TEXT: II Timothy 3

SUBJECT: Exposition of II Timothy #8: The Apostasy

The theme of II Timothy is "How to be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ". The author, Paul has been such a man for thirty-five years. But his work is done. Now it is Timothy's turn. To fulfil his ministry, he must become zealous, bold, and firm in his doctrine. He must grow in grace, equip others, and endure hardship. Shun heretics he must while helping God's mistaken people. All of this is required of him if he wants to be a workman who needn't be ashamed of himself.

Is it easy to become such a man? To discharge such duties? It is not. In the best of times, it is very hard. But Timothy wouldn't have the luxury of developing himself in a time of ease. For his age--like ours--would be marked by apostasy.

Chapter 3 opens with a prediction. "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come." What these "perilous times" are is made plain in the following verses. But a question remains: When will they occur? Have they already passed? Are they yet future? Opinion is divided among believers of equal faith and learning.

Some say that the apostasy will occur at the end of time. They argue on two premises: (1) Paul specifies when it will happen as "the last days", and (2) He uses the future tense, "perilous times will come..." I don't accept this view. Here's why. (1) the term "last days" does not signify the end of time. In Acts 2:16-17, Peter applies the term to the Day of Pentecost. Hebrews 1:1-2 is similar. The "last days", therefore, describe the whole Christian era, beginning with the Lord's first coming and ending with His second advent. (2) The future tense of vv.1-2 is followed by the present tense of vv.5-6. These men, therefore, are both coming and have already come. (3) II Timothy is Paul's most personal letter. He is writing to us in a secondary sense. Primarily, it is Timothy whom he addresses. And he will die long before the end of the age. (4) Such men were found in the First Century (see chapters 1,2); Timothy is commanded (in the present tense) to "turn away from them".

These "perilous times" had already come when Paul wrote the Epistle, and will continue coming in the years to follow. Timothy, therefore, must become firm in the faith--and remain that way--for his whole life will be lived in "perilous times". This is true for all of us. Christianity never was popular--and never will be. Timothy lived in "perilous times". And so do we.

In vv.2-4, we learn the nature of these perilous times. They are marked by moral and spiritual decline. "For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..."

The root sin is self-love. Which produces a contempt for both God and man. These vices are not occasional slips into sin, but fixed dispositions. The holiest man is, at times, unloving or proud. But these men think and behave this way all of the time.

Where do you find these scoundrels? Paul tells us: in the church, v.5, "...having a form of godliness but denying its power". They profess faith in Jesus Christ, but have not been changed by Him. Their "godliness" is only external. Inside, they "are ever denying its power".

Next, their work is described, vv.6-7. "For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women, loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth".

The apostates are clever. They "creep into households". The word means "to worm their way in". What do they do when they get there? They prey upon the weakest members of the family. "Silly girls" Paul calls them. They are professed believers who are unsaved, yet preoccupied with theology. But because of their moral blindness, their study does them no good. It only makes them vulnerable to "slick-talking preachers" who can promise salvation without repentance.

In vv.8-9, Paul compares these heretics with religious leaders fromanother age. "Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs was also".

"Jannes and Jambres" were the magicians who competed with Moses in Egypt. They had spiritual powers--no question about that! But the source of their power was Satan! Similarly, the heretics can preach well and may authenticate their message with signs and wonders. But this doesn't prove they're of God. No more than the miracles performed in Pharaoh's court made Jannes and Jambres God's men. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, there is no light in them". In time, Jannes and Jambres were proven to be frauds. The heretics will suffer the same end.

Up to this point, Paul has been entirely negative. He has warned of "perilous times" and described the perilous men. But in vv.10ff., he turns to the positive side. He tells Timothy how he should behave in these "perilous times"--how he can survive and defeat these modern-day magicians.

It begins by recalling Paul's example, vv.10-11. "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all, the Lord delivered me".

Many believers expect a life of ease.

"Must I be carried to the skies

on flowery beds of ease;

While others fought to win the prize

And sailed through bloody seas".

But Timothy must not. Paul is the leading Christian and preacher of his age. He suffered much. To harden his resolve, Timothy must keep Paul's example in mind. But more than this: he must recall that "the Lord delivered" Paul from all of his suffering. Not that he was rescued from suffering, but that he was sustained, and became more useful in it.

Next, he must generalize Paul's example, vv.12-13. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived". Because "evil men grow worse and worse", they will continue abusing the godly. Paul warns Timothy to not look for a rest in this life. His whole life will be spent in conflict. This he must remember if he would be faithful in an age of apostasy.

Chiefly, Timothy must continue in the Scripture, vv.14-17. The things he had learned from Paul were not original with Paul. He had learned them from Scripture. This Scripture Timothy was quite familiar with. He had been weaned on it in childhood; he was using it now in his ministry, and it was "equipping him for every good work". Heretics could be exposed by Scripture. Apostates could be expelled by Scripture. Timothy could survive the perilous times by Scripture. And more: Timothy could flourish himself and help others by Scripture.

In short: How do you live in perilous times? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".