2 Timothy 4 commentary

       1: I earnestly testify therefore before the God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom 2: Proclaim THE WORD stand in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all patience and teaching
3: For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound teaching but after their own desires they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears 4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto mythos 5: But you watch in all things endure afflictions do the work of an evangelist fully carry out your service ^diakonia 6: For I am now ready to be offered ^{to die} and the time of my departure ^death is at hand 7: I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith 8: It remains then [that] there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me on that day and not to me only but to all [who] also love his appearing 9: Endeavor to come to me quickly 10: For Demas has forsaken me having loved this present age and is left for Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia 11: Only Luke is with me Take Mark and bring him with you for he is profitable to me for diakonia ^service 12: And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus 13: The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come bring with you and the books but especially the parchments 14: Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil the Lord reward him according to his works[1]
15: Of whom you be wary [of] also for he has greatly withstood our words 16: At my first trial no one stood with me but all forsook me I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge 17: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me that by me the proclamation [of Christ] might be fully made and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion ^{from death by beasts in the Colosseum} 18: And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 19: Salute Prisca[2] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus 20: Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick  21: Make every effort to come before winter Eubulus greets you and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the adelphos [believers who are with me] 22: The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit Grace be with you Amen

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[1] Paul did not appear to have a problem with naming names and expressing sentiments many would characterize as unchristian and making statements that seem to contradict Jesus’ words about loving your enemies and blessing them instead of cursing them. 

[2] In all male-dominated societies [virtually the entire planet—still today], it is customary, when referencing a married couple, to mention the husband first and then the wife. This is common protocol world-wide, including in the democracy of the United States. Yet we see Paul, in an ancient, and unapologetically androcentric, culture, list the wife’s [Prisca’s] name first. This is not coincidence. Both the Jewish culture and the Greek culture of the day, esteemed freeborn women only just above slaves in the social strata. But Jesus elevated the status of women [that men had lowered—not God] while he walked the earth, and his first followers continued in his example. The earliest efforts at “organizing” the early Church and the councils that followed, had everything to do with control in general and keeping woman in her “place” in particular. All of the early church “fathers” (this writer disagrees that they were any such thing) were misogynistic and  committed to the suppression of women in leadership. Yet, The great Apostle, in his letter to the young diakonos [servant of the Lord], had the audacity, not only to mention a woman teacher by name but to mention her before her husband. This is not insignificant.

2 Timothy 3 commentary

       1: This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come 2: For audawm shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphēmos disobedient to parents unthankful unholy 3: Without natural affection trucebreakers false accusers without self control fierce despisers of those that are good 4: traitors heady highminded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God 5: Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away 6: For of this sort are they who worm their way into homes and gain control over women who are not as yet spiritually mature[1] loaded [down] with sins led astray by various sinful desires[2] 7: Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 8: Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth [they are] men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith 9: But these [men] shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest unto all as theirs [Jannes and Jambres] also was 10: But you have fully known my doctrine manner of life purpose faith longsuffering love patience 11: Persecutions afflictions which came to me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra what persecutions I endured but out of them all the Lord delivered me 12: Yes and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 13: But evil men and seducers shall advance [becoming] worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 14: But you continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of knowing of whom you have learned them 15: And that from a babe you have known the sacred letters which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus 16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness 17: That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works

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[1] Concerning the term, “silly” [women] as used in 2 Timothy 3:6 (excerpt from, Woman this is WAR! Gender, Slavery and theEvangelical Caste System, 2010, by Jocelyn Andersen)

This example of gender-biased-English-translation-theology might appear minor to some, but we do not believe it to be so. In 2 Timothy 3:6, a different word for woman is used and, again, James Strong, in agreement with the translators of the Authorized Version, displays misogynistic bias. In this passage, we are given a description of false teachers who target young women as primary victims. These female victims are described in the Greek as gunaikarion. Strong writes that gunaikarion is a diminutive of gune (woman, wife, or women). A diminutive of “woman” would indicate a young, not fully developed, or immature/ inexperienced (in the scriptures) woman. But, rather than reflecting the young and inexperienced status of these women [in his concordance] Strong defines gunaikarion (young and inexperienced) as “silly” women—which is the word used by the translators of the King James Bible, and does not reflect with the least bit of accuracy what gunaikarion meant to the ancient Greeks. The language of most other translations is just as misogynistic as the A.V., using derogatory words such as, “weak or gullible,” to describe women who are inexperienced in the Word of God, words that hatefully indicate a non-existent flaw or fault in the women. Describing these women as “silly, weak, and gullible,” is inexcusable on the part of Bible translators.  The Greek word “karion,” which is added to the Greek word gune [woman] to form the word gunaikarion, is still used in the Greek language today. It means, nut or kernel. Nuts and kernels are seeds. so we see, that the word does not carry a connotation of weak or foolish (silly, gullible) but rather the promise of growth and development. It is not a stretch to connect a seed with young [and as yet educationally and spiritually undeveloped] humans. All Christians, no matter what their natural age when they come to Christ, begin their Christian lives as spiritually young, full of promise, but not yet fully matured in the faith. So how is it justified that physically or spiritually immature female believers [victims], targeted by false teachers in 2 Timothy 3:6, are downgraded, using gender-biased-English-translation-theology, from young and spiritually immature women, to the disparaging [and incorrectly translated] terms, “silly, weak, and gullible?” About the word “silly,” in the A.V., it is used only one time in the New Testament—and that is in reference to. There is no corresponding Greek to support the use of the word, silly. This unfortunate rendering is entirely inappropriate and prejudicial against women. And the fact that it has gone unchallenged up to the present time, indicates how deeply ingrained and acceptable the derogatory stereotyping of women still is, among Biblical scholars and the Christian community at large. 

Under the Old Covenant, girls and women were not taught the scriptures in the same way boys and men were. Boys sat at the feet of rabbi’s and were systematically educated, while girls and women had to catch it on the fly (so to speak), hearing the Word of God only at Temple and synagogue attendance and by listening to men have conversations about their males-centered interpretations of the Law and Prophets [which were blatantly anti-woman]. This does not mean that women were less devout than men, completely ignorant, or that every woman was spiritually undeveloped. It simply meant that women as a group were less privileged and their knowledge was limited by discriminatory traditions that carried the weight of TORAH within the Jewish culture of the day. So there would have been many New Testament women, exhilarated by the new freedom given to them to learn, who would have been starving for knowledge, and who would have been targeted by false teachers.

** The Greek word, “karion,” means nut or kernel. “The name, karion, comes from the word, prokaryote. The word Prokaryote is derived from two Greek words--'pro' meaning before and 'karyon' referring to the nucleus. 

[2] It is the predatory male teachers that verse :6 goes on to describe as “laden with sins led away with divers lusts—and not the young women who were their prey. This is made clear in the following verses where no one questions that it is the false teachers who are 7: Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” and who “8:… also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith.” Despite this, translation after translation makes it appear as though it is the women who are “loaded down with sins and led astray by various lusts,” instead of it being the men (wolves) who targeted them. It is deceivers who are referenced in verse :6 as, “laden with sins led away with divers lusts,” not the ones they are attempting to deceive. Despite this, translation after translation makes it appear as though it is the women who are “loaded down with sins and led astray by various lusts,” instead of it being the men (wolves) who targeted them. 

   It is the deceivers, not the the deceived, who are referenced in verse :6 as, "laden with sins [and] led away with divers lusts." The women in this passage, are not bad people. They are not stupid people. They are people whose lack of education (not by their own choices) has prepared them to become victims.  

2 Timothy 2 commentary

    1: Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2: And the things heard from me among many witnesses the same commit to faithful ones who shall be able to teach others also 3: Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ 4: No one that [goes to] war entangles themselves with the affairs of this life that they may please him who chose them to be soldiers 5: And if any strives for victory yet are they not crowned except they strive lawfully 6: The farmer that labors must be first partaker of the fruits 7: Consider what I say and the Master give you understanding in all things 8: Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead[1] according to my glad tidings [good news] 9: Because of which I suffer hardship as an criminal even to imprisonment but the Word of God is not chained 10: Because of this I endure all [for the] Eklektos ^{ἐκλεκτός (elect, chosen, called out from)} because of ^διά the Eklektos that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory[2] 11: It is a faithful saying For if we die with him we shall also live with him 12: If we suffer [we shall] symbasileuō καί symbasileuō ^{rule and reign with [him]} If we reject him he also will reject us[3] 13: If we believe not yet he abides faithful He cannot deny himself 14: Of these things put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers 15: Study to show yourself approved unto God a workman that needs not to be ashamed rightly discerning the Word of Truth[4] 16: But shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness 17: And their word will eat as does a canker of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus 18: Who concerning the truth have erred saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some[5] 19: Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure having this seal The Lord knows them that are his And Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity 20: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some to honour and some to dishonour 21: If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work 22: Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness faith love peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 23: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender strifes 24: And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient 25: In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth 26: And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will[6]

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[1] The body of Jesus, the only Christ (Anointed One) was raised physically from the dead. Some teach the resurrection of Jesus was only a spiritual one rather than physical, but this verse describes the “Seed of” David rising from the dead. It is no contradiction to say that the body of Jesus, who was a physical descendant of King David, rose from the grave and when his body was raise, he rose as a life-giving spirit as well. 

[2] Under the New Covenant, the Church is called the spiritual seed of Abraham. The Body of Christ is the Church, God’ elect. And according to this verse, the elect includes those who are not yet saved. But being the elect does not negate a personal choice to make Jesus our Savior. It is God’s will that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth ^{1 Timothy 2:5}. Therefore, all are the elect. Jesus said, many are called but few are chosen, because it is always our choice in whether we are chosen or not. Jesus said a time is coming when even the elect might be deceived ^{Matthew 24:24}. Under the Old Covenant, all Israel was God’s elect, but what about those in Israel [the elect] who sacrificed their children to Ba’al and were given over to their enemies and into captivity and died in their sins? God was speaking of, those in Israel, the elect, in Ezekiel 3:18-20.

https://thehungryheartsbiblecommentary.blogspot.com/2009/06/predestination-committed-to.html

[3] This verse appears to refute the doctrine of eternal security. 

https://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2017/09/once-saved-always-saved-doctrine-of.html

[4] The only way to “rightly discern” the Word of Truth, is to approach biblical understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit along with a working knowledge of the Bible—all of it. This can only be done If you read your Bibles in a systematic manner. This writer recommends reading your Bibles every day, always picking up today where you left off yesterday. If you do this, you will eventually read every word [over and over again] and in that way gain a more comprehensive knowledge of what the Bible does and does not say. Gaining a working knowledge of the Bible is important from a theological perspective, but is even more important from a Christian growth and "relationship with Christ" perspective.

https://jocelynandersen.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-was-defeated-backslidden-christian.html

[5] Paul was not bound by the, “Don’t be judgemental!” and politically correct paradigms that seem to rule Christian thought in these last days (we have been in the last days for over 2000 years ^{Acts 2:16-17}). He did not shy away from naming names when it was necessary in contending for the faith and protecting his flock. 

[6] When we refuse to receive biblical instruction, we are not just opposing God, but opposing ourselves. We become our own worst enemy by placing ourselves under the jurisdiction of the enemy of our souls. 

 

Spiritual warfare begins with obedience to God and to what we understand concerning His Word. Jesus said, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” He warned of dire consequences to those who heard but did not do.” Great strength comes from faith in God’s Word, and obedience is part of faith ^{Matthew 7:24-27, Romans 10:17}.

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