Come. Take a peek over my shoulder at my study notes from a portion of 2 Timothy 3; you just might be able to make heads or tails from them. :)

• Verse 14 BUT as for us, we shall not be deceived (referring to verse 13) if we abide in what we have learned from the HOLY SPIRIT.

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them,  source

• Verse 15 You know what is marvelous about this verse? From childhood you have known the sacred writings! Could we even imagine what this earth would be like IF every adult walking this sphere right now had known the Bible from their childhood up? You know that word known is deeper than head knowledge, right?  Try intimately familiar.

¹⁵ and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus . . .  .  source

• Verse 16 Look at the progression.
  Instruction
  Conviction
  Correction
  Training

So the Scriptures that Timothy had learned from his youth til then Instructed him. What did it instruct? That he was a sinner in need of a Savior – gifting him with holy conviction which corrected his thinking and trained him that righteousness is only in JESUS.

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];  source

• Verse 17 What does GOD want for us?
  He wants us to be complete – to be whole in all our senses. He wants us to be proficient, that is being well able to voice how we have been made whole. And added to that He wants us fit, made ready and enabled to tell others how they too can be made whole, complete, proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for whatever this life throws at them.

¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. source

That’s it for now.

Perhaps you have heard it said as a Christian we do not stand still in our communion with the Christ.
We have been told we are either inching (some sprinting, some a steady jog) forward in our knowledge of and intimacy with Him or we are regressing and our intimacy is declining. It would be to our advantage (and to the advantage of those we love) to evaluate ourselves regularly to be certain we are staying spiritually healthy.

Now, this afternoon I read 2 Timothy 3: 13 and I am paused right there to share.

As Christians do not stand still, I think neither does the un-Christian.

2 Timothy 3: ¹³ But evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. source

See? From bad to worse.
Those not yet in covenant with JESUS do not stand still in their disrespect of Him or their rebellion against Him. And it seems to me the longer folks say no thank You to JESUS, the more deceived they become. It seems to me that should move me to act on their behalf.

On to verse fourteen (14) . . . for another post, maybe.