2 Timothy 3

13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Paul exhorts his true son in the faith to continue in his acquired learning, in that which he has believed. If, as I understand the OSAS (once saved always saved) teaching, this continuance in the faith must be delegated to the rewards teaching. And that may be the correct understanding. But it is an option of understanding, even an understanding that brings into the text some presuppositions.

Lets take a look at the context, starting in 3:10.

2 Timothy 3

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra–which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

Paul is reminding his young disciple of his past commitment to his teaching, and out of that teaching, the non-didactic character of the apostle, of Paul’s purpose, faith, love, steadfastness, and his persecutions

His persecutions! He settles on the persecutions topic in the next verse, expanding his description of his sufferings, by reminding Timothy of Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. Let’s remember with Timothy of those incidents in those cities.

Antioch

Paul’s time in Antioch may be found in Acts 13:13 – 52. Paul and Barnabas had success in Antioch, even to the point that the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath. The people were hungry for the truth, and eventually a church grew in the city. This was bad news for those who enjoyed a tendency towards jealousy. Yes, the Jews, upon seeing the crowds following after Paul’s teaching, grew jealous, and as 13:50 states, they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, eventually driving them out of the city. The text doesn’t describe the persecution, whether it be political, social or physical, but only the reason for it. Jealousy controlled the Jews, and the Jews drove the apostles out!

Timothy wasn’t present in Antioch, for we don’t meet him until Acts 16, but the stories swirled about and the witness of the believers included the story of the Antioch persecution.

Iconium

Iconium was Paul and Barnabas’s next stop after Antioch, and the passage referred to may be found in Acts 14:1-21. After a period of preaching, a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. Paul and Barnabas were quite successful in reaching out to the Greek population. But the text also relates of the success of the Jews in reaching out to the Greek population. The unbelieving Jews reached out to the Greeks, influencing their minds against Paul. They actually became somewhat zealous in their actions for the Greeks. Nevertheless, the city became polarized over the teaching, leading to an attempt to stone Paul and Barnabas. Upon finding out the population’s intent, Paul and Barnabas headed for the next city.

It turns out Paul and Barnabas just put off the inevitable!

Lystra

Lystra was the next stop for Paul and Barnabas, (Acts 14:8-23) and again the message was received, albiet with some misunderstanding. For Paul and Barnabas, they had to correct the Lystrian population from understanding they were gods having come down to them. After some corrective teaching, the Lystian’s settled down, but still had too high of a view of the apostles. Nevertheless, the Jews from Antioch and Lystra arrived on the scene, ready to fix that. After a short period of persuading the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city.

How fickle these Lystrian folk were!

Summary

Paul experienced the physical persecution we most commonly associate with the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys in Lystra. Yet these three cities are brought to Timothy’s mind in describing persecution, and it appears not only that of physical persecution. Prior to the stoning, it is obvious that intimidation, gossip, backbiting, malicious rumors, emotional blackmail, and numerous other non physical efforts at derailing the gospel were tried. Persecution is not only physical, and in mentioning these three cities as a group, Paul may be bringing this to Timothy’s mind.

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

The core issue! All who live godly shall suffer persecution! This is the subject of this passage. Timothy – get ready, for if you continue in the faith, as you have seen Paul in his faith, persecution will be your reward, your companion in your ministry. Now that we have a context somewhat established, let’s continue with the portion we began with.

13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Some will go from bad to worse, while you Timothy, you need to go in the opposite direction. There is no neutrality here, for Paul’s introduction of these evil people and their moral degradation, is a contrast to Timothy’s expected growth in the Lord. But in this growth, there will be resistance, and that resistance may take some form of persecution.

Paul’s exhortation then to continue is in the context of persecution, not simply believing in some fact of the gospel in some past decision. Is it fair to say that Timothy’s expected growth will include persecution, and if denied, growth will not occur? If so, does this imply that a deadness has settled on Timothy’s life and witness?

My friends, be honest with the text and consider Paul’s thoughts here. Is he simply speaking of rewards, and that if persecution is avoided, we only loose some rewards? Or might it be that if no persecution occurs, this may speak of greater things than what we want to admit? If we avoid every possible hint of persecution, is this a red light that should be going off in your mind, alerting us to a truth we naturally want to avoid?

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for considering these thoughts and may the Lord teach us all that which we need to know!

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