Theological Commentary: Click Here
People read
2 Timothy 3 and think that Paul is talking about the last days before Christ
returns. Truth be told, he could be! I don’t think that this is the only way that
it need to be read, however. After all,
think about the context out of which Paul is writing. He is writing to Timothy, who is probably
worried about the persecution that he hears is happening to Paul.
Paul tells
Timothy to not worry about persecution.
After all, if we are to be with the Lord, then by definition we will not
be with the world. We won’t see eye to
eye. That doesn’t mean we need to go out
and intentionally make enemies. It does
mean that we shouldn’t be surprised when enemies come our way. It happens.
In fact, it
is this realization that makes me consider that this passage isn’t just about
how to read the signs of Jesus’ return.
Paul himself reminds Timothy how Moses was opposed. The prophets were opposed. We know that Jesus was opposed. Paul is being opposed. All of these events happened prior to Paul’s
life, showing us that persecution is not just an end of the world kind of
thing.
That being
said, it does make sense to consider that as the time of Christ grows closer
that persecution will about. The time
for Christ to return will be marked by more widespread rebellion against
God. As people find less and less room
in their life for God, it makes sense to think that there will be less and less
tolerance for God’s people, too.
How do we respond? There is only one legitimate way to
respond. Stay firm in the faith. Draw closer to the faith that got us where we
are. Christ was persecuted, but He did
not abandon the faith. If we are to
imitate Christ, we need to be ready to imitate Him in faith in both the good
times and the bad.
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