Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 38

Paul Declares that ALL Scripture is Breathed out by God Part 2

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.  KJV

Paul concludes his detail to Brother Timothy of the things he endured for the sake of the Gospel and for the love of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ with these words, "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." (2 Timothy 3:11) (KJV). The English word 'persecutions' is translated by the Greek word diōgmos which simply means ill-treatment or literally to pursue after someone in order to render harm to them for their belief and faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. The English word 'afflictions' is translated by the Greek word pathēma which means something undergone, that is, hardship or pain. In other words, during the time that Timothy was physically with the Apostle Paul, he was witness to these  sufferings that Paul endured at the hands of evil and wicked men (two-legged devils), first in the city of Antioch where the Jews who opposed his doctrine and teaching stirred up the people of that city to persecute them and expel them out of the city as it is written and documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And on the coming sabbath day almost all the city came together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and contradicted those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. But speaking boldly, Paul and Barnabas said, It was necessary for the Word of God to be spoken to you first. But since indeed you put it far from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the nations." (Acts 13:44-46) (Modern King James Version).

In the city of Iconium, the Jews made an assault upon the Apostle Paul and those who were with him to stone them as again it is also written and documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And it happened in Iconium, they both went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke so as a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the nations and made them evil-hearted against the brothers. Therefore they stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, giving miracles and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided. And part held with the Jews, and part with the Apostles. And when there was an assault made by both the nations and the Jews, with their rulers, in order to insult and to stone them, they were aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the country around them. And there they were preaching the Gospel." (Acts 14:1-7) (Modern King James Version). When they arrived in the city of Lystra, they also faced the same ill-treatment from those who belonged to the devil where the Apostle Paul was dragged outside of the city and stoned to death (this is when Paul was taken up to the 3rd Heaven by our Lord Jesus Christ as Paul documented for us in 2 Corinthians 12:1-5) as documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there (Lystra), who, having persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, they drew him out of the city, supposing him to have died. But the disciples surrounding him, he rose up and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And preaching the Gospel to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God. And having hand-picked elders for them in every Church, and had prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord into whom they believed." (Acts 14:19-23) (Modern King James Version).

The English word 'delivered' is translated by the Greek word rhuomai which means simply to rescue from danger or evil, and in this case to rescue Paul from the hands of evil wicked men (two-legged devils). Here is what the Psalmist King David wrote concerning the Lord rescuing those who belong to Him, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Jehovah delivers him out of them all." (Psalms 34:19) (Modern King James Version) and also this one, "And Jehovah shall help them, and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him." (Psalms 37:40) (Modern King James Version). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning the persecutions and afflictions of Paul and how Timothy viewed them, "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." Note: "Their is no need or reason for us as children of the Living and True God to shrink back from the truth of the Word of God, for God the Father has always protected His Word from the very beginning and He will continue throughout the remainder of time and on into eternity, therefore, what can evil men do to us for standing for the truth, but that it is only temporary, that is, not permanent; not lasting, but the Word of God is eternal and we have the assurance from our Heavenly Father that He will guard and protect the truth of His Word and so will He do for His sons and daughters who honor His Word, just as our Lord Jesus assured Paul with these words recorded for us by Dr. Luke, 'And the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, Do not be afraid, but speak, and be not silent. For I am with you, and no one shall set on you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.' (Acts 18:9-11) (Modern Kinmg James Version)."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…