Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 39

Paul Declares that ALL Scripture is Breathed out by God Part 3

2 Timothy 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. KJV

Paul reminds Brother Timothy that their is a price to pay for him and for everyone of us who are true and real believers and followers of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and that is to have the aforementioned, that is, those persecutions and afflictions which he saw happen to the Apostle Paul for his stand for the truth of the Gospel and the truth of the Word of God, therefore, he writes these words to him next, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) (KJV). The English word 'will' in this verse is perhaps the key word and it is translated by the Greek word thelō which means to determine, that is, choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); to desire to or to mean to or to delight in or to love. The English word 'godly' is translated by the Greek word eusebōs meaning piously or devotedly to Christ Jesus our Lord and to His Word. The little English phrase 'shall suffer persecution' is translated by the Greek word diōkō which means to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute: - ensue, follow (after), given to, suffer persecution, press toward. In other words, those of us who truly belong to our Lord Jesus Christ will want to please Him only and disregard pleasing anyone else if it would cause us to displease Him, therefore, Paul tells Timothy and us that we must not perceive or think that our ill-treatment/persecution for standing for Christ and His Holy Word is some strange thing or that it should not be so, but instead we should see it as our badge of honor to encourage us to continue in the truth knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ will always honor those who stand for and declare the truth of His Word no matter what the outward circumstances might be in doing so.

The Apostle Peter wrote of this in two (2) places in his first letter in Chapter 4, first with these words, "Therefore, Christ having suffered for us in the flesh, also you arm yourselves with the same thought, that He suffering in the flesh has been made to rest from sin, in order no longer to live in the lusts of men, but in the will of God the remaining time in the flesh. For the time of life which is past is enough for us to have worked out the will of the nations, having gone on in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, parties, carousings, and abominable idolatries. In these things they are surprised, that you are not running with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming." (1 Peter 4:1-4) (Modern King James Version) and secondly with these words in this same Chapter 4, "Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you, but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ's suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you. Truly according to them, He is blasphemed, but according to you He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or a meddler in the affairs of others. But if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God because of this." (1 Peter 4:12-16) (Modern King James Version).

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about this verse, "Paul takes occasion from the reference to his own persecutions, to say that his case was not unique. It was the common lot of all who endeavored to serve their Redeemer faithfully; and Timothy himself, therefore, must not hope to escape from it. The Apostle had a particular reference, doubtless, to his own times; but he has put his remark into the most general form, as applicable to all periods. It is undoubtedly true at all times, and will ever be, that they who are devoted Christians - who live as the Saviour did - and who carry out his principles always, will experience some form of persecution. The 'essence' of persecution consists in 'subjecting a person to injury or disadvantage on account of his opinions.' It is something more than meeting his opinions by argument, which is always right and proper; it is inflicting some injury on him; depriving him of some privilege, or right; subjecting him to some disadvantage, or placing him in less favorable circumstances, on account of his sentiments. This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. If, in any manner, or in any way, he is subjected to disadvantage on account of his religious opinions, and deprived of any immunities and rights to which he would be otherwise entitled, this is persecution. Now, it is doubtless as true as it ever was, that a man who will live as the Saviour did, will, like Him, be subjected to some such injury or disadvantage. On account of his opinions, he may be held up to ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from society to which his attainments and manners would otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who might otherwise value his friendship. These things may be expected in the best times, and under the most favorable circumstances; and it is known that a large part of the history of the world, in its relation to the Church, is nothing more than a history of persecution."

In contrast to Brother Timothy and those of us who truly follow our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word in every era and time, Paul declares to Timothy and to us what will be the mode, manner, and motivation of those men or women who will not hear the Gospel and who will not believe the truth of the Word of God, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13) (KJV). The English word 'evil' is translated by the Greek word ponēros which means (as used here) hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence, figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous, that is, extremely wicked. The English word 'seducers' is translated by the Greek word goēs (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) which means properly a wizard (as muttering spells), that is, (by implication) an impostor: - seducer. The English phrase 'shall wax worse and worse' is translated by the Greek word prokoptō meaning to drive forward (as if by beating), that is, (figuratively and intransitively) to advance (in amount, to grow; in time, to be well along): - increase, proceed, profit, be far spent, wax. The English words 'deceiving' and 'being deceived' are translated by the Greek word planaō meaning to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. In other words, Paul is saying that those who are devoid of the truth and who belong to and embrace the 'lie' will go about getting worse and worse in their lies and false beliefs and in so doing they will not stop at their own decption, but will work hard at deceiving as many others as possible and we see the evidence of Paul's words here manifested all over the air waves, radio, television, print, and the internet is full of these spiritual hucksters who are working overtime to lure unsuppecting souls into their web of lies and gain monetary advantage from them.

Remember what this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church concernig this matter of those who want the lie and not the truth, "For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned." (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12) (Modern King James Version). Here is what John Wesley had to say about this verse, "He who has once begun to deceive others is both the less likely to recover from his own error, and the more ready to embrace the errors of other men." Note: "The extreme tragedy to me is when children are born into the human family of such deceiving men and women who have whole heartedly embraced the 'lie' and are on a downward spiritual spiral taking their little babies from the womb downward with them, however, praise our Lord Jesus Christ that the mighty Power of His Gospel can and does reach into the deepest darkest crevices and is more than able to pull the soul of any child out of the darkness with which he or she has been taught and lived in all their natural lives into His wonderful light."

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…