Ever Learning and Never Able 2 Timothy 3:7

As Paul the apostle continued to share with Timothy his “dearly beloved son”, he warned him of men who would have “a form of godliness” but would “deny the power thereof”. He also told him that these men would “creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,”, and in chapter three and verse seven of this final letter from Paul, he gave more of the characteristics of these false teachers. We read:

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The verse begins, “Ever learning,...” Paul continued his thought by declaring that these heretics would be, “ever” which means “at all times, aways and continually” “learning” or “increasing in knowledge, being informed, in the habit of and accustomed to acquisition by use and practice”. In other words, these men are constantly in a state of learning new things, however Paul has more to say about them.

The verse goes on to say, “...and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Paul continued, “and never” which means “however, not at all and not even ever” “able” or “having power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom” “to come” or “arising, establishing, finding or going toward” “the knowledge” which refers to “precise and correct knowledge” “of the truth” which is “reality, fact, certainty and what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man which are both more and religious truth”. In other words, though the false teachers were in a continual state of learning, they did not know “the truth” that comes from God.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see the importance of “learning”, but also “learning the truth”. Just to be in a state of “learning”, no matter how consistent it may be, if “the knowledge of the truth” is not attained, our “learning” is in vain. While we consider these things, let us put our “learning” before the Lord Jesus, and knowing that He is subject to return at any given moment, may He find us learning according to His “truth”, and may our lives reflect“the truth” we have learned.

Next time Paul shares about people who “resist the truth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.