2 Timothy 3-4; Titus 1

2 Timothy 3

In the last days people will be:

• Lovers of self
• Lovers of money
• Proud
• Arrogant
• Abusive
• Disobedient
• Ungrateful 
• Unholy
• Heartless
• Unappeasable
• Slanderous 
• Without self-control
• brutal
• not loving good
• treacherous
• reckless
• swollen with conceit
• lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
• They will have:
  • An appearance of godliness
  • But deny its power
• Timothy is to avoid such people
• Paul compares false teachers to Jannes and Jambres (the Egyptian magicians dealing with Moses)
• False teaching will eventually be exposed

Follow Paul’s Example

• Timothy has observed Paul’s:
  • Teaching
  • Conduct
  • Purpose
  • Faith
  • Patience
  • Love
  • Steadfastness
• Paul endured many persecutions
  • God delivered him through them
  • All who desire to live godly lives will face opposition

Timothy is to remain faithful to what he has learned

• He has known the Scriptures from childhood
• Scripture makes people wise for salvation through faith in Christ
• All Scripture is:
  • God-breathed
  • Profitable for teaching
  • Reproof
  • Correction
  • Training in righteousness
• Scripture equips believers for every good work

2 Timothy 4

Preach the Word

• Paul gives Timothy a  charge before God to
  • Preach the Word
  • Be ready in season and out of season
  • Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with patience
• A time is coming when people will not listen to sound teaching
• People will gather teachers who tell them what they want to hear
• Timothy must remain sober and faithful in ministry

Paul knows his death is near

• He is being poured out like a drink offering
• He has:
  • Fought the good fight
  • Finished the race
  • Kept the faith
• A crown of righteousness awaits him
  • The same awaits all who love Christ’s appearing

Final Personal Remarks

• Paul asks Timothy to come soon
• Some coworkers have left
• Demas abandoned him because he loved the present world
• Luke remains with Paul
• Paul asks Timothy to bring:
  • Mark
  • His cloak
  • His books and parchments
• Alexander the Coppersmith caused Paul harm
• Though others abandoned him, the Lord stood by him

Greetings are sent to friends and coworkers

• Paul closes with a blessing of grace

Titus 1

Author: Paul, to Titus

Titus was:

• A Gentile convert to Christianity (Galatians 2:3)
• Used to help resolve problems in the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians)
• Serving on the island of Crete

Date: approximately AD 63-65.

Paul introduces himself as:

• A servant of God
• An apostle of Jesus Christ
• His ministry serves:
  • The faith of God’s elect
  • The knowledge of the truth
  • The hope of eternal life

Titus is called Paul’s “true child in a common faith.”

• Paul extends grace and peace.

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order…” (1:5)

Titus was to appoint elders in every town.

Elder Qualifications

Character

• Above reproach
• Faithful 
• Self-controlled
• Humble
• Upright
• Holy
• Disciplined

Family

• One wife
• Children who are believers
• Household managed well

Negative Traits to Avoid

• Arrogant
• Quick-tempered
• Drunkard
• Violent
• Greedy

Ministry

• Hospitable
• Lover of good
• Holds firmly to sound doctrine
• Able to teach truth
• Able to refute error

Rebuke False Teachers

Many rebellious people were:

• Empty talkers
• Deceivers
• Especially connected to the circumcision party

They were upsetting entire families and taught for shameful gain.

“They must be silenced” (1:11)

Paul talks about Cretan culture:

• Liars
• Evil beasts
• Lazy gluttons

Paul says to 

• Rebuke sharply
• Restore sound faith
• Turn people away from myths and man-made commands

These teachers:

• Claimed to know God
• Denied Him by their actions
• Were unfit for good works

Application

We are told that our culture will increasingly become self-indulgent and oppose God’s truth. They will only hear what they want to hear. We are charged to remain faithful to God until the end, even if it goes against the culture.