Daily Devotions
2 Timothy
"Unloving, unforgiving, slanderers..."
Text: 2 Timothy 3:3
A CLOSER EXAMINATION II
The list of tell-tale signs was intentionally long. It was important that Timothy be not deceived by church-goers who may outwardly profess faith. Only time would tell what the true character of a believer is.
9. “Unloving”
a) This word describes a person who is unable to love people naturally.
b) They do not possess a loving heart of compassion or concern.
10. “Unforgiving”
a) This person is not interested in things like reconciliation.
b) They do not care about forgiving people.
11. “Slanderers”
a) The word used here is a term often translated “devil” (Greek: “diaboloi”).
b) They behave devilishly when they slander people with impunity.
12. “Without self-control”
a) These do not exercise much self-control.
b) They tend to indulge in whatever they like to do (over-eating, for example).
13. “Brutal”
a) They exhibit savage fierceness.
b) They can be very vicious.
14. “Despisers of good”
a) They do not practise doing good deeds.
b) They do not appreciate those who do good deeds but despise them.
15. “Traitors”
a) They will betray people.
b) They cannot be trusted for they are capable of becoming traitors (if it suits them).