Study on 2 Timothy 3

1-12 Paul wrote that “in the last days” things will be like this -- people being selfish, boastful, various kinds of evil. But that’s been the case ever since the Fall. There’s also the idea that since Jesus’ ascension, we’ve been in the “last days”. So maybe the thing isn’t to concentrate on “last days” but rather, that we beware of this kind of stuff.

10-17 People opposing us for the Gospel is to be expected. We shouldn’t let this stop us. We need to stick to the scriptures, which teach us, corrects us, and trains us for righteousness, so that we’ll be equipped for every good work.

Study on 2 Timothy 2

2 We need to pass on the faith to others who will also pass on the faith.

1,3,10 When the going gets tough, the faithful keep soldiering on.

5,6 Go for the gold!

11-13 Live, endure, and stay faithful. God stays faithful.

14-26 Beware of false teachers. Grow good virtues, and God will make us a vessel for honourable user.

Study on 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:5‭-‬7
The blessings of a Christian heritage in your family. Thomas and Annie, and Patrick, have this blessing. The rest of us don't, I think. May our children and grandchildren grow up in the Lord and have this blessing, too!

2 Timothy 1:8‭-‬9
God's election, grace unearned. But our reaction, works not spurned.

2 Timothy 1:11‭-‬12
Being faithful to the Gospel may mean trouble... but we can trust God nonetheless.

Study on 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:5‭-‬7
The blessings of a Christian heritage in your family. Thomas and Annie, and Patrick, have this blessing. The rest of us don't, I think. May our children and grandchildren grow up in the Lord and have this blessing, too!

2 Timothy 1:8‭-‬9
God's election, grace unearned. But our reaction, works not spurned.

2 Timothy 1:11‭-‬12
Being faithful to the Gospel may mean trouble... but we can trust God nonetheless.

Study on 1 Timothy 6

Be careful of the desire to be rich - it’s a trap, and will lead you to evil. Pursue virtue instead and you’ll be blessed. If a Christian is rich, don’t be proud, but generously use the wealth for good.

Study on 1 Timothy 5

We need to apply the Golden Rule in how we treat other people, even if they’re not in our family. However, we need to provide for those in our families who are too young or too old or too sick to provide for themselves. The church needs to help those who are destitute without relatives to help them.

It is right and proper to pay full-time workers in the church, though some might, like Paul, choose to have a secular job. Right now, we are paying all our pastors, but previously, Swee Tshung worked as an architect while pastoring CBC Puchong.

v23 suddenly has a practical piece of advice -- because Timothy had frequent stomach problems, Paul advised him to drink wine instead of water. We know now that the alcohol kills bacteria that might be in water. In this way, Paul is giving Timothy some medical advice -- perhaps something he had picked up from Dr. Luke.

This verse also is an argument against alcohol prohibitionists (and balanced with Ephesians 5:18 eschewing drunkenness) as well as the faith extremists who claim that we must not take medicine and “only rely on Doctor Jesus”.

Study on 1 Timothy 4

Denying ourselves for a time for spiritual discipline is good, but taking it overboard is bad. I find it interesting that Paul goes as far as to call it “doctrines of demons”.

Nonetheless, spiritual exercise - godliness - is valuable both for now and the afterlife. So regardless of age, we can be good examples.