Second Timothy Chapter 3:1-9/Commentary

Second Timothy Chapter 3:1-9 2 Timothy 3:1-9 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without selfcontrol, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. 6For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith. 9But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be�.

Introduction “Paul announces the fact of the coming apostasy (v. 1), gives a vivid delineation of the coming moral depravity (vv. 2-5a), issues a summary command to turn away from such people (v. 5b), and

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graphically pictures the work of such apostates (vv. 6-9)” (Hiebert p. 81).

3:1 “But realize this”: Paul had just exhorted Timothy to persist in trying to reach those who are in error (2:24-26), yet Timothy must not be naïve. There are some people who do not want to change and who do not want the truth. “Notwithstanding the hope just expressed in regard to the recovery of some who follow the ways of men, many evil men will arise in the church who will never be reclaimed” (Lipscomb p. 226). Yes, there is “good” in all men— that is, all men have the potential for goodness and many will reject that option as well. The statement “But realize this” is in the present tense; Timothy must keep this realization before his eyes.

3:1 “That in the last days”: This expression does not refer to a time right before the Second Coming. The words “last days” refer to the Christian age, the time following the incarnation of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2; Acts 2:17; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 2:18; Jude 18).

“This period began with the first coming of Christ and includes the time now present. New Testament writers regard Christians (in the first century) as living in the last days (1 John 2:18). And Paul indicates that the apostasy of this chapter is to be guarded against in Timothy’s day (3:5)” (Kent p. 281). “The words of 2 Timothy 3:5, “avoid such men”, would require certainly a strained interpretation if we are to suppose that the ‘last days’ referred to a time immediately preceding the end of the church age. Further, the present tense verbs in 3:6-8 picture the activity of the false teachers as already occurring in Timothy’s own time” (Reese p.

490).

3:1 “Difficult”: Hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous. “Times”: A season, a period of time, and a definite and specific season.

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“Timothy must realize that opposition to the truth will grow even more intense” (Hiebert p. 82). History records that after the first century apostasy grew in the second and third centuries A.D. “Will come”: God knows the future, but knowing that evil will come does not mean that God is responsible for the evil. Knowing the future is not the same as determining or being responsible for the future acts of men. The expression “will come” means to be imminent, to stand on or be at hand (2 Thessalonians 2:2).

Compare this section with other warnings of apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18; 1 John 2:18; Acts 20:28ff).

The Characteristics 3:2 “For men”: The term here is anthropos and refers to mankind, men and women. “Will be lovers of self”: The problem here is not liking oneself, for we do need to have some love for ourselves (Matthew 22:39), but it is unduly loving oneself, that is, placing self as the chief object of our devotion and affections. “Lovers of self aptly heads the list since it is the essence of all sin and the root from which all the other characteristics spring. The word is literally ‘self-lovers’ and points to the fact that the center of gravity of the natural man is self rather than God” (Hiebert p. 83).

This is the exact opposite of genuine and true love (1 Corinthians 13:5 “Love seeketh not its own”). The denial of self is one of the basic foundation stones of Christianity (Matthew 10:38; 16:24).

“Modern man may call it humanism, but the Bible pictures it as selfishness and lists it as basic in man’s departure from God” (Kent pp. 281-282). “The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart, namely misdirected love” (Reese p. 491).

3:2 “Lovers of money”: This word is also found in Luke 16:14. This has always plagued God’s people (Joshua 7) and (Acts 5). “For those whose chief concern is their own desires will love the 3

money which can supply those desires” (Kent p. 282). “Barclay observes that Ephesus in the first century ‘was a town of a prosperous, worldly, materialistic civilization’” (Reese p. 492).

3:2 “Boastful”: The Greek word selected here denotes a wanderer about the country, a vagabond, and thus an imposter and empty pretender. Plutarch used the same word of a wandering, quack doctor. “Those swaggering, bragging persons who glory in making a big display of themselves” (Kent p. 282). Compare with Romans 1:30; 1 Timothy 1:7 and 6:4; Romans 12:3; Proverbs 25:14.

3:2 “Arrogant”: Means showing oneself above others, despising others, the exact opposite of humility. “Boastful has reference to words and actions; arrogant speaks of the thoughts in the heart” (Reese p. 492). “Revilers”: To speak in an insulting way, either toward God or man. “Modern examples range from the lowest rebellious sinner to the liberal theologian who denies the deity of Christ” (Kent p. 282). “Disobedient to parents”: Please note that these people are not necessarily rebellious teenagers. Even adults can be guilty of being disobedient to their parents, by dishonoring their aged parents (Matthew 15; Mark 7), by having no respect for the aged, and by repudiating the truth that the parents believed.

Compare with 1 Samuel 3:13.

3:2 “Ungrateful”: “Lear’s words, as far as they go, are true: ‘How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!’ It is just as hurtful when adults are thankless!” (Reese p. 493). Please note that this is a passive sin and yet condemns. “Those who are unthankful have no feeling of dependence on the assistance of others. Romans chapter 1 sets forth ingratitude as contributing to the condition of the pagan world” (Kent p. 282). “Unholy”: Ingratitude and unholiness often go together. This is the person

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who has no respect for anything sacred, and a disregard of one’s duty to God. 3:3 “Unloving”: The term here means without natural affection that is lacking the natural affection that should exist between parents and children and children for their parents. Literally the term means without the love of kindred. The same word is found in Romans 1:31. “By their indifference to and utter disregard for the welfare of those with whom they are connected by natural ties they sink lower than the beasts” (Hiebert p. 84). The epidemic of child abuse, spouse abuse, divorce and abortion today would be an example of people who are without natural affection.

“Irreconcilable”: Not only people who refuse to be bound by agreements (KJV “trucebreakers”), but people who will not even enter into any truce (see Psalm 2:3). “This speaks of the man who is so bitter and truculent and unappeasable in his hatred that he will never come to terms with the man with whom he has quarreled. They are unyielding and must have their own way. The idea in the word might be illustrated by some folk today involved in marital breakups. They just won’t forgive. No amount of counseling will result in a truce or in reconciliation” (Reese p.

494). “Their feuds never end” (Hiebert p. 84).

3:3 “Malicious gossips”: See 1 Timothy 3:13; Titus 2:3. This is a false accuser. “The term, which is literally ‘devils’, points out the fact that they imitate the Devil himself in constantly inventing and throwing across evil reports and accusations at others” (Hiebert p.

84). “Without self-control”: Denotes unrestrained, “having never learned to exercise a restraint upon their lusts and passions. They are devoid of that inner power of self-government which is the characteristic of the disciplined man” (Hiebert p. 85).

Undisciplined in their use of money, their speech or any other thing. They seem to fight against everyone except the Devil.

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“Brutal”: This term means savage, not tame, or wild, and was often used in reference to wild beasts. “It denotes a savagery which has neither sensitiveness nor sympathy nor mercy” (Reese p. 494).

3:3 “Haters of good”: To have no love for good things or good people. No love for virtue or that which is beneficial for others.

“Hostile to every good work and thought” (Lipscomb p. 229).

There are sinners who admire goodness but will not exert the will to be good themselves, but these people actually hate and despise goodness. See Isaiah 5:20.

3:4 “Treacherous”: The same word was used for Judas (Luke 6:16).

“It speaks of someone who betrays the persons who trust in them, or of the cause committed to them” (Reese p. 495). This may indicate people who betrayed Christians in times of persecution (Mark 13:12; Matthew 24:10). “Reckless”: Headstrong, rash, “obstinacy that will not be influenced by wise advice, but acts from impulse, without considering the consequences, or weighing the principles” (P.P. Comm. p. 40). Compare with Proverbs 9:7-9.

The person who rushes ahead in pursuit of their own will, regardless of the will of God or welfare of others. “Conceited”: A person blinded by his or her own pride, the term literally means to wrap up in smoke. “Wrapped in clouds of delusion” (Reese p.

495). “No one can tell them anything, for they know it all” (Hiebert p. 85).

3:4 “Lovers of pleasure”: One who has given themselves over to pleasure. “There are people who would make any sacrifice to procure a fleeting pleasure and who would give nothing up in order to do honor to God” (Lipscomb p. 229). The Greek term behind “pleasure” can be translated “hedonism” which is the “self-indulgent pursuit of pleasure as a way of life” (Webster).

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Kent notes that such a statement aptly describes many modern churches that are characterized by loving entertainment more than loving God (p. 283). “Rather than lovers of God”: “They put devotion to self-satisfaction above devotion to God…The series began with their love of self and ends with their lack of love for God. Their love of self with all its attendant evils shuts out any genuine love for God” (Hiebert pp. 85-86). Observe that everyone has the capacity to love and love something or someone intensely, that is with all his or her heart.

3:5 “Holding to a form of godliness”: The people described in the above verses are religious! The term “form” speaks of outward semblance as contrasted to inner essence. “They were keeping up a show of observing the outward forms of the Christian religion” (Reese p. 496). They are going through all the outward motions, they are attending, observing the Lord’s Supper and so on, but Christianity is having no impact upon their personal lives.

“Although they have denied its power”: The term “denied” is a perfect tense participle. These people had denied it a long time ago, and still were. “It is a strong word, implying knowing and yet decisively rejecting the truth” (Reese p. 496). “Anyone denies the power of godliness when he professes to honor God, but refuses to obey His commandments” (Lipscomb p. 230). Instead of believing that the gospel message could change their lives (Romans 1:16), they looked at it only as an outward religious system that might be able to meet some of their selfish desires.

3:5 “And avoid such men as these”: Timothy is urged to continually turn himself (present tense) from them. “To keep on realizing and turning away from such people is his only course of safety amid apostasy…this exhortation clearly implies that Paul did not consider the state of moral depravity just pictured as wholly a matter of the future. He was keenly aware that the evils about 7

which he was forewarning were already at work” (Hiebert pp. 8687).

3:6 “For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins”: The term “enter” means to “worm their way into houses” (Arndt p. 263).

They work gradually, indirectly and artfully. In liberal circles this is known as “weaving”, where the preacher is to push new ideas (unscriptural ideas) then to back off and talk about “safe things” as he senses that members are becoming uncomfortable and then to push the new ideas once again. “Their actions are characterized by a certain stealth and secretiveness” (Hiebert p. 87). Compare with Galatians 2:4; Titus 1:11; 2 Peter 1:2; Jude 4. “Weak women”: An idle or silly woman. Ramsay suggests “society ladies” (Robertson p. 624). This does not mean that all women are like this, but these false teachers do prey predominately on women such as these. Weighed down with sins”: Overwhelmed by their sins. “Uneasy about the consequences of their sins they are receptive to these false propagandists who come to them with their attractive panaceas” (Hiebert p. 88). “This type of woman, perhaps neurotic and depressed by the guilt of sin, is easily led astray by religious quacks who may satisfy the desire for some sort of religion without demanding abandonment of sin” (Kent p. 284).

3:6 “Led on by various impulses”: The present tense here is used; all sorts of lusts and sinful desires are continually impelling them.

“These lusts must not be restricted to sexual desire. Included are the desire to be considered ‘well-informed’, to receive the flattering personal attention of these professed teachers of new and advanced truth, the craving for new experiences that would flatter their ego” (Hiebert p. 88).

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3:7 “Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” “Running after error and at the same time living in sin is not a good way to find the truth” (Greene). They are like the Athenians, who always wanted to hear some new thing (Acts 17:21). Not all knowledge is power. This verse has so many applications: 1.

Religious scholars who know so much but really know so little about what the Bible actually teaches. 2. People in the religious world who want to hear “new ideas” and not what the Bible says.

3. So many in the academic community. 4. Those in the New Age movement and those in all the occult practices. The knowledge of the truth is that knowledge found in the gospel message (John 8:31-32; 1 Timothy 2:4).

3:8 “And just as Jannes”: (JAN iz). “Jambres”: (jam BREZ), which mean “he who seduces” and “he who is rebellious”. Although these two men are not mentioned in the Old Testament by name, the Holy Spirit here reveals some additional information. It is generally believed that these two men were magicians in Pharaoh’s court, who opposed Moses by seeking to duplicate some of things Moses did, yet on a far lesser scale (Exodus 7:1112, 22; 8:18). “Opposed Moses”: They set themselves against Moses and God’s command to let Israel go. “So these men also oppose the truth”: Opposition to God’s truth is nothing new, it was condemned then, and it will be condemned now as well.

Opposition to God’s word is not fresh thinking, it is not scientific and neither is it modern or enlightened.

3:8 “Men of depraved mind”: Corrupted in mind (1 Timothy 6:5; Romans 1:28; Colossians 2:18; Ephesians 4:17; Titus 1:15). Notice, this depravity was not inborn or inherited, rather these men had selected this path in life (Ephesians 4:17ff). “Rejected as regards 9

the faith”: The term “rejected” means not standing the test, not approved, worthless, thus rejected. When these men are tested by the truth (the faith) they are rejected as worthless metal. Tried and tested by the gospel they are seen to be counterfeit. “The truth which they claim to bring in their teaching, upon examination, is found to be counterfeit” (Hiebert p. 90). Those who reject the Scriptures are rejected by God (Romans 1:28).

3:9 “But they will not make further progress”: While these men will make further progress in sin (2 Timothy 2:16; 3:13), this verse notes that error does reach a point in which it does not make further progress among God’s own people. “This restriction upon the progress of the apostates must refer to their influence and success in gaining followers” (Kent p. 286). “For their folly will be obvious to all”: “Absurdity and fraud eventually overstep their bounds and thus expose their folly” (Hiebert p. 90). The term “all” certainly refers to the faithful, but it might also include nonChristians as well. Even the world often sees through the error of various cults and false religions. “As also that of those two came to be”: While error may succeed for a while, eventually it is exposed. Jannes and Jambres lost the battle with Moses and the truth! “Not only was there public ridicule to be endured when folly becomes obvious, there is also the Judgment and eternity separated from God to be considered” (Reese p. 502).

This does not mean that error will die out completely, but Timothy is being reassured that error will only make so much progress, the entire church will not be deceived, and God always has His faithful remnant (Romans 11).

In addition, please note that in this section those who teach error only succeed in captivating people who have not spiritually prepared themselves (silly women weighed down with lusts). In 10

that sense error only tended to purify the church and cull out those who would weaken its resolve.

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