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2Tim.3:1. Know that in the last days difficult times will come. 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. 2 Timothy 3:5. Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Get rid of such people. “This is true, for in the last days times of cruelty will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, dignified, proud, blasphemers, opposed to parents, ungrateful, unrighteous, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, intemperate, necrotic, unkind, traitorous, impudent, pompous, sensualists rather than lovers of God, having the image of piety and the power of it rejected." The present time, I think, was predicted by the Apostle, for our life is filled with these evils, and, putting on the appearance of piety, by deeds we prepare from ourselves an idol of wickedness; instead of those who love God, we have become lovers of money and love slavery to passions; in a word, we can find in us other things that the divine Apostle predicted. The Apostle commanded those entrusted to Timothy’s care to avoid communication with these people in the following words. For he says: “And these you shall turn away.” And continuing, he adds this to the accusation. 2 Timothy 3:6. These include those who sneak into houses and seduce 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. “Because of these, they dive into houses and take captive women, burdened with sins, led by various lusts, always learning and never able to come into the mind of the truth.” We see the fulfillment of this prophecy, for very many, not suspecting that there is an apostolic prophecy, clearly dare to commit this very lawlessness. Then the Apostle from ancient legends offers consolation to those who were saddened by his words. 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. “Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth, men corrupt in mind and inexperienced in the faith.” In the wheat, says the Apostle, tares usually grow. Preachers of truth have always had opponents. Who is more glorious than Moses in piety? But he also had Magi, people who were clearly up in arms against the truth. However, the divine Apostle learned their names not from Divine Scripture, but from the unwritten teaching of the Jews. It was natural for him to reveal the grace of the Spirit. 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. “But they will no longer succeed: their madness will be revealed to everyone, just as they were quick.” For hypocrisy cannot be hidden for long. And this does not contradict what was said before. For there the Apostle says about them: “Especially they will prosper in wickedness” (2 Tim. 2:16), but here about the deception that they dare to commit, he said: “They will not prosper,” that is, taking on the appearance of piety, they will remain hidden for a short time, but will soon be revealed. Thus, having foreshadowed this, he sets himself up as a model for the student. 2 Timothy 3:10. And you followed me in teaching, life, disposition, faith, generosity, love, patience. “You followed my teaching,” that is, the truth communicated to you in the sermon. “Life” - the way of life that is shown in deeds. “Hello” - you understood my goal exactly. “Faith” - you also know the disposition that I have towards the Lord. “Long-suffering” - you know how I endure the sins of my brethren. “Love” - you know how compassionately I am towards everyone. “Patience” - you know how courageously I endure attacks from opponents. 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. "Exile, suffering." Then he reminds Timothy about some of them. “I was in Antioch, and in Iconium, and in Lystrech, and I received exile, and the Lord delivered me from all of them.” The apostle, leaving the others, mentioned the dangers that befell him in Pisidia and Lycaonia; for the one to whom he wrote was from Lycaonia, and he knew this better than anything else. He also pointed out God’s care, thereby encouraging the student. Then he speaks and, as it were, determines that he accompanies the pets of piety. 2 Timothy 3:12. And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. “And all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” because the common evil-wisher wages war with people, either through people, or through their own thoughts. 2 Timothy 3:13. Evil people and deceivers will prosper in evil, deceiving and being deceived. “But wicked men and sorcerers will prosper in the worst way, by deceiving and by those who deceive.” For the destroyer of men helps his own and, like some kind of teacher, teaches them to vice. 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. “Abide in the same things you have been taught and the essence of which has been entrusted to you.” Firmly preserve the teaching, the truth of which you have learned through experience; for the Apostle expressed this with the words: “the essence has already been entrusted.” Timothy was a witness to the apostolic miracles and himself performed many of them. Then the Apostle points out the reliability of the teacher, and thereby making the teaching more solid. “The Knower, from whom you learned”; reminds us that Timothy himself was raised in piety. 2 Timothy 3:15. Moreover, from childhood you know the sacred scriptures, which can make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. “And having learned the sacred scriptures from childhood, you are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, even in Christ Jesus.” And since the Apostle testified that such is the power of the sacred writings, he teaches what benefit arises from them. 2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable.” And, more precisely defining, the Apostle distinguished it from the writings of human wisdom; it was spiritual writing that he called inspired, because God’s grace was spoken through the prophets and apostles. And therefore the Holy Spirit is God, if the writing of the Spirit, according to the word of the Apostle, is truly inspired by God. But the Apostle also makes known the types of benefits. "Towards learning". For what we do not know, we learn from Scripture. "To reproof". Scripture exposes our lawless lives. "Towards correction". It also calls those who have gone astray to the right path. “To punishment, hedgehog in truth.” It teaches us the types of virtues. 2 Timothy 3:17. May the man of God be complete, equipped for every good work. “May the man of God be perfect, prepared for every good work.” All this leads to perfection and makes us ours to God of all. Having thus demonstrated the benefit of inspired Scripture, the Apostle commands that it be offered to everyone and terrifies them with his testimony. You might be interested in: