The True Test of Reliability 2 Timothy 3:10, 14-15
Today there is an influx of teaching. It is difficult to determine what is the true word or God from
the false teachings and false teachers. This was high and always in the forefront of the Apostle
Paul. Paul was being accursed of teaching heresy. And many turned away from him. When Jesus
told the crowd in John 6:53, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye
have no life in you.” John 6:66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no
more with him.”
When our Lord was questioned on the person of John the Baptizer and himself, The Lord Jesus
said this in Matthew 11:
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into
the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft
clothing are in kings houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall
prepare thy way before thee.
There were those who questioned and apparently attempted to spread false information
concerning John the Baptizer and Jesus.
Matthew 11:
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and
calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and
ye have not lamented.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a
winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
The Lord Jesus was saying that his generation loved the appeal or the rhythm of words, music,
and dance in order to get their attention. But John nor Jesus fit those descriptions. They called
John a devil since he wasn’t worldly and did not socialize with the people (that’s backwards).
Jesus came socialism and they said he ate too much and that he was given to much wine. The
moral of the story is, “You cannot please everybody.” Somebody will always have something to
say. Further, stop living your life based on what others say about you.
Paul was no stranger to criticism and false attacks. In his later years, Paul had become unpopular.
2 Tim 1: 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom
are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
2 Tim 4: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto
Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2 Tim 4: 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it
may not be laid to their charge.
Phil 2: 20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
22 But ye know the proof of him (a reference to Timothy), that, as a son with the father, he hath
served with me in the gospel.
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It is Paul’s statement in Phil 2:21 that leads us to our current topic: For all seek their own, not the
things which are Jesus Christ’s. And thus, I purpose, the true test of reliability.
The true test of reliability concerning the teaching and the teacher Paul outlines in 2 Timothy 3.
1. Is the teaching sound? 2 Tim 3:10, 14.
2. Does the lifestyle and mannerism (transparency) of the teacher match the teaching? 2
Tim 3:10, 14.
3. Is there history of the stability of the teaching? 2 Tim 3:15
4. The purpose of the teaching is unto salvation, for correction and exhortation: 2 Tim 3:15-
16, 2 Tim 4:2.
Conclusion
Paul wrote 2 Timothy to encourage Timothy to be strong and preach the word of God with
boldness being assured of his teaching and teacher, knowing the false teachings, false teachers,
and their accusations against Paul. Paul names three pairs of false teachers: Phygellus and
Hermogenes compromised the truth (2 Tim 1:15). Hymenaeus and Philetus corrupted the truth (2
Tim 2:17). And Jannes and Jambres counterfeited the truth (2 Tim 3:7).
In verses 14 and 15 of 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy: 14 But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Ultimately, Paul is telling Timothy that even though there will always be false teachings and
false teachers, continue in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of a story about a city that
was inundated with counterfeit bills. The banks got together and offered training for their tellers
on how to detect counterfeit bills. All week the tellers only handed real bills. Not one time did
they handle any counterfeits. They asked their trainers what the purpose of the training was if
they could not handle any counterfeit bills. The trainers responded, “We want you to know and
to feel everything there is to know about the authentic bills, so that when you do run across a
counterfeit bill, you will know it.”
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of
whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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