EPISTLE: II Timothy 3:5-17

Reading
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.   For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,   Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.   Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.   But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.   But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,   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.   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.   But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;   And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.   All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.


Commentary
We have here God's admonition and general warnings concerning the last days before Judgment Day.  Besides being a terrible time of moral degredation and decay (men are lovers of self, self-centered, lovers of pleasures, heady, high minded), such have a form of godliness.  This means they go to church and even confess Christ, yet they are "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth."  These false Christians seduce women into sin (fornication) and they resist and repel God's Word away from them (denying its truth) "But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest…"  Their hypocrisy will be laid bare for the world to see.  To such wicked "religious" people Paul contrasts himself and his constant suffering for the cause of Christ.  "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,   Persecutions, afflictions….."  We are therefore to be on our guard against such seducers in the Visible Church of our day, and we are to diligently search the Scriptures.  We too can be deceived into such foolish and wicked ways as the world, unless we faithfully use the Word of God to guide us.  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."