Terrible
Times
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-9. Paul writes, "But mark this
(realize this): There will be terrible (difficult) times in the last days"
(3:1). 1.
Why are there "terrible times in the last days?" What problem is described
in these verses? How would you describe the problem in one sentence?
*
The "vice list" includes the following:
| lovers
of themselves (v. 2) |
unforgiving | |
lovers of money | slanderous | | boastful | without
self-contro | | proud | brutal
(cruel, without feeling) | | abusive | not
lovers of good! | | disobedient
to parents |
treacherous (v. 4) | | ungrateful | rash
(reckless, thoughtless) | | unholy | conceited
(having too high an opinion of oneself) | | without
love (v. 3) | lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of God |
"A
Form of Godliness" *
The people who have the vices listed in verses 2-4 also "have a form of godliness,
but deny its power" (3:5).
2. Who are these people? What is their
problem? 3.
How do such people affect others? How do they make the times more terrible? 4.
Paul tells Timothy, "Have nothing to do with them" (3:5b). Paul is speaking
about a particular situation, but how might this apply more generally? Should
Christians completely avoid false teachers and/or false/hypocritical "Christians?"
Infiltration
& Imitation *
In verses 6-9, Paul gets more specific about the actual situation. The false teachers
"worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women"
(3:6).
*
The false teachers are like the magicians who opposed Moses (Exodus 7:11, 22;
8:7). They attempted to imitate the power of God by their "secret arts"
but they failed (7:12; 8:18-19; 9:11). Likewise, the foolishness of the false
teachers will eventually be exposed. 5.
According to verses 6-7, why are these women easily mislead by the false teachers?
6.
How can we avoid being misled by false teaching?
Reflection/Application
†
As a Christian, how well do you represent the Christian faith? (See question 2
and footnote 10). Are you equipped to discern false teaching, and help others
avoid it?
†If
you are not a Christian, have you learned how to distinguish between authentic
Christianity and false Christianity? Ask Jay for resources on this subject.
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