2 TIMOTHY 3:10-17
[10] You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, [11] persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. [12] In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, [13] while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
This section in contains a small Greek phrase which is gigantic and decisive (su de in vs. 10,14): it means in spite of this; on the other hand; in stark contrast. In opposition to the dark current of the last days, Paul says look at my life to see how God’s power can rescue and overcome, v. 11). One of the things Timothy needs is endurance (10). Endurance (hupomone) stands under; it does not run away. It can bear things, not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope; it is not the patience which waits grimly for the end, but which radiantly hopes for the dawn (William Barclay). Patience sees the fierce wind, and says: …in spite of.
And where do we catch this deeper power? In the God-breathed Word, the Scriptures, which have the power to bring wisdom and salvation through faith in Jesus.
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