Disciples - The Type We are to Flee From and the Type We are to Follow

Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (NKJV).

Philippians 3:17, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (ESV).

Everyone in leadership has followers whom they influence for better or worse. This is the basic method of making disciples. In this final letter to Timothy, continuing the multiplying disciple-making process is Paul’s great concern as he faces his imminent death at the hands of Nero Caesar. He expresses this emphatically in 2 Timothy 2:2. His primary disciple, Timothy, must pass this own to at least the fourth generation.

But the enemy has inserted false, evil, egotistical disciple-makers into the fellowship in Ephesus, where Timothy is serving as pastor. In this pericope of scripture – 2 Timothy 3:1-13 – Paul gives a detailed account of the type of disciplers we’re to flee from and the type we are to follow.

The New Testament model for disciple-making is in personal example (life), relational experience (love), and doctrinal explanation (learning). The truth is that people will either take Christians as an example of Christ, or as an exemption from Christ. Our words and works are either an encouragement in favor of good, or of less good, or of evil.

We will divide this teaching into two parts: The Disciple-makers that We are To Flee From and the type we are to Follow as They Follow Christ.

1. The Type Disciple-makers that We are To Flee From – 3:1-5

Paul begins the chapter, “Understand this.” Or literally: “Know this.” There is something true followers of Christ need to know about evil men in positions of influence in the church.

Because of the importance of living examples, it is necessary for us to know whom we should follow. As leaders, there are godly examples to emulate and ungodly examples to avoid. In 2 Timothy 3:1-13, Paul shows us both extremes. In verses 1-9 he takes us to the moral sewer. He fires off no fewer than 19 particular expressions of sin among evil people involved in church in just three verses (vv. 2-4)! He also describes the emptiness of godless religion (v. 5). He then discusses the corrupt nature of the false teachers, including their evil method of proselytizing (vv. 6-9). Paul gives Timothy the clear charge in light of this picture: "Avoid these people!"

A. The Epoch Times – 3:1, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”

The phrase “last days” raises the question, when are the last days? At least three views have been offered:

(1) a concentrated period of time just prior to Jesus' second coming, making the time yet future;

(2) the period of time between Jesus' first coming and second coming, what is typically and erroneously called the church age;

(3) the period between 30-70AD, which is from a point in time just prior to Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This is what the Bible describes as a generation (forty years).

In my opinion, the best explanation of the latter times and "last days" is the time period between Jesus' earthly ministry and the end of the old covenant order leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Almost everyone who comments on our text in 2 Timothy 3 declares that unrelentingly bad times lie before the Church in all of history. But the Greek term Paul employs here for “time” isn’t “chronos” but “kairos”, which indicates "seasons." It is erroneous to read this reference to some "seasons" of difficulty as if it said all seasons will be difficult. There have been and will continue to be "seasons" of perilous times that beset the Church.

I do not believe (although I once did) that this passage teaches historical decline accelerating in history. Defenders in the belief that history will go from bad to worse and that the gospel’s truth isn’t as strong as the devil’s lie over men, refer to 2 Timothy 3:13 as proof. But the verse actually says: "evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." Paul is speaking of specific evil men becoming ethically worse, not more and more evil men becoming increasingly dominant. He speaking of their progressive personal degeneration, i.e. the progressive anti-sanctification of evil men. Paul says absolutely nothing about an increase in the number and power of such evil men.

Paul balances his teaching with a note of optimism as he clearly informs Timothy that these evil men "will not make further progress for their folly will be obvious to all" (2 Tim 3:9). Since God places limits on those evil-doers, Paul speaks as a man who expects victory.

B. The Evil Men – 3:2-5

The New Testament has a number of these vice lists. And they usually apply universally to pagan thought and practice. But Paul is not speaking universally here. Though this vice list can apply in many situations, Paul is not here intending that it speak universally throughout all of church history. Verse 5 makes clear, that ‘people’ is not a general reference to sinners but a specific reference to those who apostatize from the faith. This list is not associated with pagans who have never acknowledged God, but with believers who have defected from the faith.

This has already been anticipated by Paul when he last met with the Ephesian elders: “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29–30).

The aim of a list like this is not to grovel in evil or gloat over others or savor indictments. The aim is to understand the untrue and varieties of evil and to spot these things in ourselves and others with a view to overcoming them and avoiding them.

• “For people will be lovers of self (narcissistic),
• Lovers of money (materialistic),
• Proud (loving to draw attention to their accomplishments),
• Arrogant (with an inflated view of self),
• Abusive (wanting to be verbally hurtful),
• Disobedient to their parents (having a rebellious spirit),
• Ungrateful (assuming that they have a right to the things they get),
• Unholy (indifferent to the attitudes and acts that reflect the value of Jesus),
• Heartless (unable to sympathize or empathize),
• Unappeasable (unwilling to forgive),
• Slanderous (devilishly distorting what other say and do),
• Without self-control (a slave to their appetites),
• Brutal (dead to all tenderness),
• Not loving good (unable to see and appreciate moral beauty),
• Treacherous (breaking promises for their own advantage),
• Reckless (craving admiration for taking risks),
• Swollen with conceit (blind to the ugliness of self-preoccupation and the beauty of admiring others),
• Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (finding more satisfaction in physical titillation than in divine admiration),
• Having the appearance of godliness but denying its power (using religion for personal gain without treasuring Christ above all).”

C. Their Evil Proselytizing - 3:6-9

Finally, as if their corrupt lives and religious emptiness were not enough, Paul says that certain people would also try to win converts, i.e. make disciples to their wicked religion. And the way they would try to add to their number was evil. Notice three parts: their tactics, their victims, and their mental corruption.

1. Paul says that they "worm their way into households" (v. 6). Their method was not out in the open. It was secretive and sneaky, like Satan himself. They also sought to "capture" their victims. John Stott notes that this verb properly means "to take prisoner in war." The location for their stealth mission was "households." The Greek text says "thehomes," meaning that it might be spacious homes of the wealthy where the church often met.
2. Their victims. Paul says these zealous false teachers went after "idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth" (vv. 6-7). Paul is not using this as a description of all women but rather those who are immature, childish, silly, weak, and especially those burdened down with sins. Because of their unclean consciences, they were open to hear anything, even the messages of these false teachers. The false teachers preyed on their intellectual weaknesses, their moral weaknesses, and their gullible nature. These women would listen to anybody, but they were never able to come to "a knowledge of the truth."

Stott adds that this method of preying on women is a timeless tactic of false teachers: Choosing a time when the menfolk were out (presumably at work), they would concentrate their attention on "weak women." This expedient, comments Bishop Ellicott, was "as old as the fall of man," for the serpent first deceived Eve. It was also employed by the Gnostics and has been the regular ploy of religious commercial travelers right up to and including the Jehovah's Witnesses of our own day.

3. Paul gives an example of spurious teachers in verse 8 as he relates the mental corruption of such men. He alludes to the Egyptian sorcerers who opposed Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:11-12). Though Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned by name in the Bible, they are in extrabiblical sources. When Aaron threw down his rod and it became a snake, they cast down their rods, which also became snakes. These sorcerers opposed Moses like the false teachers were opposing Paul and Timothy.

Paul says such men are "corrupt in mind" (v. 8). They are mentally warped. Consequently, they are "worthless in regard to the faith."

4. Paul reminds Timothy that even though the situation may look depressing, Christianity will not collapse.- 3:9. He says that just as the folly of Jannes and Jambres became evident to all and people realized that no one could match the power of God, so the false teachers in Ephesus would "not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all" (v. 9). Paul believes that their error would eventually be exposed, and God would preserve His truth. This had to be an encouraging word to Timothy as he looked at the apparent success of the false teachers. Like Timothy, we must rest in God's promises and courageously keep teaching His truth despite opposition and false religious systems.

To summarize 3:1-9, Timothy and others were to flee from these men and these practices. They must avoid self-centered lives with misdirected loves and corrupt relationships, religious forms devoid of Christ's power, and the evil tactics of false teachers. Paul then describes the traits of a godly disciple-maker that Timothy and all true disciples are to follow.

II. The Type Disciple-makers We Are to Follow – 3:10-13

3:10, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,” 

3:14, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed …”

Paul doesn’t stop with the type of disciple-makers we are to flee, but in stark contrast to these false teachers just mentioned, Paul gives Timothy the imperative to "continue" in verse 14. Paul urges Timothy to continue following Jesus by doing two things: remembering the past (vv. 10-13) and focusing on the Scriptures (vv. 14-17). We will consider 3:14-17 in our next study.

In verses 10-13, Timothy is reminded of Paul's example. The apostle's example was to be emulated in so far as he followed Christ (1 Cor 11:1). Every leader should be able to say, "Follow me, as I follow Christ." This is leadership 101. Leadership is not lordship. Peter said pastors should not be domineering but should set an example to the flock (1 Pet 5:3; cf. 2 Cor 1:24). Leadership is about following Jesus and inviting others to come along. Paul illustrated this as well as anyone. Paul tells Timothy (and us) to remember three things - (1) his life, (2) his persecutions, and (3) his precept about godliness.

1. Remember Paul's Life - 3:10

Paul is effectively saying, “You, Timothy, have followed my life and have seen the difference the gospel has made on me, as opposed to the lack of impact it has made on the heretical teachers.”

Paul's lifestyle was true and transparent, unlike that of the false teachers mentioned in 3:1-9. He said that Timothy knew well of his "teaching," his "conduct," and his "purpose." Paul practiced what he preached. He was an example to follow. Paul's teaching explained his life, and his life exemplified his teaching. Paul's purpose was to live for something greater than pleasure, money, or personal fame. Paul expressed his single-minded passion to the Ephesians elders: "But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:24). Paul's great aim in life was to finish his ministry of testifying to the gospel for the glory of Christ.

Timothy also observed particular virtues in Paul's life: "Faith, patience, love, and endurance." These four qualities are at the heart of the Christian life. These four characteristics mark Paul's life, and now in a prison cell he urges Timothy to follow them.

2. Remember Paul's Persecutions - 3:11

Timothy also had intimate knowledge of Paul's "persecutions and sufferings." Timothy knew of Paul's brutal beating by a hostile mob, when the apostle was left for dead (Acts 14:5-6, 19). Paul said, "What persecutions I endured!" These particular sufferings apparently had a great impact on Timothy, and Paul urged Timothy to remember his example as he continued to live out his calling.

Paul then reminds Timothy that "the Lord rescued me from them all." God, the ultimate rescuer, has delivered His people throughout the ages. Though He never promises us that this life will be easy, He does promise to be with His people and to rescue them either in this life or by bringing them to glory! As Paul was writing, he was awaiting the ultimate rescue to glory.

Timothy is called to endure by the strength God supplies, trusting in God's great faithfulness to His people. Paul is not just giving Timothy an example to follow; he is pointing him to the source of power by which to live.

3. Remember Paul's Principle - 3:12-13

This universal principle of Christian living is found in verse 12 where Paul reminds Timothy that everyone who seeks "to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." We should understand the inevitability of persecution as we consider the life and words of Paul. After Paul's stoning in Lystra, Luke says, “After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, "It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21-22)

We will pass through many troubles as we live out the gospel. Therefore, Paul tells the Philippians, "It has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him" (Phil 1:29).

Yet, despite periods of perilous times, despite suffering for the gospel, we should not conclude that the world will only get worse and worse and that our only hope is the rapture. We must see that Christ has set before His believing and persevering church “a door opened which none can shut” – consequently, that even the most antagonistic opponents will bow down, and Christ’s church will enjoy with Him authority over the nations (Rev. 3:7-9; 2:25-27; 20:4). That is not just a hollow hope, but the promise of God.

I know, I know, it doesn’t look like the Church is winning now. The world seems to be tottering on the brink of WWIII, the economies of the world are drowning in debt, America seems to be breaking up and headed for possible civil war, etc... But the seated, reigning King Jesus has declared, “…I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!” Jesus is stressing a course of action on the offense, not on the defensive. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (Psalm 37:1-2). 

Once again, Luther’s grand hymn should be our song:

And though this world with devils filled
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.

The body they may kill
God's truth abideth still
His Kingdom is forever
Forever and ever!