The State of the Union
This passage begins with a disturbing “state of the union address.” Paul tells Timothy that in the “last days” the world will be filled with godless people who try to hide their depravity in a cloak of godliness. Yet, this state of moral decadence is not in the future put in the present as he warns this young pastor to avoid such people. This warning can still be applied today for all around us are those whose appearances seem righteous, but the reality is quite the opposite. In our own city, there are those who represent the faith and even serve in pastoral positions, yet they support the lifestyle and practice of godlessness. How can a clergyman support the lifestyle of a homosexual? How can a clergyman support the practice of an abortionist? They oppose the truth, are corrupted in mind, and are disqualified regarding the faith.
The Fruit of Godliness
Paul reminds us that if we desire to live a godly life in Christ, we will be persecuted. To stand with truth and represent the full gospel of Jesus Christ will (not might) result in suffering. One thing that caught my attention was the list that Paul outlined in verses 10-11. He said that Timothy has followed or observed his teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings. At first read, I thought he was encouraging Timothy to follow the things that he modeled before him. Yet, the more I read this passage, the more I believe Paul is speaking about the overall outflow of living a godly life in Christ. Paul is not just saying to Timothy that his teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, etc. are about Christ or ever for Christ. Rather, these things are flowing from a life with Christ. In other words, his teaching is not godly because he is speaking about Christ. His teaching perfectly reflects Christ because it is flowing from the Christ-life. To read the passage the first way makes persecutions and sufferings (v. 11) seem out of place with the rest of the list. On the other hand, if Christ is supreme in our lives, our speech, actions, goals, faith, fruit, persecutions, and sufferings will look
like that of Christ. Ultimately, godliness does not result from following this list; this list results from godliness.
The Fruit of the Word
So how are we to walk in godliness? Paul answers the question in the next couple of verses (vs. 14-17). The Christ-life is found only in the Word of God. As a child, Timothy was “acquainted” with the Scriptures and is now encouraged “to continue in what he has learned and has firmly believed.” Without doing a study on the word “continue,” I am going to assume that Paul is challenging Timothy to dig into, to read, to meditate, to study, to apply, and to live out the Word. The Word alone is able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. The Scripture alone is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. The God-breathed Scripture alone is able to make a man competent and equipped for every good work. If Paul’s list flows from godliness, godliness flows from the Word of God.
Faithfulness to the Word
The ultimate charge is not to continue in the Word, but rather to proclaim the Word. The Word of God must flow out into godliness, but it must also be faithfully preached in every season and in every opportunity. We live in a day when people are migrating to those mentioned in the first paragraph of this reflection. Our aim is to take the Word and preach, reprove, rebuke, and exhort. We must be faithful in pouring ourselves out as a drink offering, pressing on until the fight has been fought and the race has been finished, and looking forward in hope to the award laid up for us in heaven from the Lord for His glory and honor.
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