Paul, the Pharisee

When doomsayers trumpet the alarm that the end of the world is just around the corner, God keeps pushing the end time beyond the horizon. We still have a long time to endure. Paul did not seem to be much concerned about when the end time would arrive. Rather, he kept reminding us to bear the stresses in the meantime.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress (2 Timothy 3:1).
Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).
So, let's continue to run our daily business as usual but bear in mind to stand firm in our faith, knowing well that sufferings are inevitable.
We find several lists in this chapter. First of all, there is a list of vices commonly found in men of any generations. It is a rather pessimistic picture of human nature and these men are probably the very source of our sufferings.
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good,
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people (2 Timothy 3:2-5).
Avoiding them looks like the best option. But it is too Pharisaic. Hadn't the Pharisees and teachers of the Law criticized Jesus for dining with tax-collectors and sinners? Paul had been both. This advice to Timothy seems to indicate that some traces of Pharisaic tendencies still remained with Paul. Why did Paul not advice Timothy to convert these sinners? Was Timothy not strong enough? Or this advice came from Paul, the Pharisee.
Meanwhile, Paul did not display a positive view of women in general. Some of his comments are rather offensive to modern readers. Here, we find a rather negative description.
For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses,
who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:6-7).
We will never know why Paul had arrived at such a negative evaluation. But don't men suffer under similar situations as well? Weak, burdened with sins, swayed by impulses, without any conviction and never know of truth. I think men and women are equally vulnerable. Why then picked on the women?
When men make mistakes, when men fail, they put the blame on women in order to soothe their own ego. This is vividly illustrated in Genesis 3. But this was not God's intention when He created this helper for men. After all, saints are only sons of Adam!
Then setting himself up as a model for Timothy, Paul gave another list of his own CV.
Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me (2 Timothy 3:10-11).
God forgave and delivered us from perils. In Paul's life, we witness His mercy and kindness.
Lastly, Paul listed the usage of the Bible.
All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Therefore, if we are lazy and do not study the Bible, we are incomplete. We will be ill-equipped and will not be able to perform any good work. After all, Paul did not preach a "faith-alone" theology. Luther had hijacked the teaching of Paul.

My Advocate, I thank You for Your making St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. His life bore witness to Your mercy and kindness. May we lead a life compatible to Your call. May our life be a consolation and encouragement to those weak in hearts. Amen.