Timothy II - Expositional Study
BUT - WHAT A DIFFERENCE
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-13 (KJV)
Introduction
The word, "But", seems to be the corner word of Scripture. As we follow the narrative, we seem to be traversing a certain kind of road until we arrive at this word and then, for good or ill, we appear to turn a corner. In 2 Kings 5:1, we find a sunlit region in that grand description of the splendid Naaman and what a man he was. Here comes that word "but" and instantly we round the corner, under an overcast and black sky. In Ephesians 2:1-3, we discover ourselves in a hopeless and helpless condition. The word "but" takes us round a corner and suddenly there blazes forth an outburst of joy, hope and blessing. In Galatians 5:19-25, we move from the slum to the orchard – "the works of the flesh". How dirty and dilapidated, dangerous, and degraded; "but" the next moment, the first step around the corner, a display of "fruit" rises before us.
Here in our present text we again turn the corner. In our previous text, things were dreadful – "covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, unholy, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, despisers of...good". "But" now "purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience", what a difference! At one point we have ugly, rank, poisonous weeds and then just around the corner, sweetly-scented, exquisitely-formed flowers.
This we should expect! After all, the former group consisted of a company of unbelievers; while here we have a believer. And we should remember that "The Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel" (Ex. 11:7). In that old instance, as in our case, there is a difference in fact. Israel, like us, came under the Blood. There was a difference in dealing. On the ground of the Blood, Israel is dealt with, not in judgment, but grace. There was a difference in conduct. A contrast in behavior is observable in different houses. In one house there was a feast and in another a funeral – fearfulness for Egypt, freedom for Israel. So, in God's reckoning there is, a fundamental and eternal difference between the Christian and the unbeliever and that distinction should be evidenced in daily conduct and personal character. Thus, there is nothing surprising in the change that comes over our narrative in verse 10. There is something challenging about it. Are we as different from unbelievers as we should be? You may recall our Master's story of the wheat and the tares both growing together (Matt. 13:30). The trouble was that, though "children of the wicked one", the tares were, in outward appearance and at that stage, like the wheat, "the children of the Kingdom". Have you ever met someone, who, although not a Christian, acted like one in their behavior by being kind, unselfish, sweetly-dispositioned, upright, and honest? Though like wheat, in God’s eyes they are really still tares. The reason for this is because they have not yet been born again.
There is another problem. Sometimes today the wheat is too much like the tares in thinking, speaking, acting, and occasionally living like unbelievers. There is simply too little difference. It is a strange thing to see the tares imitating the wheat. But, it is something even stranger to see the wheat acting like tares. Fortunately, this was not in Paul. His was a completely different life and in all consistency he was able to offer his beloved Timothy a personal pattern.
It should not come as a shock to find that Paul here begins somewhat boastfully talking about himself. And this in spite of the fact that "boasters" were among those he pilloried in verse 2. There are passages in his letter in which he urges upon us the great virtue of proper humility. In Colossians 3:12, he says, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God...humbleness of mind". In Romans 12:3, it is "I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think..." Yet, this same man now holds himself up as Timothy's pattern, and this is by no means an isolated instance.
In the 10th and 11th chapters of 2 Corinthians there appears a paroxysm of boasting. Go to the 1st Epistle, and mark the phrases of the 10th verse of the 15th chapter. "...I am what I am...I laboured more abundantly than they all". Paul does not say these things for self-glory, but for God's glory, so God may be magnified. Any change, growth, or energy to himself he attributes to God. It is, as the verse says, "... grace...grace...grace". It transpires, then, that there are occasions when we may legitimately and properly talk about ourselves. For example, when we give our testimony to "what He hath done for my soul" (Ps. 66:16) we should be careful to do so in the right spirit and from the right motive and along with the right behavior. Therefore, Paul must be acquitted of all desire of vain glory. Any improvement seen in him is by the grace of God. Paul's estimate of his worth is forever enshrined in his earlier word to Timothy, "...sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Tim. 1:15).
So, we approach our present text, "Thou hast fully known", or as the word implies, "fully followed up, fully traced", as if presenting a pattern of his own life. 1 Peter 2:21 says, "Christ...leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps". This we understand, but Paul speaks differently, "Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord" (1 Thess. 1:6). This is a remarkable claim. In following him, we are, 'ipso facto', following Christ. Oh, that such could be said of all Christians, and our influence on other lives. Note the details of the pattern Paul offers to Timothy.
First, we observe consistency in living. The first pair of qualities suggests the idea, "my doctrine, manner of life." As noticed earlier in our study, here is a man whose practice coincided with his preaching. He carried out in his behavior what he said in his teaching. This consistency is not always found today. Too often we are not what we teach. Sometimes we are not even what we profess. Years ago, a pastry-cook sent his worker out early in the morning to sell pies on the street. He started at eight o'clock ringing his bell and crying his wares: "hot pies! hot pies!" It was not a successful morning. At twelve o'clock he was still calling, "hot pies! hot pies!" No doubt, in spite of his loud profession, the pies had by then lost their early warmth –as some of us continue to profess our keenness when our hearts have grown cold.
Also, we are sometimes guilty of harboring things in our hearts which have earlier been forgiven. Saul professed he had gotten rid of all the sheep and was answered, "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears?" (1 Sam. 15:14). We need to heed the apostolic injunction, "Beware of dogs" (Phil. 3:2). And not profess "No dogs" if, in fact, there are dogs. Are we careful to live up to the Name we bear as Christians, "that worthy name by the which ye are called" (James 2:7)? Consider the scarifying word to Sardis, "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev. 3:1). We need to constantly repent of our infidelities and hold up before our conscience the inconsistency of a cold heart, a sin-ridden life, an unrealized name. Let us turn back to Paul who was so utterly consistent in his relationship between lip and life, that he could venture the advice, "those things which ye have...heard [from me] and seen in me, do" (Phil. 4:9). Yes, lip and life exactly coincide. This is the first part of Paul's pattern.
Next, we have continuance in laboring – "purpose, faith, long-suffering." Paul's one great purpose in life was all-out, all-in, service to God. Listen to him on that storm-tossed vessel "God, whose I am, and whom I serve" (Acts 27:23). "Faith", in the sense of fidelity, faithfulness to the service he had undertaken and "long-suffering" indicate something of the price demanded to serve. Later we will deal more with this cost. Perhaps we should contrast Paul's consuming loyalty and our own all-too-frequently feeble service. Some of us are loose regarding our obligations to the Lord. Sometimes, when the Christian walk makes us tired, we are all-too-prone to stop. If someone criticizes our work, we are prone to resent it (whether the criticism is right or wrong). Some even resign, leaving the church altogether. Oh, for more purpose, faithfulness, and readiness for cost, that characterized Paul's life! This is the second part of Paul's pattern.
The third part of his pattern is constancy in loving – "charity, patience" are the two last qualities that he mentions here. In other words, a love that keeps on loving and putting up with much, but loving just the same. In World War II, an officer crossed the scene of a recent battle. He came upon a badly wounded German soldier. Noticing his distress, the officer ordered that he be given a drink of water. The German feebly managed to pull out his revolver, and too weak to take proper aim, fired at his stooping would-be helper. The shot fortunately went astray. The officer was then asked, "What shall we do now, sir?" He quietly ordered, "Go ahead and give him the water". Who would have blamed the greatly provoked officer if he had left the wounded man to his fate? Yet, Scripture says, "when we were enemies" (Rom. 5:6-10), that God, in Christ, dealt lovingly, giving us "living water" even though we were sinners. Paul had learned that lesson and imbibed that spirit. Now he would have his Timothy display the same love, even to those who, as the epistle forewarns, will treat him badly. Paul taught his Corinthian friends, "Love never faileth" (1 Cor. 13:8). To Timothy, not in words only, but in practical example, he taught the same thing. And to please God we too should learn the same lesson. So, in these three particulars, Paul sets before his son in the faith a good and true pattern of life upon which, by the Holy Spirit, the younger man should model and fashion his character. Truly, it is a good pattern and certainly worth spending pains on.
Now comes a cause for praise. Paul continues to talk about himself, not to show how good and great he is, but how strong and faithful his Savior is. He touches first upon his own experience – "what persecutions I endured." Some of us who are soft-living Christians should read and ponder, "In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor. 11:23-28). What a catalog of costs accrued to Paul's allegiance. No wonder he said,"I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). How little, by comparison, are our: inconveniences, oppositions, sufferings, and pains for His sake. Notice that Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra are mentioned, as places of suffering. They were probably mentioned because it was the happenings in this particular area with which Timothy would be familiar. Stories from the first two cities would reach his native Lystra. And the stoning, etc. that took place there may have transpired under his own eyes. If so, he would be able with his own finger to fully trace the pattern of utmost fidelity that, as we have seen, Paul gave him.
Then Paul turns to the common Christian experience: "yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
First, we see the intention of godly living. The "will" is to be stressed, as the indication of a deliberate purpose. Have we made a specific decision that, as God's children, we will live godly?
Second, the secret of godly living will then concern us and only "in Christ Jesus" can we accomplish it. As a plant can only live "in the earth", so we are able to live spiritually, only as we abide in Him. Such is His own teaching in John 15:4f.
Third, the cost of godly living must be faced. A godly life will always attract the devil's attention. It is so powerful an influence that Satan dare not leave it undisturbed. The persecution may not take the form of physical onslaught with us as in Paul's case, but there will be opposition of some sort. We can expect ridicule, ostracism, continual nagging, obstruction, etc. The story is told about a young army officer who wrote a letter saying, "Do please pray for me. I am having a difficult time from opposition." Yes, whether in the military, the office, the workshop or home, if we decide to live a godly life we should court on persecution. In the light of the apostle's statement, we ought to consider that if our Christian life is easy, perhaps it is not godly? This may not be wholly or universally true, but it does behoove us to examine ourselves.
We now come to the cause of praise, which is a glad experience for us all – "out of them all the Lord delivered me." Not "from", as if to say we shall not experience unpleasant things. The Christian is not necessarily granted immunity from the sufferings of life. Here and there, with one or another, that may be in God's plan. But normally, we are all subject to the buffetings and batterings of life. Yes, they may hurt, but they will not harm, for "out of them all" the Christian will be delivered. "Our God...is able to deliver us...and He will deliver us out of..." (Dan. 3:17). He is able to prevent our being thrown into the burning fiery furnace, if that be His plan. But, we should not rely on or expect that. Our business is to loyally continue on, fully assured that He will deliver us "out of", if not "from". We should praise God for His wonderful "out of" deliverances. That by His infinite grace we shall be brought through life, if not unscarred, at least unsoiled and unstained.
Conclusion
And now, in conclusion, consider a call for pity. In verse 13, at first there appears to be no such call. But consider:
First, the enemies' progress – "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse." Of course they will, for there is no standing still in sin. Sinning is always sinking. Sometimes it may appear to be outward improvement. But, there will always be an inward deterioration. Herein lies part of the reason for the persecution here prophesied.
Then second, the enemies' practice – "deceiving." Here we are, back again with the counterfeiters of our previous study. Deception is their stock-in-trade. A counterfeit gospel, the "other gospel", against which Paul thunders in Galatians 1:6f. A counterfeit power, "having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh". Thus, in Galatians 3:3, he warns us against deriving our power from the energy of the flesh. A counterfeit goodness, for "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14). Yes, it is deceit upon deceit. The word "seducers" here means magicians, or conjurers, like the gentlemen mentioned in verse 8.
But third, note the enemies' position – "being deceived." This is where the call for pity arises. In all their wickedness, these people are themselves the wretched dupes of the devil. What is to be our attitude toward those who oppose us, and even persecute us?
Shall we be annoyed with them? Shall we be wrathfully indignant at their behavior? It depends on the level of life in which we live. If we are "carnal" (1 Cor. 3:1) and living on the world's level then we will inevitably react badly. But, if we are "spiritual" and living at the Spirit's level we will have a great pity for them. "I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you." Infinite pity: what a way to finish this section.
