Daily Scripture Reading 2Timothy 3:10 - 4:22
When I was growing up, I noticed that at church we spent the majority of our time learning the New Testament, and little of our time studying the Old Testament. One day I picked up a Bible, and I grasped the Old Testament in my left hand and the New Testament in my right hand. I saw that the Old Testament is 3/4 of the Bible while the New Testament is only 1/4 of the Bible. It seemed wrong to me that we were ignoring a huge percentage of the Bible.
Today’s passage confirms my suspicions. Paul wrote glowingly about the Old Testament and described to Timothy the benefits of all scripture, benefits that are true of both the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, Christians should not ignore the Old Testament, we should study it, learn it, and apply it.
In the beginning of chapter 3, Paul warned Timothy about the last days. He described the sins and wrong priorities that would be prevalent.
2Tim. 3:10 ¶ But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
2Tim. 3:11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra were cities that Paul visited at the end of his first missionary journey. They were the first cities he visited on his second journey. It was after his second visit to those cities that Timothy started traveling with Paul (see Acts 16). Timothy was from the area around Derbe and Lystra.
These cities were located in Asia Minor, and area known today as the country of Turkey.
2Tim. 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Think about the ramifications of this statement. If you live godly, you will be persecuted. If you are not being persecuted, then perhaps you are not living a godly life.
2Tim. 3:13 ¶ But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2Tim. 3:14 ¶ But you, continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them,
2Tim. 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The sacred writings refers to the Old Testament. Notice the capabilities of the Old Testament. It is able to make people wise unto salvation.
Throughout my lifetime, there has been a tendency in Christianity to treat the Old Testament as inferior to the New Testament. The historical and poetical books of the Old Testament are familiar to most Christians. However, the major and minor prophets are taught and studied very little. Many Bible translation projects complete the New Testament but leave the Old Testament unfinished.
However, the Old Testament is the only scripture Timothy had as he was growing up, and Paul wrote very positive words about the sacred writings.
2Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,
Notice the word “all”. All scripture is profitable, not just some. That means the Old Testament is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training.
Christianity should not treat the Old Testament as inferior to the New Testament. The Old Testament contains vital truths that every Christian needs to know.
2Tim. 3:17 so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Tim. 4:1 ¶ I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2Tim. 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching.
2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
2Tim. 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Verses 3-4 are a good description of modern Christianity. Many people who attend church want to be entertained. They do not have the patience to listen to substantive exposition of scripture. If a prayer lasts longer than one minute they are bored and turned off.
Any church leader who wants to be faithful to God must preach sound doctrine. If any person leaves your church because they don’t want to hear sound doctrine, you are better off without them.
2Tim. 4:5 ¶ But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2Tim. 4:6 ¶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
2Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.
2Tim. 4:8 In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Notice the word “crown”. Think about the requirement to earn a crown of righteousness. It will be given to all who love His appearing. As humans, we look forward to graduation, marriage, starting careers, buying houses, and having children. Do we have equal desire to see the Lord appear?
2Tim. 4:9 ¶ Be diligent to come to me soon,
2Tim. 4:10 for Demas, having loved this present age, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
Pay attention to the reason Demas deserted Paul. He loved the present age. Paul’s ministry involved suffering, hardship, and repudiating worldly values and priorities. Demas loved the world so he deserted Paul.
As Christians in the 21st century, we need to love and prioritize the things God values. That is not possible if we love our present age.
2Tim. 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
2Tim. 4:12 But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.
2Tim. 4:13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
2Tim. 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith showed me much harm; the Lord will award him according to his deeds.
2Tim. 4:15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our words.
2Tim. 4:16 ¶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
2Tim. 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching might be fulfilled, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.
2Tim. 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will save me unto His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2Tim. 4:19 ¶ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
2Tim. 4:20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.
2Tim. 4:21 Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.
2Tim. 4:22 ¶ The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.
Modern Christianity tends to treat the Old Testament as inferior to the New Testament. However, the Old Testament makes up 3/4 of the Bible, and Paul stated very clearly that all scripture, including the Old Testament, has value for teaching and correction. Therefore, all Christians should read and learn the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
How much time does your church spend teaching and preaching from the Old Testament?
How many times have you read each book of the Old Testament?
Are you able to use the Old Testament to teach and correct?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”