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Bible Studies For Life

Mentoring: How to Equip and Encourage Others Unit 2 Session 1 14 JUL 19

Paul writes this second letter about A.D. 66-67 while in a Roman prison. Paul is about 68 years old. He thanks God for having a real desire to know God form his childhood. Even though he was wrong in thinking he had a proper relationship with God, he sincerely sought to be right with God. He noted how bad Timothy felt when Paul left him in Ephesus.

Paul introduces the letter with the fact that he is an Apostle by the will of God and not by an election (casting of lots) by Christians. Paul was the replacement Apostle for Judas. An Apostle was personally selected by Jesus to be in this special service position. Paul also clearly stated the fact that the Trinity is separate and distinct divine Persons. In this greeting he notes both “God the Father” and Jesus, who is Messiah and the Lord of the Church. This is important also because in the letter when he uses “God”, he means God the Father.

2 TIM 2:1-2 Paul opens again speaking about God the Father and God the Son. He regularly stresses that God is the Trinity. Paul sincerely misses Timothy.

2 TIM 3:1 Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, October-December 1992, page 65 “”Times” (kairon) denoted condition, not chronology (chronoi).”” THIS IS A MAJOR KEY TO THIS AND ALL PASSAGES ON THE END TIMES. Dr. Hobbs, page 65 “To what does the “last day” refer? … in Acts 2:16-17 Peter stated that the events of Pentecost fulfilled the prophecy of Joel. Peter quotes the passage in Joel as “the last days,” while Joel 2:28 reads “afterward.”… Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul used the future tense. But in verse 6 he changed to the present tense, suggesting conditions mentioned in verses 1-5 were already in existence. However, this does not rule out the future prophetic tenses in verses 1-5.” Peter addressed the “last days” as existing as he wrote in (2 Pet 3:3-6 RSV) "First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions {4} and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation." {5} They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, {6} through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished." So did the author of Hebrews: (Heb 1:2 RSV) "but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." The definition of the “last days” and “last times” is the period from the Ascension of Jesus to the Second Coming of Jesus.

2 TIM 3:2-5 From Paul’s days until Jesus’ Return, there will be people who do not present the correct truth of the Bible. Paul wrote of particularly deceitful and dangerous people who are religious hypocrites who have a form of godliness but deny the power of God. Every generation has those who regard theology and religion as either philosophy or history, but deny God's ability to intervene in the affairs of men. But just as dangerous is any person (no matter how sincere he or she may be, and no matter how strongly he or she believe what is taught is true} who does proclaim error as truth. We hear this every Easter when it is taught and preached by so many that Jesus got himself out of death. Conviction does not equate to accuracy. The Father got Jesus out of death. In like manner the Father will get us out of death. (Rom 6:5 RSV) "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

2 TIM 3:6-9 Paul listed others who are just as destructive. Paul is not singling out women but in Paul’s day, women did not get the religious or secular education that men did. There are still many nations on earth who treat women as inferior and withhold education. So really, he is addressing any and all who do not study the Bible for themselves in a competent manner. They may go to Bible teachers, but these teachers may teach error as truth (again they may do so because they themselves do not understand the Bible truthfully, i.e. correctly). All disciples are responsible to assess the correctness of what they are taught. Certainly this is difficult, and will often take much time to do. Nonetheless, the sole responsibility does not end with those who teach. (1 Cor 14:29 RSV) "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said."

2 TIM 3:10-11 Dr. Hobbs, page 67 “In verse 10, “thou” (su) is emphatic. It opens the verse and is written out as well as being in the verb form. “Hast fully known” translates a verb meaning to follow alongside. Literally, “You yourself did follow alongside me.” Paul listed some events Timothy would have been familiar. “As Paul reminded Timothy of his own trails in serving God, he enabled his younger helper [note Timothy was about 37 and Paul about 60] to be equipped for the difficulties he faced in Ephesus. We too can find the ability and courage to endure hardships for the Lord…. What the Lord did for Paul, He will do for us.” Two points: (1) This may happen if we are moving in growing relations with the Father and (2) “difficulties” may be just spiritual in nature and can come from a local church that does not understand or agree with the truth you present.

2 TIM 3:12 These are not words we want to hear. Yet Jesus said (John 16:33 RSV) "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."" And in his Passion prayer, he said (John 17:15 RSV) "I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one." So physical and spiritual troubles will be with Christians until the Second Coming.

2 TIM 3:13 This fact is repeated. There will also be continual false teaching. Dr. Hobbs, page 68 “”Seducers” translates a word meaning imposters. The Greek word comes from a verb meaning to wail. In that day, there were professional mourners. When a person died then, the bereaved family would hire mourners to come and wail. The wailers felt no sorrow; they simply wailed for a fee. They were imposters of sorrow.” The idea of “wax worse and worse” is to get deeper into a dense jungle with ever increasing ability to deceive to the extent of getting hearers to buy into their false lifestyle. Again, the deceivers may do it on purpose or may believe they are right when they are wrong. This will all end at the Second Coming, as Paul noted in verse 9, but until then, many church members will go into their jungle of false teachings. And as they teach their false doctrines, they themselves will become deceived by these doctrines.

2 TIM 3:14-15 Greek text reads “But thou continue” or “abide” (su de mene). “But thou” is emphatic. “But” (de) is adversative, setting what Paul was about to say over against what he had just said. “Thou” (su) puts Timothy in contrast to the false teachers. We can read, “But you, yourself continue in the things which thou have learned and hast been assured of.” “Continue” translates the verb meno, to abide or to remain. Its present imperative form expresses a command and urgency for Timothy to keep on doing this.” Thus to do this demands that the truth be known. Otherwise we have just a sincere false teacher. It is vital that all teachers (be they pastors or teachers) teach “sound doctrine.” Don’t ignore verse context and don’t try to have the Bible say what you want it to say. The only offsprings of Abraham are saved people. (Gal 3:7 RSV) "So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham." The promises of God only belong to saved people. If this is not the case, then the Bible is not what the following states. Romans 2:28-29!

2 TIM 3:16-17 NOTE “ALL SCRIPTURE”!!! For example, don’t leave out verses as the popular viewpoint on the Second Coming as it does with Deut 28-30, or ignore verses like Ex 19:5-6. It is ALL scripture or none at all! The Bible is in total contextual harmony. And the basis of all Bible understanding is in Jesus, the Son of God. Cults and false teachings thrive on taking less than ALL scriptures. In fact, I can prove anything, if I can proof-text and partial text. A Christian is COMMANDED that ALL SCRIPTURE is given by the inspiration of God “FOR” the basis of Christian knowledge and living. Dr. Hobbs pointed out, page 124, “”All” (pasa) is without the definite article and it means every single part of the whole. Thus it may be read, “Every single part of the whole of scripture is God-breathed” This exempts no part of the Bible.” This means the ORIGINAL COPY only. God never promised all translations would be God-breathed. Example: (Deu 30:17-18 RSV) "But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, {18} I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess." The scripture declares every human, Jew or Greek or whatever to be LOST without Jesus Christ. Yet the popular view treats Jews as a saved group. The Bible doesn’t and neither can we.

Do not add to or take away. Many say they can accept Jesus as savor and later decide to follow Him as Lord. The Bible says only a person who makes Him both Lord and Savor is saved. (Mat 7:21 RSV) ""Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Doing the will is living the Lordship. The Old Testament has always said that. Moses said it to Israel. Jesus said it to the Jews. Paul’s says it to all. (Acts 20:21 RSV) "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." Only ALL SCRIPTURE is the Bible. Dr. Hobbs, page 125 “The Bible is profitable for doctrine (teaching), for reproof (conviction or refuting error), for correction (setting up straight), and for instruction (training as of a child) in righteousness or right living.” It is only the whole Bible that can make one a mature Christian. Dr. Hobbs, “”Perfect” should read “complete.” It renders a word that means fit or specifically adapted for one’s work. The emphasis is on this word. “Thoroughly furnish”… means to be fully furnished or fit for every single kind of good work… All this is made possible through a thorough knowledge of and response to the teachings of the Bible.”

APPLY THE WHOLE BIBLE BEFORE YOU STATE A DOCTRINE! Otherwise your mentoring will not be correct and useful.

An good example of this is by Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) when he answered the Calvinist question: Does God Predestined Anyone To Hell?

His correct answer was: Absolutely Not!

I recommend Dr. Rogers as a useful study guide. Dr. Hobbs is more complete.

To demonstrate why I said the above: in Dr. Roger’s book series A Study of Romans – Chapters 10-13, Book 3, Innovi Publications, 1998 & 2018:

• He wrote on page 15 “All you have to do is to receive it (meaning salvation), believe it with your heart, and say, “I’m saved because I believe in Jesus Christ, crucified and raised from the dead for my salvation.” What is the confession that you make? The confession is that Jesus is Lord:”
• Page 16 ““…I’m going back to my original way of life.” Friend, I’m going to tell you something: That’s not going to work. If you “believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead” (verse 9), that means you believe everything about Jesus.”

This shows Dr. Rogers knew the truth and taught it, as does his truths about Calvinism.

However, his book series “Foundations For Our Faith”, which includes book 3 on Romans, is not comprehensive. In book 3, he did not include chapter 15 of 1 Cor. Nor did he include in his discussion about salvation in book 3 (Acts 20:21 RSV) "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." A lost person must repent and believe. Nor did he include (Mat 7:21 RSV) ""Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

He did not expand the meaning of “believe” to be the full Greek meaning of belief which includes Believe with your mind, Trust with your heart, and Commit with the rest of your life to Jesus as Lord. Just saying the right words will not save you if you do not know and mean them.

But he is far better than most authors today and most writers for the Bible Studies For Life sessions.

I recommend the First Baptist Daytona Beach from what I see posted on their web site.

They have correct doctrine posted including being specific that God the Father RAISED Jesus from the dead instead of Jesus being risen.

I highly recommend their excellent and rather unique Three Circles Training as a major find! It is unique because of their doctrinally correct and clear statement about what a sinner must believe. See the extract below from Three Circles Training PDF downloaded from their web site which includes God the Father RAISED Jesus from the dead. This is rare indeed:

W E NEED TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN :

Repent means to _______ or change direction.

Believe means to _______ or put our _______ in the

person and work of _______ .

Gospel is simply: Jesus ______ for our sins, He was

________ and God ________ Him from the dead.

But beware: Not everything you find on the web under Three Circles, 3Cirles, and other variations have the same stated beliefs. Make sure it includes God the Father RAISED Jesus from the dead. Many variants say “rose from the dead” or the like. Make sure all statements are doctrinally correct or you will not be witnessing God’s Grace through Faith.

Marvin Ganote, Hobbs Study Class, Adult Teacher. ganotemd@gmail.com Home Page: http://dma1.org/~ganotemd/lesson.htm