Commentaries:
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2 Timothy 3:10-12
Paul had himself found Timothy, taking him with him in his travels. In a way, Timothy had grown up under the wing of the apostle Paul. So, when he says that Timothy had followed his manner of life and doctrine, he really had for quite a while. He was Paul's protégé. He is warning him: "You've seen what I've gone through, and you are following in my footsteps. You're going to face these things too—not only the good things, but also the bad. This is just part and parcel of the job."
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Itching EarsRelated Topics: Endurance | Enduring Hardship | Enduring Injury | Enduring Persecution | Enduring Privation | Enduring to the End | Longsuffering | Patience | Persecution | Persecution, Enduring
2 Timothy 3:12
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous," the psalmist writes (Psalm 34:19). Peter supplies a partial answer to this in I Peter 4:12: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, as does Paul's statement in II Timothy 3:12: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." The psalmist, Peter, and Paul are all saying that persecution is a common lot—a calling—of all who strive to serve Christ faithfully.
The essence of persecution lies in subjecting the Christian to injury or disadvantage because of his beliefs. Persecution may take many forms, but it is more than someone merely presenting counter-arguments to the Christian's convictions. It is inflicting some injury on him, putting him to some disadvantage, or placing him in unfavorable circumstances.
Persecution can take on many forms within these broad areas. The injury can be to the Christian's feelings or to his family, reputation, property, liberty, or influence. It may deprive him of an office or position he held or prevent him from obtaining one for which he is qualified. He could be subjected to a fine, imprisonment, banishment, torture, or death.
It follows, then, that both Peter and Paul warn us that we who make a profession of Christianity must be prepared for persecution. It "goes with the territory." We are not to shrink to avoid it, but bear it patiently as Christ did.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: PatienceRelated Topics: Patience | Persecution | Persecution, Forms of | Persecution, Wrong Responses to | Trials | Trials, Fiery | Trials, Purpose of | Trials, Shaping Power Of
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What Does 2 Timothy 3:12 Mean?
All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Persecution is a common lot and calling of all who strive to serve Christ faithfully. It involves subjecting the Christian to injury or disadvantage because of his beliefs, which may take many forms including injury to feelings, family, reputation, property, liberty, or influence, or depriving him of an office or subjecting him to fine, imprisonment, banishment, torture, or death. Both Peter and Paul warn that those who make a profession of Christianity must be prepared for persecution as it goes with the territory, and they are not to shrink to avoid it but bear it patiently as Christ did.