Equipped For Every Good Work

2 Timothy 3

​According to Jewish legend, Jannes and Jambres were the names of the magicians who opposed Moses and imitated the miraculous signs of Aaron before Pharaoh in Exodus. According to scholars and the writers of the Faithlife Study Bible, versions of this legend occur in the Jewish text commonly called Jannes and Jambres and the text Targum Pseudo-Jonathan.

Here in 2 Timothy 3, Paul references these men to warn Timothy about the threat of false teachers in the last days, the time for which we are living. Such people will oppose Timothy and even imitate godliness, but they will not have knowledge of the gospel or possess any power that transforms lives.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. 2 Timothy 3:1–9 (ESV)

In other versions of scripture, the word "Perilous" is used for the word difficulty, meaning “hard to deal with,” or “dangerous.” It is the same Greek word used to describe the demoniac in the Gadarenes and translated “exceedingly fierce.”

“And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.” Matthew 8:28 (ESV)

Warren Wiersbe gives us great insight and wisdom from 2 Timothy when he says expect difficulty, follow the right examples spelled out in verses 10-12, and stay in the Bible.
Wersbe says, “The person who is looking for a soon-coming paradise on earth is destined for disappointment. To expect these perilous times is to become not a pessimist but a realist. Note the emphasis on the wrong kind of love.”

Dr. Tony Evans expounds on verse 5 when and states, “To hold to the form of godliness while denying its power is to project a religious appearance absent of true spiritual reality. Religion without the presence and power of God is like wax fruit—it looks real but possesses no nutritional value. True godliness moves people from sin to righteousness.”

Never themselves able to grasp the truth because of a spiritual blindness, these latter-day sinners will victimize or persecute others who are spiritually weak. They will resist the truth just as Pharaoh’s magicians resisted Moses. Just as Paul had suffered greatly despite his righteousness, all those who would live for Christ will suffer, even as the enemies of God grow more deceived and more strongly opposed to the truth.

"Paul, speaking to young Timothy, who is struggling in the ministry and with self-doubt, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:10–13 (ESV)

Did you get that, follow the right examples? We tend to emulate the people we admire, so be careful about the heroes you select. Modern-day Christian celebrities may not exemplify the life-style God wants us to have. Therefore, we must follow Jesus, the perfect example, walk as He walked, and lean on His promises that spells out that, despite of difficulties in these perilous times, “the Lord rescues.”

“...while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:13–17 (ESV)

Finally, Paul instructs Timothy and us to stay in the Word of God. Believe God’s Word will save you, mature you from childhood to adulthood, and equip you to serve the Lord. Satanic deception is rampant today and has infected the community and the church, and the only weapon that defeats the deceivers is God’s inspired Word.

Dr. Evans writes, “The doctrine of inspiration refers to the process by which God oversaw the composition of Scripture, guiding the authors to write exactly what he wanted them to write without error. The Greek word translated inspired is literally “breathed out by God.” Our God communicates, and he has worked supernaturally through the Holy Spirit to communicate perfectly to us.

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:9–16 (ESV)

“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:19–21 (ESV)

When we read the Bible, we are reading the very words of the living God. “All Scripture is profitable for teaching (instructing you in the truths that you need to know), for rebuking (reproving you for what you’ve done wrong), for correcting (showing you what it right), and for training in righteousness (guiding you to approach life as God intended)” (2 Timothy 3:16). Everything a believer needs to become, all that God has redeemed him to be, has been deposited in the Scripture.

How do we live for Christ in such terrible times? What is your greatest obstacle in clearly living for Jesus? Do others see you as a Paul or as Jannes and Jambres? Are you living the truth and sharing His Words of Hope with this lost and perishing world? Is it evident that you are spending much time in the Word of God? Is it transforming you more into the image of Jesus?
Scripture should never be interpreted lightly. It is the inspired Word of God and should be handled with utmost care. Bible authors were “moved” by the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who originally gave the Word desires to teach it both to and through God’s people today.
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Today, like Timothy, we must should continue to study the OT Scriptures and absorb the writings of the apostles in the NT. These will provide everything we need for a successful Christian journey and ministry and provide wisdom, inspiration, power, and strength in the most difficult and devastating times.

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