2 Timothy 3:12 Godly Persecuted

2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

This striking verse appears to be extrapolated from Paul's own experience which forms the context. No doubt his knowledge of the Lord's own sayings also informed him. Perhaps he also recalls his own former hatred for Christians. His point is that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will inevitably be persecuted. As a general rule godliness and persecution go together. If you are determined to live a godly life then expect persecution. Perhaps there is significance in the way he phrases things - not everyone who lives a godly life but everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. We cannot say that persecution proves godliness. If we are serious about godliness, however, we can expect persecution. There is a certain inevitability about striving for godliness inviting opposition. It is a theme in Scripture. Think of Joseph, of Daniel, perhaps Jeremiah, certainly the Lord himself. Ministers should warn congregations that is they are serious about godliness then they will undoubtedly find themselves persecuted at some point. If you are willing to go easy on godliness you may well escape persecution but the more godly you seek to be the more likely you are to find yourself falling into persecution of some sort. No doubt the corollary works to some extent - if you are persecuted, it will help you to be more godly. Many have observed how in places where persecution was strong there were plenty of examples of godliness but once persecution eased, it was much more difficult to find that same godliness. It is like the story of the competition between the rain and the sun and who could get the man's coat off first. The wind tried with all his might but failed. The sun succeeded easily. So luxuries are more likely to destroy godliness than are persecutions.