2Ti 3:10-13 “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.”
We might think that Paul was telling Timothy what a great guy he was. However, we only need look back at his first letter to Timothy to see that Paul understood he was a great sinner (1 Tim 1:15). In First Corinthians, he plainly declares that his abundant labor was only by the grace of God (1 Cor 15:10). Paul was never one to hide who he was or what God had done in and with him.
Paul was diligent to be transparent in his instruction (doctrine). He made sure we understood that the truth he preached came from God by the power of the Holy Spirit. His manner of living was consistent with the instruction that he gave others. He instructed us to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor 11:1).
Paul’s love for Jesus and His church was evident throughout the Acts of the Apostles and his letters. He was faithful in the face of great persecution. He willingly endured the animosity of his fellow Jews. Although it often landed him in prison, he was faithful to declare to both Jew and Greek the power of the resurrection of Jesus.
As faithful servants of God today, we should never try to give the idea that serving God is without sacrifice. It is necessary for others to fully know our persecutions and afflictions. Otherwise, they may decide when they face afflictions that God has failed them. Our life’s purpose should always be to show that God is faithful.
When we fully disclose our trials, it should always be in conjunction with our doctrine. Just as others need to know our afflictions, they also need to know that we bear them with joy for the cause of Christ. We endure persecutions with longsuffering. In our manner of life, our love for God and His people should always be manifest.
In making our condition and purpose fully known, we come to the same conclusion as Paul. The Lord has delivered us out of them all. Left to ourselves, this life would break us. Knowing that living a godly life would surely bring persecution would deter us.
However, seeing that the Lord delivers us out of all these things makes us bold. It is not that persecution and affliction do not come, but rather that we h that we will be able to bear them. In bearing them, Christ Jesus delivers us to develop purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, and patience. His deliverance brings these attributes into our lives regardless of the hardships we may endure.
It is still true today that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. This persecution may be as simple as someone making fun of us for our “fogey” beliefs. It might take a much darker turn and put our lives in jeopardy. Like the three Hebrew children, we still know that the Lord will deliver us (Dan 3:17).
Paul paints what would be a very discouraging picture with this thirteenth verse if we were not fully committed to the truth the Lord delivers us. As much as we might wish for the world to be a better place, Paul says that hurtful (evil), false (seducers) men will only get worse. The world will be increasingly determined to believe that the truth of God is a lie (being deceived). They will, in that vein, be determined to convince others (deceiving) that the truth of God is a lie.
May God bless us in this world of tribulation to hold fast to the doctrine and manner of life that is ours through the deliverance of Jesus Christ our Lord !
