired scripture in order to become a good servant and preacher of Christ. You might be interested in: