2 Timothy 3

General context

The chapter opens with a warning that in the last days perilous times shall come, followed by a long list of what men shall be, from lovers of their own selves through covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, trucebreakers and fierce, ending with lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it, and Timothy is told to turn away from such people. The writer describes their method: they creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, he says, so these resist the truth, being men of corrupt minds, but they will proceed no further because their folly shall be manifest unto all men. The argument then turns to Timothy directly. He has fully known the writer's doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity and patience, and his persecutions at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, out of which the Lord delivered him. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, the writer adds, shall suffer persecution, while evil men and seducers wax worse and worse. Timothy is to continue in what he has learned, knowing from whom he learned it, and because from a child he has known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. The chapter ends by saying all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works.

Cited passages: 2 Timothy 3:1, 2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:3, 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Timothy 3:5, 2 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:7, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:9, 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 3:12, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 Timothy 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:17

2 Timothy 3 (KJV)

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Historical context

Three places are named as sites of the writer's suffering, at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, and nothing is said about what happened at any of them beyond the words persecutions and afflictions and the statement that the Lord delivered him. Jannes and Jambres are named as men who withstood Moses, and the letter treats them as already known, giving no story and no source for them. Timothy's knowledge of the holy scriptures from a child is stated without naming a single book, and it fits the household faith named earlier in the letter, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice. The last days are given no date or interval. The opponents in this chapter are not named, unlike the two named in the previous one, and no place is given for the houses they creep into.

Cited passages: 2 Timothy 3:1, 2 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 1:5

Literary context

The chapter works by catalogue and contrast. A long list of failings runs without a verb to slow it down, and it opens and closes with the same word: lovers of their own selves at the start, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God at the end, so love is what has gone wrong rather than belief. The turn comes twice with the same construction, But thou hast fully known my doctrine and later But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, so the recipient is set against the crowd he has just been shown. A precedent from an old story is used as a measure, as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth. The last movement narrows from people to texts, from what Timothy learned to whom he learned it from, and finally to the scriptures he has known since childhood.

Cited passages: 2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16

Key moments

1. Perilous times foretold (2 Timothy 3:1). The last days are said to bring hard times.
2. A form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5). Appearance without power is the reason given for turning away.
3. Creeping into houses (2 Timothy 3:6). The method of these teachers is described.
4. Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8). An old opposition to Moses is used as the comparison.
5. Persecutions recalled (2 Timothy 3:11). Antioch, Iconium and Lystra are named as places of suffering.
6. Known from a child (2 Timothy 3:15). Timothy's long acquaintance with the scriptures is recalled.
7. Profitable for doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16). Scripture is said to be given by inspiration and useful for teaching.

For reflection

The writer tells Timothy to weigh not only what he learned but from whom he learned it. How much of what you hold rests on the person who taught you?

People in this chapter

• Jesus Christ
• Moses

Also indexed here:

• Jambres
• Jannes