[:en]GODLINESS IN THE LAST DAYS (vs. 1-9)
“Last days” refers to the time when Jesus was resurrected and the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost. It will continue until Christ’s second coming. That means we are now living in the “last days”.
Paul gave a list of society’s behavior as follows:
- Lovers of themselves
- Lovers of money
- Boastful
- Proud
- Abusive
- Disobedient to their parents
- Ungrateful
- Unholy
- Without love
- Unforgiving
- Slanderous
- Without self-control
- Brutal
- Not lovers of the good
- Treacherous
- Rash
- Conceited
- Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
- Having a form of godliness but denying its power.
- Always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
According to tradition, Jannes and Jambres were two of the magicians who counterfeited Moses’ Miracle before Pharaoh (Ex. 7:11-12) But Mosese defeated them (Exo. 8:18-19). The folly of the false teachers will be clear to everyone because God would overthrow them.
PAUL’S CHARGE TO TIMOTHY (vs. 10-17)
Paul mentioned his persecutions and sufferings in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra to contrast his experience with that of pleasure-seeking false teachers. He told Timothy that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted. He encouraged Timothy to hold on to the basic teachings about Jesus and to fight for the truth and protect the younger Christians.
Timothy became a Christian because his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois taught him the scriptures when he was a small child. The Bible are written by people of different cultural backnground with the inspiration of God.
Scripture is completely trustworthy because God is the author. “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work” )vs. 16-17)
Do you read your Bible? How much time do you spend to study His Word so that you wil know how to do Christ’s work in the world?[:]