Afflictions & Persecutions, 2 Tim 3:10-13

                                         2Tim 3:10-13

Afflictions & Persecutions

I want to go back to the passage in 2 Timothy, Chapter three. We were looking at the list of things Timothy knew and followed in and from the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

Today, we will look specifically at the two words Persecutions and afflictions.. I've talked about the different ways the Apostle Paul writes so that his works are somewhat distinct.

In this passage, the most distinct of those styles is the list. But there are two more ways that are peculiar to Paul. The second, and not necessarily found in this passage is the long sentences and thoughts joined by a host of conjunctions. The third way Paul often writes is the A-B-A presentation. He starts by writing about one thing to then move onto something else that comes to his minds and then sometimes, but not always, he goes back to the original theme in the first, or A, section. In this passage, in a small and subtle way, this is what Paul does with these two words persecutions and afflictions.

Let me read the passage, then go on to make more comments:

2Tim 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 

12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Persecutions and afflictions get Paul to thinking about some of the times when he suffered under the hands of people in the places where he brought the gospel. These towns and cities were important to bring to Timothy's memory. This is the area of the world were Timothy had lived. It is where we discover Paul finding the one who would become his son in the faith. We are not going to get that far in the book of Acts, but Timothy is mentioned in Acts 16:1-3.

Persecutions and afflictions are translated into the plural, meaning of course, more than one or many of these two things. The descriptive words that came before these, of those things Timothy followed, are singular. They are real things that are true of Paul all the time. Paul does not suffer persecution all the time. And, although his afflictions are many, he has breaks between them or at times between the afflictions, he experiences the good or blessed things that accompany the work of the Gospel. But, we must not forget that the afflictions were many. The persecutions were more than we know of anyone else, except, perhaps of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Let's look at the text starting with the two key words for today:

2Tim 3: …11 …persecutions, afflictions,

The Apostle Paul wrote more about afflictions or sufferings and the persecutions he suffered, than any other single topic. He suffered a lot. People are often amazed when we slow down and take time to consider this aspect of Paul's life.

The health and wealth gospel, along with prosperity thinking, does not like to be reminded of the sentiments found in this passage. Skip down to Verse 12 for a minute.

This is what we read as an indication from the Apostle Paul to Timothy and all future believers to warn them of what will certainly be their experience.

We read: 12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

It is not just Timothy, though he is certainly the first being warned. The language says, "all." Now, some might do what is done with other ideas that are said to seemingly be the experience of "all." The greatest of them is the answer to the question, For whom did Christ die? The easy answer is a simple "all." But, this answer needs to be explained. There are benefits of one kind or another that extend to all men through the plan of God to bring salvation to the world by the life and death of Jesus. But, not all men are intended to experience the saving benefits of the death of Christ. Those benefits are limited to "all" who believe or come to faith in Him.

The all in this passage is self-limiting. It is not intended to say that all men without distinction will suffer persecution. As with most uses of "all" in the Bible, it is all of a class of individuals. The "all" is distinquished by "all who live desire to live godly in Christ Jesus."  That reduces the group considerably. First, to live godly, one must be a believer with the Spirit working in them to produce character that shows forth God and his work. Secondly, it is limited by those who desire to live godly. Not all who profess to believe in our time or in the NT times, actually desire to live godly in Christ Jesus. This reality in the life is an indicator as to whether a true work of God has been done upon the heart of humans. Have they been born again? If so, what is the evidence of that? It is to walk in a new way. Has their heart been changed from a stony one to one workable by the Spirit using God's Words? There are ways to tell. All those who have these things true of them will certainly at times in their lives, suffer persecution. It is great when there is not any affecting us. But, beware of what God's Word says. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.

It may only be a little and from time to time. Or it may be a great deal in a variety of ways. But, be prepared in case it does. It might come from family who does not understand. It might come from former friends. It might come in the workplace. It might be in the way of teasing, or badgering, or being given the lowest place and the worst jobs to try your temper. But, it will come at some time and to some degree. We must be prepared.

Listen to a list or persecutions experienced by the Apostle Paul as he tried to be faithful to his calling by the Lord Jesus.

Writing in a way to compare the cost he paid to serve God with others who were faking it, Paul wrote:

2 Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 

25Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 

28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 

30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

Amazing! Paul equates his suffering with his concern for the churches. I know what that means and I only have one small church to consider. But, most commentators that guess at church sizes make the majority of them to be closer to our size than much larger. It makes us stop to ask the question--what would I do, if my life included a couple of these experiences or even one of them? Are you prepared in your heart of hearts to live godly so that persecution comes? What if it persecution of a difficult sort? Are you ready to stand for Christ, no matter what? Why aren't you doing that already?

Stand for Jesus and if you must brag about anything boast in his keeping power through all things.

Psalm 34:19  19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Paul continues in his letter to Timothy to mention the sufferings: both afflictions and persecutions, that he experienced in the area where Timothy lived. If his mother and grandmother who taught him the scriptures from a young age were tied into the network of godly people in their towns, they would have heard of all Paul experienced. Paul wrote:

which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 

Here are the narratives of those times:

which happened to me at Antioch,

13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 

46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 

47 For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' " 

48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 

49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 

52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

at Iconium,

Acts 14:1-6 

1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 

2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 

3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

4But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 

5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 

6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region

at Lystra

Acts 14:8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. 

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 

17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

And then:

Acts 4:19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

 After all this, Paul wrote:

--what persecutions I endured.   What an understatement.

Then he remembered, it wasn't just him and his natural abilities to get out of tight spots, but it was someone else working all things for the Apostles good. That apostle adds:

And out of them all, the Lord delivered me.

Do you seek to be delivered during the difficult times of life?

You may fall many times. But, if you are God's own, he will lift you up again: Prov 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. Get on and stay on God's side. Trust in him, and not in your own might. Seek out the ministry of those given to the churches for their good and growth in grace. Seek to be godly in Christ Jesus. Make it your soul's desire. AMEN!!!!