2 Timothy 3:12

‘Yes, and all who would live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.’

And he must not think that such suffering and persecution is only true of Paul. It is indeed true of all who would live genuine Christian lives in spiritual oneness with Christ (‘in Christ’), that is, who would live ‘godly’ (in worshipful fellowship with God) in Christ Jesus. This was what the Master Himself had emphasised (Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-22; John 16:2-3), and Paul constantly taught. When the Thessalonians experienced problems Paul had written to them, saying, "When we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come about, and as you know" (1 Thessalonians 3:4). And when he returned after the first missionary journey to visit the churches he had founded, he "strengthened the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the Kingly Rule of God" (Acts 14:22).