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2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,

which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Second Letter of Paul to Timothy 3:14-15 NKJV

The Apostle Paul will now show his successors, including at the time of his impending execution Timothy in Ephesus, how they must refute false teaching by focusing on Scripture.
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Today's look at 2 Timothy within our SERIES of Apostolic Faith is primarily TOPICAL with focus on SCRIPTURE and its related terms. - RH 
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Scripture is…

Many of us tend toward an easy answer of quoting scripture as a single and particular verse within a chapter, within a book, within a category of books, i.e. the Torah. Yet this epistle of Paul and books of the Prophets often point to additional books for origin, application and/or context.

the Scriptures are books

Paul reminds Timothy: “.. you have known the Holy Scriptures..”, translated from the Greek: τὰ [ho] ἱερὰ [hieros] γράμματα [gramma] οἶδας [you have known].

No doubt you recognize the Greek word for Scripture – gramma, as grammar.
- γράμμα grámma, gram’-mah; from G1125; a writing, i.e. a letter, note, epistle, book, etc.; plural; learning:—bill, learning, letter, scripture, writing, written.
Writings

Yet let’s not miss that the Apostle Paul points Timothy to the ‘scriptures‘ [plural] and more importantly with specific reference that those writings that are “holy.”

Biblia

The earliest Christian use of ta biblia (the books) in this sense is said to be 2 Clement 2:14 (c. a.d. 150): “The books and the apostles declare that the church . . . has existed from the beginning.” (Compare Dan. 9:2, “I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures,” where the reference is to the corpus of Old Testament prophetic writings.) Greek biblion (of which biblia is the plural) is a diminutive of biblos, which in practice denotes any kind of written document, but originally one written on papyrus.

A term synonymous with“the Bible” is“the writings” or “the Scriptures” (Greek hai graphai, ta grammata), frequently used in the New Testament to denote the Old Testament documents in whole or in part. For example, Matthew 21:42 says, “Have you never read in the Scriptures?” (en tais graphais). The parallel passage, Mark 12:10, has the singular, referring to the particular text quoted,“Haven’t you read this Scripture?” (ten graphen tauten).

Source: The Origin of the Bible – Tyndale Publishers

Old Testament

17:14 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה כְּתֹב זֹאת זִכָּרוֹן בַּסֵּפֶר וְשִׂים בְּאָזְנֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ

And the LORD said to Moses,

“Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua..

Exodus 17:14a – Masoretic Text, Revised Standard Version

Strong’s H3789 – kāṯaḇ (for write) is the same Hebrew word used in the giving of the Commandments.

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai,
two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written H3789
with the finger of God.
Exodus 31:18 KJV

“Write this as a memorial in a book,” the LORD instructs Moses to give to his successor Joshua.

New testament

Some pastors and teachers wander from the Truth of Scripture by dismissing Old Testament Law and especially the Prophets from the hearing and remembrance of their church.

“I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

.. there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust.

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

New Testament Gospel of John 5:43, 45b-47 NKJV

The Lord Jesus Christ, however, connects His own testimony to that of the Hebrew Bible:

“.. he (Moses) wrote [γράφω – graphō] about Me, ” states the Lord Jesus. And the Christ or Messiah of Israel adds:

“But if you do not believe his (Moses’) writings [γράμμα – gramma], how will you believe My words [ῥῆμα – rhēma]?”

This, in addition to being a frequent warning of Christ, became an Apostolic word of warning written in several epistles to A.D. first century pastors.

a word from The Apostle Peter

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words [rhēma] of eternal life

Gospel of John 6:68 – Jesus’ Apostles remain faithful as the Lord’s crucifixion approaches

BUT THE WORD^G4487 OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

And this is the word^G4487 which was proclaimed to you as good news.

1 Peter 1:25

I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles..

2 Peter 3:1a-2 LSB

Peter’s Steadfast Purpose and the coming Day of the Lord

All Scripture…

Paul in his second pastoral epistle to Timothy also provides a remembrance of Scripture for generations to follow.

Second Timothy 3:15 (RSV)

speaks of “the sacred writings”

(ta hiera grammata), and the next verse says,

“All Scripture is God-breathed”

(pasa graphe theopneustos).

In 2 Peter 3:16 “all” the letters of Paul are included along with “the other Scriptures” (tas loipas graphas),

by which the Old Testament writings and probably also the Gospels are meant.

ibid.

It is written…
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Is the phrase familiar? 
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- as it is written in the book of the law of Moses – Joshua 8:31
- Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. – 2 Kings 23:21
- Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [sēp̄er] it is written [kāṯaḇ] of me.. – Psalm 40:7
Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’[Jesus, quoting Isaiah 54:13]

Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

Gospel of John 6:43-45 NKJV

Then I said, “Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is written H3789 of me.

Psalm:40:7 (WLC 40:8) אָז אָמַרְתִּי הִנֵּה־בָאתִי בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר כָּתוּב עָלָי׃

כָּתַב kâthab, kaw-thab’; a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):—describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).

Strong’s Number H3789 matches the Hebrew כָּתַב (kāṯaḇ),
which occurs 226 times in 212 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

The Holy Writings of God dominate the remembrance of Old Testament faith and New Testament credibility.

Theopneutos – inspired by God

God CANNOT be wrong!

Yet Satan would ask, “Did God really say…?” (And so do false teachers.)

3:16 πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος

theopneustos –
- given by inspiration of God –
  - KJV & others
- inspired by God –
  - CSB, NLT & others
- God-breathed –
  - LSB, NIV & others
- [given by divine inspiration] –
  - AMP
- breathed out by God –
  - ESV
“Every scripture inspired of God,” the ASV translates.

“Every scripture is inspired by God,” reads the New English Translation.

“Every scripture is divinely inspired,” in the Darby translation.

“every Writing is God-breathed,” states Young’s Literal Translation.

Pivotal Proof, IF you believe

How do false teachers oppose God and Christ?

First, in order to turn faithful saints of the church against God false teachers must attack Scripture. They do this with the subtlety of Satan with a simple turn of a word. For when all is said and done, false teachers insist that God is wrong and that they know why.

In a section headed, SCRIPTURE PROVIDES INSTRUCTION FOR SANCTIFICATION (which of course false teachers want no part of), John MacArthur writes:

Some scholars suggest that All Scripture is inspired should be translated,

“All Scripture inspired by God is..,”

which would leave open the possibility that some Scripture is not inspired by Him. But that rendering would make the Bible worthless as a reliable guide to divine truth, because we would then have no way to determine which part of it is inspired by God and which is not.

Men would be left to their own finite and sinful devices and understanding ot discover what part of the Bible may be true and which may not, what part is God’s Word and what part is human conjecture.

THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY – 2 TIMOTHY, P.142

MacArthur definitively adds:

Many men who wrote Scripture, such as Moses and Paul, were highly trained in human knowledge and wisdom, but that learning was not the source of divine truth they recorded. David was a highly gifted poet, .. but it was not the source of the divine truths in those psalms.

ibid. p.143

Does 2 Tim 3:16 prove the inspiration of all Scripture or just some?
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excerpt from: A POPULAR HANDBOOK ON BIBLE DIFFICULTIES 
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PROBLEM:

Some think that the word “all” should be replaced by “every.” Plus, one believe that.. “is” should be placed after.. not before.

SOLUTION:

[edited excerpt] .. those that translate this verse with “is” after “God” make it sound like there are some scriptures not inspired of God. “all” should be translated, “every” if the definite article is missing. However, whenever the word “Scripture” (graphē) is used in the NT, it always refers to authoritative and inspired writings— never the opposite…

Paul’s context here refers to “the Holy Scriptures” (1:15) Timothy’s Jewish mother and grandmother had taught him (2 Tim 1:5), and this could be none other than the whole Jewish OT.

WHEN CRITICS ASK, Norman Geisler & Thomas Howe, pp 505-506

πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος καὶ — ALL SCRIPTURE given by inspiration of God, and…

4 Profitable Imperatives

The Apostle Paul then continues to instruct Timothy and readers of his pastoral epistle in HOW TO APPLY the TRUTH of GOD-BREATHED SCRIPTURE.
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By 'profitable,' Paul means helpful or advantageous 
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Once again, let’s just list Paul’s MUST DO list from various translations noting also the interralationship of these actions of applying Scripture.
- doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, teaching, rebuking, reprimand, correcting, training, [in righteousness], conviction [of sin], reproof
- “omnis scriptura divinitus inspirata
  - et utilis ad docendum ad arguendum ad corrigendum ad erudiendum in iustitia’
    
    from the Latin Vulgate
WE resist many of these Scriptural imperatives; but the Apostle Paul assures Christ-followers that GOD breathed-out the Commandments WRITTEN in the BIBLE.
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Let's simplify Paul's four-point list in 2 Timothy 3:16
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1. DOCTRINE – didaskalia
2. REPROOF – elegchos
3. CORRECTION – epanorthōsis
4. INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS – paideia en dikaiosynē
Doctrine, learning, teaching or Instruction

The Scriptures serve as a comprehensive guide for teaching and imparting knowledge about God, His will, and His ways. … The Bible provides moral and spiritual guidance, helping believers understand the nature of God and the principles of His kingdom.

BibleHub.com

proof, conviction:—evidence, reproof.
- a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested
- conviction
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence G1650 of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

correction, improvement of life or character,

restoration to an upright or right state – a derivative of the base of G3717; to straighten up:—lift (set) up, make straight.

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up…

And He [Jesus] laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Gospel of Luke 13:11,13 NKJV

ἐπανόρθωσις – a straightening up again, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (reformation):—correction.

Paul assures Timothy that Scripture can rectify that false teaching which has made your spirit and life crooked with sin.
Instruction in righteousness –

the whole training and education of children

(which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment)

It also includes the training and care of the body
παιδεία paideía, pahee-di’-ah; from G3811; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:—chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath,

but bring them up in the

TRAINING [G3809]

and admonition of the Lord.

Paul’s protégé and young pastor to the saints at Ephesus, will not overlook his apostolic example as the type of righteousness required in the instruction of Scripture.

That the man of God may be perfect

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:17 KJV
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One last word here about ALL SCRIPTURE, before the Apostle pushes on to PREACH THE WORD. 
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ἵνα ἄρτιος ᾖ – that perfect may be

Perfection (used in the King James Version) refers to perfection in Christ.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Gospel of Matthew 5:48 KJV – Jesus teaching the crowds in the Beautitudes

Other translations use ‘complete.’

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Revelation of Jesus Christ to John: 3:2 ESV – To the Church in Sardis

Still other translations point the preacher of God to Scripture as essential to be: fit, adequate, capable, or proficient.

ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος – of God the man

The Apostle is addressing the man of God, a technical phrases used only of Timothy in the New Testament. In the Old Testament it is frequently used as a title for one who proclaimed the Word of God. In this context, man of God refers most directly to Timothy and, by extension, to all preachers.

John MacArthur New Testament Commentary – 2 Timothy, p.162

πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν – unto all works good
- πρός – pros – unto, to the advantage of
- πᾶς – G3956 – pas, all (17x in 2 Timothy)
  - ALL, again same as in ‘all scripture’
- ἔργον ἀγαθὸν, ergon agathos, lit. works good
  - (and in the Greek, followed by ‘thoroughly furnished.’
And Paul’s practical preparation for the man of God gives good reason:

The Apostle prescribes SCRIPTURE as a preacher’s tools, useful for building good works among the saints of their church.

ἐξηρτισμένος – thoroughly furnished
- throughly [KJV prior to 16th c. archaic]furnished
  - unto all good works.
ἐξαρτίζω exartízō, means: to furnish perfectly; to finish, accomplish, (as it were, to render the days complete).

One instance of this concept takes place when John the Baptist objected to Jesus that Christ should be baptizing him.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now:^G737 for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Matthew 3:15 KJV

Scripture Written – the Word Spoken

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said…

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

Genesis 1:1-3a, Psalm 99:6 KJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

Gospel of John 1:1-2 KJV

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Gospel of John 1:8, 10:27 KJV – Spoken by JESUS Christ

Next: Preach the word! – 2 Timothy 4

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
February 20, 2026
2 Timothy 3 Danger Within during Difficult Times
χαλεπός – chalepos –
- perhaps from G5465 through the idea of reducing the strength; difficult, i.e. dangerous, or (by implication) furious:—fierce, perilous.
But Mark This:

The Apostle Paul continues in his second epistle to pastors, beginning a central section we label, 2 TIMOTHY 3, with a reminder of danger announced in the NIV, “But mark this: ..”

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:1 NIV

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

2 Tim 3:1 NLT

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Tim 3:1 KJV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress.

2 Tim 3:1 RSV

The great enemy of God is not Nation or Ruler who turns upon God’s people from without, but the strong-speaking leader weakening the Lord’s elect from within.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Last Days and Difficult Times
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The last days — eschatos hēmera, difficult times — chalepos kairos... 
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We will not speculate (as do so many) when these last days were, are or will be. The emphasis of Paul’s added reminder is NOT the last days, but his long list of evidences found in the unfaithful, whether in the first century, the time of Moses or in the 21st century of this Common Era.

Further HEADINGS of this from various Bibles:
- A warning of what to expect – J.B. Phillips New Testament
- Godlessness in the Last Days – ESV
- The Tasks of a Man of God – New Catholic Bible
  - Repulse the Onslaughts of False Teachers – [sub-heading] NCB
AND in verse 2, Paul immediately gets to his long list of characteristics (or perhaps I should say, lack of character) against which the Apostle warns.

3:2 ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι

For men [anthrōpos – lit. human beings, whether male or female] shall be…

2 Timothy 3:2 gar anthrōpos esomai – For men shall be

Familiar (yet Infrequent) Warnings to the Church

first, from their Greek words and the King James English translation,
1. philautos – lovers of their own selves
2. philargyros – covetous
3. alazōn – boasters
4. hyperēphanos – proud
5. blasphēmos – blasphemers
6. apeithēs goneus – disobedient to parents
7. acharistos – unthankful
8. anosios – unholy
9. astorgos – Without natural affection
10. aspondos – trucebreakers
11. diabolos – false accusers
12. akratēs – incontinent
13. anēmeros – fierce
14. aphilagathos – despisers of those that are good
15. prodotēs – traitors
16. propetēs – heady
17. typhoō – highminded
18. philēdonos mallon – lovers of pleasures more
19. ē philotheos – than lovers of God;
echō morphōsis eusebeia – Having a form of godliness,

de arneomai ho dynamis autos – but denying the power thereof:

2 Timothy 3:2-4,5a Transliterated – KJV – source BLB.org
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Paul urges Timothy not to accept soft faith threating the church like a ship in a storm.
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kai toutous apotrepō – from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

A warning of what to expect

secondly, J.B. Phillips taking these oft-forgotten concepts directed into our more familiar English.

But you must realise that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become

utterly self-centred, greedy for money, full of big words.

They will be proud and contemptuous,

without any regard for what their parents taught them.

They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, purity and normal human affections.

They will be men of unscrupulous speech and have no control of themselves.

They will be passionate and unprincipled, treacherous, self-willed and conceited, loving all the time what gives them pleasure instead of loving God.

They will maintain a facade of “religion”, but their conduct will deny its validity.

You must keep clear of people like this.

J.B. Phillips New Testament

Some English Synonyms and Scriptural Reminders

Considering a few descriptive adjectives:

Honestly, who doesn’t have some love of himself [philautos].. or love of money [philargyros] to pay our creditors?

But do you love me, Jesus asks a disciple?

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers G5366 of G5366 money G5366, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him [Jesus}.

Gospel of Luke 16;14
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You likely know the Old Testament command using this same word, covetous:
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Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Exodus 20:17 KJV
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[hyperēphanos alazōn] Proud boasters WE know, not only in politics and business but in our own church. 
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God resisteth the proud, G5244 but giveth grace unto the humble.

Epistle of James 4:6

Blasphemers

Blasphemy is an even more serious offense, much neglected in this Common Era.
- scurrilous
  - once commonly descriptive of those known for vulgar, coarse, or abusive language, especially of a malicious or slanderous nature
- or (specially) impious (against God)
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Gospel of Mark 3:29 KJV – a warning of Jesus

Disobedient to Parents
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Doesn't seem so serious, does it? 
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5:16 כַּבֵּד אֶת־אָבִיךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּךָ

Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee

Deuteronomy 5:16a,b – Masoretic text, KJV

Commandment of the LORD and the Law of Israel.

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: .. lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city,.. And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice.. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 excerpt KJV

Unthankful, Unholy, ‘Unaffectionate’.. unChristian?

Every believer associates with christians who do NOT imitate Christ.
- Are YOU one of them at times?
- Do you lack affection or appear unholy to others?
Other hints of false teachers:
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We cannot cover the entire list.
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Incontinent.
- powerless, i.e. without self-control:—incontinent.
- Lacking sexual restraint; unchaste.
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Such sins (though known, even obvious to church leaders) remain veiled to the saints, until sudden revelation unveils that their witness for Christ always fell short of the Way and the Truth of JESUS. 
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Trucebreakers and Traitors.

These christians want to do ‘their own thing’ without public vow, or covenant.

AND they will not be convinced to refrain from such worldly things that malign Christ.

Judas wanted to follow Jesus his own way as long as the Lord led him as a conquering King of Israel.
- We can use that money for better things.
- Why should You sacrifice your Life for sinners?
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Do these descriptions point to some Judas influencing ideas behind a world-like vision of your church?
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διάβολος – diabolos

When you hear, ‘FALSE ACCUSERS’ on Paul’s list, you may not consider the weight of the Apostle’s adjective.

Recognize the ‘accuser of the brethren’ — diabolos.

[Simon Peter responds] And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? G1228

Gospel of John 6:69-70 KJV

Avoid such people!

YES, they may be prominent members, even Elders, leaders, priests or pastors in Christ’s church where you worship.

They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

2 Timothy 3:5 New English Translation

a Warning to single moms!
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No, you won't find that HEADING for 2 Timothy 3:6-7 in your Bible because the very concept is false teaching of a social gospel. 
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This danger to a first century Ephesian or Corinthian saint we might label: ‘a Warning to our Widows.’

For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:6-7 NKJV
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Those first century saints were vulnerable socially and economically moreso than 21st c. women who lead their husbands, initiate divorce amd refuse to be bound by vows of marriage. 
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Paul’s point: whether the man or woman claiming Christ, the danger is lusts.

Enemies to the Truth

The Apostle points back to Moses who also faced such opposition, as did Timothy.

John MacArthur in his commentary points out that although Exodus shows no record of Jannes and Jambres, that Paul may know of them from other Jewish writings and traditions.

Because Jannes perhaps means “he who seduces” and Jambres “he who makes rebellion,” those may have been symbolic names given to these men at a later time. Jewish tradition holds that they pretended to convert to Judaism in order to subvert Moses’ divine assignment to liberate Israel from Egypt, that they led in making and worshiping the golden calf while Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law from God, and that they were slaughtered by the Levites along with the other idolaters (see Ex. 32).

New Testament Commentary 2 Timothy, John MacArthur, p.120

The Apostle then assures the Church and Timothy:

But they won’t get away with this for long.

Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

2 Timothy 3:9 NLT

NEXT: Standing Strong against Apostasy

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
January 28, 2026
Elijah – on a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane
Today, in the first of a 2-part look at ordinary men chosen as extraordinary Prophets speaking for God, we will glance briefly at Moses and Elijah.

Prophets Before Christ

Recall that true Prophets of God speak for the LORD God.

NOT every man who claims to be a be a Prophet of God truly speaks God’s word. Nor is every mortal who speaks a prophesy of God is a worshiper of the LORD.

And not every prophesy of a true Prophet is an oracle into the future or an eschatological look into the fulfillment of days.

Yet many prophesies do point us to places and times not yet seen by any man but the appointed Prophet of the LORD.

The Prophet Moses
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What could be more prophetic than the written words of the man who encountered the 'I AM' speaking the very commands of the Almighty? 
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Moses brought the Law – the very words of the LORD – to the Hebrew people.
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The LORD had called Moses, age eighty to lead the Hebrews out from Egypt. Moses was 120 years old as the Hebrews prepared to cross the Jordan.
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Before he led them from bondage in Egypt into Arabia for forty year prior to crossing the Jordan into Canaan, Moses instructed God’s chosen in the LORD’s ways and means of redemption.

So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

“It is Yahweh your God who will cross ahead of you..

Deuteronomy 31:1,3a,5a LSB

Yet the LORD instructs Moses with a prophecy of what the Hebrews will surly do:

a Prophesy through Moses:

.. and this people will arise and play the harlot with the foreign gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have cut with them.

“Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed…

Deuteronomy 31:16c-17a LSB

When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

Deuteronomy 32:8 BSB
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This general reference to humanity and God's 'chosen' would be worthy of your separate study, but we cannot cover it here. 
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from Canaan to Babylon

Let’s go quickly across the Jordan through the years (centuries, really) with the chosen sons until fulfillment of a foreseen time of Hebrew prophesy from Babylon.

In order to move so quickly we must overlook and pass many important scriptural milestones.

Moving past Joshua,
- the capture of much of the promised land
  - 14th c. B.C.
- a time of the Judges
  - 14th-11th c. B.C.
- a king of the people (Saul)
  - 11th c. B.C.
David King of Judah united with Israel
- David united Israel and Judah
  - ~1000 B.C.
- Solomon expands his influence back to Egypt and east to Babylon and beyond
  - 973-931 B.C.
- then, a civil war between Solomon’s sons and their heirs,
A quick glance at the timeline below will reveal the book of 1 KINGS where we will find Elijah’s story.

Old Testament Books timeline

The Prophet Elijah

~870 B.C. – 849 B.C.

Later, as prophesied:
- defeat of ISRAEL the Northern Kingdom
  - 722 B.C.
- eventual fall of JUDAH the Southern Kingdom…
  - 586 B.C.
The Man of God

The LORD sent powerful Prophets to both Israel and Judah during a divisive time when most every leader (king) “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”
- This includes EVERY KING of ISRAEL for a little more than 200 years !
Wouldn’t a NATION claiming GOD repent — when confronted by the man of God showing great signs and even raising a man from the dead?
- Furthermore the Kings of JUDAH fared no better in their 334 years with only eight of twenty kings who “did right in the eyes of the LORD.”
Elijah was a man of God WARNING the evil LEADERS of a NATION.

Taking a brief stop on our timeline Before Christ, we proceed past Moses and beyond the break-up of the Kingdom of David to a time of evil kings infamously represented by King Ahab of Israel who reigned for about twenty years from 874 B.C. until 853 B.C. when he was killed in battle.
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Jezebel, the King's wife - arguably a head of Ahab - also proved infamous with her own evil legacy. 
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Elijah’s Prophetic proofs:

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab,

“As the LORD God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command! ”

1 Kings 17:1 CSB
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The severest of droughts - over one thousand dry days in the land - people  and animals will die. 
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Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:4b CSB

So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood…

But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I don’t have anything baked — only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”

1 Kings 17:10a, 12 CSB

Drought. Famine everywhere — and for days upon end.

Have you ever considered the gravity of the fragile mortal lives of those already suffering under the evil reign of Jezebel and Ahab?

But a miracle of God through Elijah: the widow’s flour and food never ran out. But then —

Her son becomes ill and dies. (Probably a common occurrence in these desperate conditions of a three year drought.)

She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me?

Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death? ”

1 Kings 17:18 CSB

That’s some accusation from the widow who has just lost her only son. Yet note the widow’s contrite acceptance of God’s authority to punish sin (iniquity).

עָוֹן
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Note the long list of Scriptures [above] from the Law of Moses (beginning with Cain) pointing to punishment for our iniquity. 
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Elijah raises the widow’s son from the dead!

He cried out to the LORD and said, “LORD my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again! ”

So the LORD listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD’s word from your mouth is true.”

1 Kings 17:20-22, 24 CSB

Elijah – a contest to the DEATH

Three years of drought. The King will not like this and consequently blame the righteous man of God.

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him,

“Is that you, the one ruining Israel? ”

He replied,

“I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the LORD’s commands and followed the Baals.

1 Kings 18:17-18 CSB
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Tell me if this does not apply to Israel in this day (except that their gods are dreams of their past)? 

Tell me how King Herod and the religious rulers of Judea were so different from Ahab as the King of Israel challenged the true Prophet of the Lord? 
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Then Elijah approached all the people and said,

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.”

But the people didn’t answer him a word.

18:21 וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלִיָּהוּ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר עַד־מָתַי אַתֶּם פֹּסְחִים עַל־שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים אִם־יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים לְכוּ אַחֲרָיו וְאִם־הַבַּעַל לְכוּ אַחֲרָיו וְלֹא־עָנוּ הָעָם אֹתוֹ דָּבָר׃

Much later King Ahab will publically repent! But it will be too late…

Next Contestant

~852 B.C. After the death of Ahab

“Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down! ’ ”

.. “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”

Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

2 Kings 1:9- excerpts CSB

So the king sent another captain with his fifty men to Elijah.

“Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately! ’

“If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”

So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

Then the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. The third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him,

“.. Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their companies, but this time let my life be precious to you.”

Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken.

2 Kings 1:11-17 excerpts CSB

The Ascension of Elijah.

The time had come for the LORD to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal,

2 Kings 2:1 CSB

Elijah’s departure is unique, as he is one of only two people in the Bible, along with Enoch (Genesis 5:24), who did not experience death.

The whirlwind signifies God’s powerful presence, often associated with divine intervention (Job 38:1, Nahum 1:3).

Elijah’s ascension prefigures Christ’s ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), symbolizing victory over death and the promise of eternal life.

2 Kings 2:1:: Biblehub.com STUDY BIBLE commentary
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First Century A.D.
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A Son of David, the Son of Man, rides victoriously into Jerusalem now captive of Rome, challenging Jerusalem’s leaders to a duel to the death –

+ His +

– for the redemption of sinners.

“King Jesus, King Jesus, King Jesus, Hosanna!, they cry out…

And within a few days their KING of the JEWS will be crucified on a Roman cross.

An Uplifting Recollection

The Son of Man walked once more toward a familiar hillside covered with an olive grove.

What must Jesus have recalled as the Lord approached Gethsemane with His eleven dear friends one last time?

Remember?

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them, and his clothes became dazzling — extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
Gospel of Mark 9:4 CSB

A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud:

“This is my beloved Son; listen to him! ”

Mark 9:7 CSB

.. They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant…
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NEXT: Ezekiel 
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April 8, 2025