Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Timothy 3:10-13

"But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." — 2 Timothy 3:10-13 (ASV)

The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ, as taught by the apostles, the more closely we will hold fast to it. When we know the afflictions of believers only in part, they tempt us to abandon the cause for which they suffer.

A form of godliness, a profession of Christian faith without a godly life, is often allowed to pass, while an open profession of the truth as it is in Jesus, and resolute attention to the duties of godliness, stir up the scorn and hostility of the world.

As good people, by the grace of God, grow better, so wicked people, through the craft of Satan and the power of their own corruptions, grow worse. The way of sin is downhill; they continue from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Those who deceive others also deceive themselves, as they will find in the end, to their cost.

The history of the visible church powerfully demonstrates that the apostle spoke this as he was moved by the Holy Spirit.