The Career of the Apostle Commended as an Example to His Youthful Disciple
T. Croskery 2 Timothy 3:10-12 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,… The apostle recalls to Timothy's mind the facts of his own checkered career. partly to mark the contrast between his life and that of the false teachers, partly to stimulate Timothy to like faithfulness and endurance. I. IT IS GOOD FOR YOUNG MINISTERS TO OBSERVE AND FOLLOW THE WAYS OF THEIR ELDER BRETHREN. "But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith." 1. They will thus be stimulated to greater effort. 2. They will be guided by wiser counsels. 3. They will be guarded against many mistakes. 4. They will be better able to endure persecutions and trials. II. IT IS ALLOWABLE FOR A CHRISTIAN MINISTER TO SPEAK OF WHAT GOD'S GRACE HAS ENABLED HIM TO DO AND TO SUFFER FOR THE GOSPEL. 1. It glorifies God's grace. The apostle always made this grace the supreme factor in his success. "By, the grace of God I am what I am; Yet not I, but the grace of God which was in me" (1 Corinthians 15:10). 2. It is an encouragement to other ministers to labour with equal self-denial. III. THE METHOD OF THE APOSTLE'S MINISTRY AND LIFE. "My teaching," in allusion less to his doctrine than to his manner of giving instruction; "conduct," or manner of life, in allusion to "my ways which be in Christ" (1 Corinthians 4:17); "purpose," for he remained true to the spiritual objects of his life, and, above all, to his mission to the Gentiles; "faith," in allusion to his belief in the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, linked with "long suffering" toward his bitter adversaries, whom he longed to lead into truth - "the faith and the patience" being necessary to the inheritance of the promises (Hebrews 6:12); "love," which seemed never to fail, "believing all things, bearing all things, hoping all things;" linked with "endurance," as before (1 Timothy 6:11; Titus 2:2), because it is the sustaining element of this endurance; "persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch," in Pisidia, whence he was expelled by the Jews; "at Iconium," where both Jews and Gentiles made an assault upon him; "at Lystra," where he was stoned and left for dead - the three cities being named because of Timothy's intimate acquaintance with them, the apostle's sufferings there being the earliest in his missionary life. He gratefully records his deliverance out of all his persecutions by the good hand of the Lord. IV. THE ATTITUDE OF THE WORLD TOWARD GODLINESS. "Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 1. The persons thus described. (1) Those who aim at a godly life - who "wish to live godly." This is the highest aim of man in a world with many lofty ideals. (2) They are not merely godly, but live in all the outward amenities of gospel godliness. "As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." (3) This life of godliness finds its source and spring in Jesus Christ. It is "in Christ Jesus." 2. Their lot in this life. "Shall suffer persecution." (1) This was Christ's prediction. "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). (2) The world is essentially at war with the kingdom of God. "Because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19). (3) Better to suffer as Christians than as evil doers. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, WEB: But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,