2 Timothy 3:1

2 Timothy 3:1 says, This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Paul warned that in the last day perilous times would come.  I don’t know if we are in the last days or not since only God knows, but we certainly are in perilous times.  All we can do is remain faithful to God no matter what is happening in the world. 

Verse two adds, For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Paul listed several things that would happen in the last days, starting with people becoming lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud and blasphemers.  We see these qualities displayed in many people today, even some who are elected officials, but I don’t believe we should hold them up as an example to follow.  Paul also said children would be disobedient to their parents, while being unthankful and unholy.  We see this in many children today.  

Verse three continues, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Paul then says they will be without natural affection, which I believe means men having affection for other men instead of for women. Of course, this applies to women as well, but since Paul had specified men, I will just say men, even if it applies to both.  There is definitely a lot of false accusations made by people today, and they are often fierce in their treatment of others that they may not like.  There are also many who despise those who do good.  As followers of Christ, we just need to remain true to Him.  

Verse four concludes, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  We also see these qualities in people today.  Many people do love pleasure more than they love God while being egotistical and traitors to other people and God.

Verse five states, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  There are also many people who have a form of godliness who deny the power of God.  They pronounce themselves to be Christians while still displaying many of the characteristics above yet not having the power of God in their life.  Paul warned that Christians should avoid people like this, but it seems that too often Christians follow them religiously.    

Verse six adds, For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Paul said that men like this often creep into houses and lead silly women laden with sin away in lust.  If you follow the news, we have men today who believe that they should be able to treat any woman as an object of lust whether the woman is silly or not.  

Verse seven continues, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Paul also said that these men would continue to learn facts but never come to know the truth of God.  I am not against higher education, but if a person does not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, they will never know the truth.

2 Timothy 2:20

 2 Timothy 2:20 says, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  Paul said in the same house that there were vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earth.  We might say we have dishes for preparing food, our everyday dishes, and our fine China which would be used on special occasions.  I believe that we might use the fine China to honor people, but I don’t believe that we use the everyday dishes to dishonor people though some people might view it this way.  Of course, Paul wasn't referring to dishes, but to human characteristics or desires. We have both desire to follow God and at times to disobey Him.

Verse twenty-one adds, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.  Paul said that if a man purged himself of sin in his life by putting His faith in Jesus Christ that he would be vessel to honor God.  We should always be the best that we can be everyday as we live for God’s glory by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Sill, we are but a vessel to be used by God. 

Verse twenty-two continues, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Paul said that we as Christians should flee youthful lusts, and I believe this means no matter what age we might be.  Instead, we are to follow righteousness, faith, and peace with those who call on God with a pure heart.  I believe that this applies to how we treat all people and not just Christians.  

Verse twenty-three states, But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.  Paul said we are to avoid foolish and unlearned questions.  I don’t believe that this means that we shouldn’t address what we view to be wrong beliefs proclaimed by lost people, but that we should not engage in arguments about them.  We should present God’s truth, and if they don’t accept it, we should not allow it to lead to strife in our life.  This is especially true about our understanding of God’s salvation plan and His authority.   

Verse twenty-four adds, And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,   Paul expands on what he said in the last verse. As followers of Christ, we are not to strive, or ague with others out of anger, but we are to be gentle in our dealings with them, so that we might teach them God’s word, and we are to do this with patience.  There really does seem to be a need for more of this from Christians today.  

Verse twenty-five continues, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  Paul said that we are to interact with the lost in meekness and to instruct them in God’s truth so that they might acknowledge the truth of God and be saved.  Our discussions with lost people should never be done in anger and just to justify ourselves but must be done to lead the lost to faith in Jesus Christ.   

Verse twenty-six concludes, And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  Paul said that we should do this so that lost people might come to know the truth of God and be saved from being captive to the Devil.  Our conversations should always point people to God and not just be arguments to prove ourselves correct. 

2 Timothy 2:15

 2 Timothy 2:15 says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  Paul said Timothy was to study to show himself approved.   I believe he meant to study God’s word as the most important thing that he could study.  We today need to study God’s word as well, but that doesn’t mean that is the only thing we should study.  Paul said Timothy was to do this so that he might not be ashamed of his lack of knowing God’s word I believe.  As followers of Christ, we need to know God’s word so that we will not be ashamed by our lack of understanding it.  Paul also said that Timothy would know how to rightly divide the word of truth if he studied God’s word.  This would apply to being able to know what other things Timothy might study that he would know how God’s truth applied to it I believe.  Everything we may study today should be consistent with God’s word.  

Verse sixteen adds, But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  Paul said that Timothy was to avoid profane and vain babblings since they could only cause more ungodliness.  I believe this refers to things that are added to God’s word in relationship to salvation and what it means to be a Christian.  I don’t believe that it means that we shouldn’t talk about other things in the world, but if they are profane and foolish then we should avoid them.  

Verse seventeen continues, And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;   Paul said these profane and vain babblings were like a canker sore and would eat away at a person's faith.  He then gave the names of two people that proclaimed such things.  If we begin to hear someone who professes to be a Christian proclaim something about God that is not the truth according to His word, we need to avoid them.  

Verse eighteen states, Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.  These two men were saying that the resurrection of believers had already happened, and this caused some people to renounce their faith.  I believe this means they were not truly saved, because if they were they wouldn’t believe this.  Still, some followers of Christ today will believe things that are not consistent with God’s word, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t saved.  They just become ineffective witnesses and lose their spiritual power that the Holy Spirit provides.   

Verse nineteen adds, Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.   Paul said that the foundation of God stood, and that was forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ alone and those who put their faith in Him were sealed by God as His.   He then added that those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ were to depart from iniquity.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever sealed by God as a part of His kingdom.  When do accept Him, we are to depart from iniquity.  We will not always be successful in this, but this should be our goal.