Do you know what I find hard? Doing one thing and doing it with diligence and dedication—not just for days or weeks but for months, years, and decades. And yet that’s exactly what we’re called to do as Christians.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he calls Timothy—and us—to continue in the age-old faith and gives three reasons why. But he also warns us of two things that will make it difficult to do so.
On the one side, there’s persecution: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Some persecution is more severe, as it was for Paul, who was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). Some persecution is less severe but still real. You may be ridiculed, be gossiped about, or even lose your job. The day-in-day-out pressure of persecution can wear us down and tempt us to downplay our beliefs to be less offensive to our culture.
On the other side, there’s false teaching: “Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). Such teachers hold out something exciting and new, threatening to lure us away (cf. 2 Tim. 3:7).
With both things tugging at us, we must continue on the same old path: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed” (2 Tim. 3:14). Paul gives Timothy three reasons he should hold on to what he’s received.
Reason #1: You know from whom you learned it.
Would you seek financial advice from someone who received a big inheritance but lost it due to mismanagement? Of course not. We seek financial advice from those who’ve been good managers of their money. Their proven success gives us a reason to trust what they pass on.
With persecution and false teaching tugging at us, we must continue on the same old path.
Likewise, Paul tells Timothy, “Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Tim. 3:14). Timothy learned the faith from his grandmother, his mother, and Paul himself (2 Tim. 1:5). The godly character of those from whom Timothy has learned attests to the trustworthiness of what they taught.
If you’ve learned the faith from godly men and women, let that give you confidence to continue in what they’ve taught you.
Reason #2: From childhood you’ve been acquainted with the sacred writings.
When people ask who’s most influenced my faith, I point to my mother first. My father is a strong Christian today, but he wasn’t a believer when I was young. My mother took me and my siblings to church each Sunday, led us in Bible studies each morning, and showed us the love of Christ. Like Timothy’s mother, she instilled in me the truths of Scripture. Paul writes, “Continue in what you have learned . . . knowing . . . how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings” (2 Tim. 3:14–15).
It’s similar to when you move into a new neighborhood. It takes a while to learn the most scenic route to the park, the best Chinese restaurant, and the quickest way home from work. But eventually, it becomes second nature. Similarly, thanks to my mom, I learned my way around the Bible. I experienced its goodness and truthfulness, which is one reason I continue in the faith.
But even if the first two reasons don’t apply to you, the next one does. And it’s the most important of all.
Reason #3: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable.
In the face of persecution and false teaching, we must continue in what we’ve learned because, most of all, it’s nothing less than the very words of God. Note four contrasts between the truth Timothy received and the false teachers:
It’s no mere human advice, but “breathed out by God.”
Unlike false teaching, God’s Word trains us in righteousness.
It’s totally sufficient. We don’t need to look elsewhere. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable . . . that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17). God’s Word gives us everything we need for salvation and godly living.
Whereas false teachers deceive, God’s Word corrects our wrong beliefs and teaches us the truth.
He Is Faithful
We still struggle to endure in the faith. At times, we buckle under the pressure of persecution. And to one degree or another, we’re all tempted by false teaching. Our sinful hearts are easily deceived into wrong beliefs about who God is and who he’s called us to be.
Though we stumble and fall, he still keeps us.
But though we fail, Jesus Christ endured faithfully to the end. Amid the false teaching of the religious leaders, he stayed the course. He remained faithful through persecution, even as he was arrested and beaten, mocked and killed. And because he died for our sins and rose from the dead, nothing can separate us from his love. Though we stumble and fall, he still keeps us. By his Word and Spirit, he’ll guard our hearts and minds against being led astray by false teaching. He’ll be with us through persecution and, in the end, he’ll rescue us from death itself.
Hold on to what you’ve received, because Christ is holding on to you.
The Gospel Coalition