2 Timothy 3 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                    "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                             Chapter Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To learn about the moral decline that will occur in the last days

2) To appreciate the value of all Scripture, including the Old 
   Testament

SUMMARY

From exhortations to steadfast service in the first two chapters, Paul
now proceeds to offer exhortations to sound doctrine in this chapter
and into the next.  He warns of perilous times to come in the last
days, describing the condition of the people during these times.  Such
people Timothy was to turn away from, for they would be just like
Jannes and Jambres who resisted Moses in the Old Testament (1-9).

Reminding Timothy of how he had carefully followed Paul's doctrine and
manner of life up to that point, Paul warns of the persecution to 
befall those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.  While evil men
and impostors will grow worse and deceive many (being deceived
themselves), Timothy is exhorted to continue in those things he has 
learned.  Paul has special reference to the Scriptures Timothy had 
known since childhood, which like all Scripture is inspired of God and 
has the value of making one wise for the salvation which is by faith in
Christ, instructing one in such a way as to make him complete and 
thoroughly equipped for every good work (10-17).

OUTLINE

I. PERILOUS TIMES TO COME (1-9)

   A. A DESCRIPTION OF THESE PERILOUS TIMES (1-5a)
      1. They will come in the last days (1)
      2. There will be perilous times because of the condition of men
         (2-5a)
         a. Lovers of themselves, lovers of money
         b. Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents
         c. Unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving
         d. Slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good
         e. Traitors, headstrong, haughty
         f. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
         g. Having a form of godliness but denying its power

   B. REASONS TO TURN AWAY FROM SUCH PERILOUS PEOPLE (5b-9)
      1. A warning to turn away from such people (5b)
      2. Reasons to do so (6-9)
         a. For such lead gullible people astray
         b. For such are always learning but never able to come to the
            knowledge of the truth
         c. Just like Jannes and Jambres who resisted Moses...
            1) These resist the truth
            2) They are men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning
               the faith
            3) They will not progress, and their folly will become 
               manifest to all

II. A REMINDER OF PAUL'S EXAMPLE (10-13)

   A. TIMOTHY HAD CAREFULLY FOLLOWED PAUL'S DOCTRINE AND LIFE (10-11)
      1. His doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, love,
         perseverance (11)
      2. Even his persecutions and afflictions at Antioch, Iconium and
         Lystra (11a)
      3. Yet the Lord delivered him out of them all (11b)

   B. EXPECT PERSECUTION (12-13)
      1. For those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer 
         persecution (12)
      2. Evil men and impostors will grow worse, deceiving and being
         deceived (13)

III. EXHORTATION TO ABIDE IN THE SCRIPTURES (14-17)

   A. CONTINUE IN THE THINGS HE HAD LEARNED (14-15)
      1. Things he had been assured of, knowing from whom he had 
         learned them (14)
      2. In particular that which he learned from childhood, the Holy
         Scriptures (15a)
      3. For they are able to make him wise for salvation through faith
         in Christ (15b)

   B. THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES (16-17)
      1. All scripture is given by inspiration of God (16a)
      2. It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, 
         instruction in righteousness (16b)
      3. So the man of God can be complete, thoroughly complete for 
         every good work (17)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Perilous times to come (1-9)
   - A reminder of Paul's example (10-13)
   - Exhortation to abide in the Scriptures (14-17)

2) When will perilous times come? (1)
   - In the last days

3) During these perilous times, what three things will men love? (2-4)
   - Themselves, money, and pleasure

4) What sort of godliness will they have? (5)
   - Just a form of godliness, denying its power

5) How will such men gain followers? (6)
   - Leading gullible women away by various lusts

6) What is said about their learning? (7)
   - Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the
     truth

7) What two men will these individuals in perilous times be like? (8)
   - Jannes and Jambres, who resisted Moses

8) What had Timothy carefully followed in regards to Paul? (10-11)
   - His doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love,
     perseverance, persecutions, afflictions

9) What did Paul say about those who desire to live godly in Christ 
   Jesus? (12)
   - They will suffer persecution

10) What will happen in regards to evil men and impostors? (13)
   - They will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived

11) In what was Timothy to continue? (14)
   - The things he had learned and been assured of

12) What had he known from his childhood? (15)
   - The Holy Scriptures (i.e., the Old Testament)

13) What was the value of those things he had known since childhood?
    (15)
   - They were able to make him wise for salvation through faith in
     Christ Jesus

14) What two things are stated about all scripture? (16)
   - Given by inspiration
   - Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in 
     righteousness

15) What are the scriptures designed to produce? (17)
   - The man of God who is complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
     work
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