Look at what Paul says characterises the last days – verses 2-5:
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of Godliness but denying its power.” Sound familiar? Paul wrote this letter 2000 years ago. He could have been writing about today, couldn’t he?
It’s a terrible list, isn’t it? Because it’s a description of what opposition to Christ looks like. Primarily, it’s caused by misdirection – misdirection of our love, towards ourselves, rather than towards God. Putting other things in God’s place – that’s what the Bible calls sin. And it’s not restricted to people who deny Christ completely – did you notice that, in verse 5? It also applies to people who “have a form of godliness but deny its power.” In other words, to some people who would call themselves Christians.
Now, it’s not clear exactly who Paul’s talking about here. It seems that when Paul was writing there were people who were taking every opportunity to sell people what they were calling Christianity, but what was very different to the Christianity of the Bible, and of Paul. We see that their methods are suspect. Instead of presenting their message in a reasoned manner, they “worm their way into homes” – verse 6 – where they target the vulnerable. Here, it seems they’re focussing particularly on women, probably on those who were very new Christians, or who were interested in Christianity, and looking for the answers. And sadly, their attitude is one that’s not unfamiliar today.
Not only are their tactics wrong, but so is their content. Far from preaching the Gospel, they’re opposing its very message. Paul draws a parallel with an episode from Israel’s history, described in the book of Exodus. Israel – God’s chosen people – were being held as slaves in Egypt. So God told Moses to go to Pharaoh, and demand the Israelites’ release, and He also performed miracles through Moses to demonstrate his power. But Pharaoh summoned his magicians, according to Jewish tradition known as Jannes and Jambres, to oppose Moses and, in so doing, to belittle God. And Paul says that in the same way as they opposed God all those years ago, these people who “have a form of godliness but deny its power” oppose God today.
Well, it’s a grim picture. Paul advises Timothy to have nothing to do with them, but how should Timothy recognise who they are? Well, Paul gives him some words of encouragement. “Don’t worry,” he says, “they won’t get very far. Their folly will be clear to everyone.” Don’t worry, he says, they’ll be obvious, they’ll be easy to spot. They’ll be the ones opposing God, those leading their followers away from God, rather than guiding them towards Jesus.
Well, it’s a matter of supreme importance that Timothy knows how to spot these false teachers. As the leader of a young church it’s vital he makes sure that the teaching the people are getting is centred on Christ. But I think it’s a matter for all of us today. For example, you may be aware that there’s deep controversy within the Anglican communion at the moment, between those who believe that the Bible is the word of God, and as such has authority, and those who don’t believe this, and think that, on certain matters, the Bible is wrong. It is that simple. And Paul has a clear message to us today, for all Christians, whether or not we’re members of the Anglican church. Are our leaders pointing us towards Christ? Are they teaching the Bible? Or are they opposing God, and leading people astray? Surely we should be praying for our leaders – praying that they would be teaching faithfully, that God would inspire them to understand His word and to pass it on helpfully, praying that they would always be pointing towards Jesus.
It’s a message for those of us who have some form of leadership. Do you lead a small group, a bible study? Are you involved in youth work? Are you a parent? Do you mentor a younger Christian? You have, to some degree, a leadership role. And Paul’s message is, if anything, even more essential for us. We must make absolutely certain that we’re not, even unwittingly, one of the people Paul is describing. We must make sure we’re loving God, not ourselves, or pleasure, or money, that we’re not being boastful, proud, or unholy, and that we’re not denying God’s power by opposing Him, but instead acknowledging the truth of the Gospel.
It sounds like a mammoth task, doesn’t it – it sounds nearly impossible. And I’m sure it sounded equally difficult to Timothy. But Paul continues his letter with some practical advice. How do you distinguish yourself from those false teachers, Timothy? By following my example. And that’s the heading we’re going to take as we look at verses 10-17. Live as the Lord’s servant following Paul’s example.
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words. No matter how carefully we try to describe something, no matter how much detail we go into, it’s never quite as good as actually seeing it. So, for example, I could describe my sister to you. I could tell you that she’s 18, that she’s quite tall and very slim, that she’s got long, dark brown wavy hair. I could tell you the colour of her eyes, and describe the type of clothes that she wears. But if I asked you to draw a picture of her, I can guarantee it’d be quite different to the photograph that I’ve got of her – it wouldn’t be anywhere near such a good likeness.
Well, if it’s true for pictures, it’s just as true for actions. I work in a chemistry lab, and I’m quite often asked how to do something, maybe a particular type of experiment. And I usually start by trying to describe what to do – you take this piece of equipment, and you do this to it. But invariably, it’s far quicker, far easier and far clearer if I take the person who’s asked me and show them how to do it.
And this is much the same situation as we find here. Remember why Paul’s writing. He’s described a grave problem – a problem in society in general, and within the Christian church in particular. He’s described how people are teaching in a manner that opposes God, and he’s told Timothy, the one he’s chosen to lead the church in his place, to have nothing to do with them – nothing to do with their message, and nothing to do with their methods. And we can almost hear Timothy replying to Paul “That’s fine, but on a practical level, what should my leadership look like?”
Now, Paul could have written a long list of instructions and advice to Timothy, going into great detail, and describing what every aspect of his life should look like. But he doesn’t, and instead he gives Timothy an example – the example of himself.
See what Paul writes in verses 10 and 11. “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.” Paul tells Timothy to model his behaviour on the example Paul’s set for him.
Timothy should emulate Paul’s teaching, which, as we read the bible from Acts onwards, we can see has a sound theological grounding. It’s based firmly on what the death of Jesus means for all people, and how Christians in particular should live in the light of this. Timothy should follow Paul’s way of life – being willing to deny himself payment and luxury for the sake of the Gospel. He should be firm in purpose – living to teach the word of God, and, in doing so, he should be patient, faithful and loving. It’s worth noting here that Paul isn’t showing off – he knew himself, as an Apostle, to be following Christ, and therefore doesn’t hesitate to tell Timothy to follow his example. In 1 Corinthians 11, he writes “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
But Paul also makes it clear to Timothy that living to follow Christ doesn’t endear people to you. He makes it very clear that living wholeheartedly for God will bring persecution and suffering. He describes events from his past that Timothy was familiar with, describing the response he got when he spoke in Antioch, Iconium and in Lystra, and we read in Acts chapters 13 and 14 that this culminated in the crowd stoning Paul, dragging him outside the city, and leaving him for dead. Yet Paul kept his faith in God throughout these times, and he tells Timothy how the Lord rescued him.
Paul goes on to describe that this persecution wasn’t particular to him. Look at verses 12 and 13. Paul says “In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” It’s no surprise that following Jesus leads to opposition – after all, Christ himself was persecuted, leading to him being put to death on a cross, and he promised that following him would be costly. Let me read from John 15, for example. Jesus says “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: “No servant is greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
And at the same time, those who have rejected Christ are seemingly getting it all their own way. Not only are they deceiving others, but Paul says they’re deceiving themselves, verse 12. The more they tell people to ignore Christ and live for money, or pleasure, the more they start to believe themselves. Their only progression is as they go on “from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Their lives must have looked so simple – living each day for the moment, for the pleasure it could bring – so easy, compared to Timothy’s.
But hear what Paul writes to Timothy, verse 14, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
It must have looked hopeless. How could Timothy stand firm in the face of such opposition? Well, Paul gives two reasons. He says Timothy is to continue in “what he has learned and become convinced of, because he knows those from whom he has learned it.” Firstly, Paul reminds Timothy of their past – that Paul met Jesus face to face and is an Apostle of him – chapter 1, verse 1 – that he laid hands on Timothy at his ordination, verse 6, that Paul was appointed a herald and a teacher of the Gospel, verse 11. Timothy’s not being asked to trust in someone he’s never met; rather, Paul’s asking him to continue trusting in a person he’s known and believed for many years.
Secondly, Paul reminds Timothy of his faith in the word of God – the Old Testament. We read how Timothy’s known the scriptures since he was a child, and Paul reiterates that it is these very scriptures that are able to make Timothy wise for salvation through faith in Jesus. In other words, both Paul’s past and the scriptures back each other up, and both validate the instruction to Timothy to continue, even in the face of opposition.
Paul concludes this section by noting that the Scriptures aren’t just of academic interest. He says that they should have a real and significant impact on Timothy’s ministry. “All scripture is God-breathed,” he says in verse 16, “and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.” God speaks through the scriptures – through the bible. In contrast to the false teachers in verses 1-9, Timothy is to acknowledge the truth of the scriptures, and is to use them to teach and equip the church. Unlike the false teachers, he’s to be a lover of God, rather than a lover of pleasure. He must be willing to rebuke his congregations where necessary – to tell them that their actions oppose God’s will, and to instruct them how to behave. Only through the scriptures can Timothy, and through his teaching other Christians, be equipped for every good work.
Cast your mind back to where we were, standing at Timothy’s side, reading this letter over his shoulders. We’ve just looked at the message Paul had for Timothy. So, as we close, let’s think about what Paul’s message to us here today would be.
Maybe you’re not a Christian. You’ve come here with family, or with friends. Maybe you’re thinking “that’s all very well, but this letter has nothing to say to me.” Well, I think it does have something to say to you. Paul says that the scriptures – the bible – are the word of God, and are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus – back in verse 15. If that’s true, this has got to be one book you can’t afford not to take seriously. Why not read it, and investigate its claims for yourself?
Alternatively, maybe you are a Christian. If so, Paul has two messages for you. Firstly, are you facing opposition for your faith? Are you the only Christian in your school, your college, your office, your family? Do people mock you, exclude you, belittle you for what you believe? Well, take heart. Opposition doesn’t mean you’ve got it wrong – in fact, Paul says that persecution is natural for the Christian. And although he doesn’t say it’s easy, Paul does have a message for you. Continue in what you’ve learned. Keep trusting in the scriptures, because they’re the word of God.
Secondly, are we letting the word of God teach and rebuke us? Are we challenged by those first verses in chapter 3? Are we willing to change our behaviour in light of what God reveals to us through the bible? Are we willing to turn our back on that one thing we know we shouldn’t be doing, and devote ourselves to loving God? Or will we persist in loving ourselves, in his place? Let’s pray that God would help us to put Him first, and to trust His word’s ability to thoroughly equip us for every good work.
Father God, thank you for giving us your word, the Bible. Please help us to make sure that we are living our lives firmly grounded in what you have to say to us through it. Please help us to stand firm in the face of any opposition that we face, and to cling to you. Please help us to be willing to change for you, and to love you, rather than ourselves, or money, or pleasure. Please equip us to live in a way that pleases you. Amen.
