If you do not believe, learn from what happened to those sorcerers. They were exposed as performing illusory miracles and deceiving, when Moses performed a true miracle. Therefore, everything that is essentially not good only appears good for a time.
2 Tim. 3:10. But you have followed me in teaching.
Those, he says, are such, but you know well our relationship, and it is not like that: you did not simply attach yourself to me, but also "followed," that is, spending a long time and sharing everything with me, you attended to all that was mine and became practiced in it. Be then steadfast and fight against the adversaries. "In teaching," that is, in the word.
2 Tim. 3:10. In conduct.
That is, in life and morals.
2 Tim. 3:10. In purpose.
That is, in zeal and manly enthusiasm. For I, he says, not only taught, but also practiced.
2 Tim. 3:10. In faith.
That is, firmness in the true dogmas, or faith, which does not allow one to fall into despair in times of danger, but to believe in God that He will deliver.
2 Tim. 3:10. In longsuffering.
In relation to heretics. For I was not troubled, but received everything with meekness.
2 Tim. 3:10. In patience.
In persecutions.
2 Tim. 3:11. In persecutions, sufferings.
I, he says, was not only persecuted, but also suffered. Two circumstances especially trouble a teacher — namely, that there are heretics and that one must suffer. Concerning heretics, much was said when the apostle urged Timothy not to be troubled by them. Now he speaks of his own sufferings in order to encourage his disciple.
2 Tim. 3:11. That befell me in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra.
He speaks of Pisidian Antioch, of Lystra, where Timothy came from. Why does he mention only these? Because they were more well known to Timothy, or were more recent compared to other events. Notice, he does not enumerate them one by one, for he writes about them not for glorification, but out of necessity, for the consolation of his disciple.
2 Tim. 3:11. What persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from them all.
Both things he impresses upon Timothy: I too, he says, had the zeal to suffer, and God did not abandon me. Therefore you also be ready, and you will not be abandoned.
2 Tim. 3:12. And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
And in this there is very great consolation. What am I saying, the apostle continues, about myself alone? All who desire to live piously and according to the Gospel will be persecuted. By persecutions the apostle here means not only pursuit by unbelievers, but also simply the sorrows and griefs to which those walking the path of virtue are subjected. For human life is a trial, as Job says, and whoever walks the narrow path necessarily suffers.
2 Tim. 3:13. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Do not be troubled at all if they prosper while trials befall you: such is the order of things. Having stripped down for the struggle, you must exert effort. It is foolish to seek rest in the midst of a struggle. Even if they seem to succeed, in reality this is deception, not success. For the apostle, defining what evil is, said: deceiving and being deceived.
2 Tim. 3:14–15. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and what has been entrusted to you.
Be, he says, unchanging and "do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity" (Ps. 37:1). You have not simply learned, but have also been assured, that is, you received the teaching with conviction. Therefore, even if you should see something contrary to that of which you have been assured, do not be troubled: for Abraham too, having heard that in Isaac his seed would be named (Gen. 21:12), was not troubled when he received the command to slay him.