Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20121021.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
2 Timothy: God's Directives For Church Leaders Amid Hardships
Part VII: Responding Well To False Teachers Amid Ministry Hardships, 2 Timothy 2:14-4:8
D. Identifying And Shielding Our Spirits From Satanically Fueled, Dangerous People
(2 Timothy 3:1-9)
  1. Introduction
    1. Though church leaders and all who disciple must not fellowship with false teachers, sometimes those with false doctrine aggressively challenge God's true disciplers who hold to the truth.
    2. This challenge is spiritually dangerous as opposition to true disciplers is backed by Satan (2 Timothy 2:25-26), so disciplers need to be able to IDENTIFY the characteristics of such foes, and know how to shield themselves from their spiritual harm, insight 2 Timothy 3;1-9 invaluably provides (as follows):
  2. Identifying And Shielding Our Spirits From Satanically Fueled, Dangerous People, 2 Timothy 3:1-9.
    1. We know from viewing 2 Timothy 2:25 and 2 Timothy 3:8 in the context that the characteristics of bad people listed or described in 2 Timothy 3:2-8 describe those who will oppose true disciplers by Satanic influence up the end of the Church era.
    2. Thus, we view the characteristics of Satan-influenced foes to true disciplers to identify them (as follows):
      1. They will be "selfish" (philautos, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 866; R. C. Trench, Syns. of the N. T., 1973, p. 352), 2 Timothy 3:2a.
      2. They will "love money" (philarguros, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich; Ibid., Trench, p. 81), 2 Tim. 3:2b.
      3. They will be "boastful" (alazon, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 34; Ibid., Trench, p. 98-100), 2 Tim. 3:2c.
      4. They will "arrogantly lift themselves above others" (huperphanos, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 849; Ibid., Trench, p. 101), 2 Timothy 3:2d.
      5. They will be "abusive in speech" (blasphemos, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 142; Theol. Dict. of the N. T., vol. 1, p. 621-625), 2 Timothy 3:2e.
      6. They will be "disobedient to parents" (goneusin apeitheis, Ibid., Arndt & Ging., p. 82), 2 Tim. 3:2f.
      7. They will be "ungrateful" (acharistos, Ibid., p. 127), 2 Timothy 3:2g.
      8. They will be "unholy" (anosios, Ibid., p. 71), 2 Timothy 3:2h.
      9. They will be "unloving" (astorgos, Ibid., p. 117), 2 Timothy 3:3a.
      10. They will be "absolutely irreconcilable" (aspondos, Ibid., p. 116f; Ibid., Trench, p. 193), 2 Tim. 3:3b.
      11. They will be "slanderous" (diabolos, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 181), 2 Timothy 3:3c.
      12. They will be "without self control" (akrates, Ibid., p. 32), 2 Timothy 3:3d.
      13. They will be "brutal, savage" (anemeros, Ibid., p. 65), 2 Timothy 3:3e.
      14. They will be "not loving the good" (aphilagathos, Ibid., p. 126), 2 Timothy 3:3f.
      15. They will be "traitors" (prodotes, Ibid., p. 711), 2 Timothy 3:4a.
      16. They will be "rash, reckless" (propetes, Ibid., p. 716), 2 Timothy 3:4b.
      17. They will be "puffed up in deceived conceit" (tuphomai in the perf. pass., Ibid., p. 838; U. B. S. Greek N. T., 1966, p. 735), 2 Timothy 3:4c.
      18. They will "love pleasure" (philedonos, Ibid., Arndt & Ging., p. 867) versus loving God, 2 Tim. 3:4d.
      19. They will have a form of godliness but deny true spiritual dynamics, 2 Timothy 3:5a.
      20. They will manipulate their way into homes and take captive weak-willed women who are burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 2 Timothy 3:6 ESV.
      21. They always learn but never acknowledge the truth, 2 Timothy 3:7.
    3. Paul gave directives for disciplers to shield themselves from spiritual harm by such foes (as follows):
      1. Disciplers must "turn away from, avoid" (apotrepo, Ibid., p. 101) such people for their OWN spiritual welfare, protection (middle voice = apotrepou , Ibid.), 2 Timothy 3:5b.
      2. Disciplers must leave such troubling parties for their OWN FOLLY to expose themselves, trusting God's sovereign oversight to protect the Church from destruction by such parties, 2 Timothy 3:9.
Lesson: Satanically influenced foes of true disciplers bear the troubling traits listed above, and as true disciplers identify them, they must avoid such foes to let God use their own folly to discredit themselves.

Application: May we disciplers heed 2 Timothy 3:1-9 for blessing if facing Satanically influenced foes!