2 Timothy 3:5

Contextual Overview

¹But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ¹ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ¹ But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ¹But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ¹Know this, Timothy! When the end is near, the trail will be very difficult. ¹ But be certain of this, that in the last days times of trouble will come. ¹ But this know, that in [the] last days difficult times shall be there; ¹ But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. ¹ But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. ¹ But know this, that in the last days grievous times will come.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a form: Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2, Isaiah 58:1-3, Ezekiel 33:30-32, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:28, Romans 2:20-24, 1 Timothy 5:8, Titus 1:16

from: 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:23, Romans 16:17, Romans 16:18, Ephesians 4:14, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:5, Titus 3:10, 2 John 1:10-12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:5 - but divideth Deuteronomy 14:7 - General 1 Samuel 4:3 - it may save 1 Samuel 14:35 - built 1 Samuel 15:30 - that I may worship Proverbs 30:12 - that are Jeremiah 5:2 - though Micah 2:7 - named Matthew 21:19 - and found Matthew 23:3 - for Matthew 25:3 - foolish Mark 7:6 - honoureth Mark 10:20 - General Luke 11:39 - Now Luke 13:26 - We John 10:5 - General Acts 8:9 - giving Acts 17:17 - daily Acts 19:9 - he departed 2 Corinthians 11:13 - false Ephesians 5:11 - no 1 Timothy 4:2 - lies 2 Peter 1:6 - godliness 2 Peter 3:16 - unstable

Cross-References

Genesis 2:17
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Genesis 2:17
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

Genesis 2:17
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it; for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."

Genesis 2:17
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."

Genesis 2:17
But as touching the tree of knowlege of good and euyll thou shalt not eate of it: For in what daye so euer thou eatest therof, thou shalt dye the death.

Genesis 2:17
But you must not eat from the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, on that day you will certainly die!"

Genesis 2:17
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

Genesis 2:17
forsothe ete thou not of the tre of kunnyng of good and of yuel; for in what euere dai thou schalt ete therof, thou schalt die bi deeth.

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt not eate of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Having a form of godliness,.... Either a mere external show of religion, pretending great piety and holiness, being outwardly righteous before men, having the mask and visor of godliness; or else a plan of doctrine, a form of sound words, a scheme of truths, which men may have without partaking of the grace of God; and which, with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, the church of Rome has; or else the Scriptures of truth, which the members of that church have, and profess to hold to, maintain and preserve; and which contains doctrines according to godliness, and tend to a godly life and godly edification:

but denying the power thereof; though in words they profess religion and godliness, the fear of God, and the pure worship of him, yet in works they deny all; and though they may have a set of notions in their heads, yet they feel nothing of the power of them on their hearts; and are strangers to experimental religion, and powerful godliness: or though they profess the Scriptures to be the word of God, yet they deny the use, the power, and efficacy of them; they deny the use of them to the laity, and affirm that they are not a sufficient rule of faith and practice, without their unwritten traditions; and that they are not able to make men wise, or give them a true knowledge of what is to be believed and done, without them; and that the sense of them is not to be understood by private men, but depends upon the infallible judgment of the church or pope:

from such turn away; have no fellowship with them, depart from their communion, withdraw from them, and come out from among them: this passage sufficiently justifies the reformed churches in their separation from the church of Rome.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Having a form of godliness - That is, they profess religion, or are in connection with the church. This shows that the apostle referred to some great corruption in the church; and there can be little doubt that he had his eye on the same great apostasy to which he refers in 2 Thessalonians 2:0:, and 1 Timothy 4:0: All these things to which he refers here have been practiced and tolerated in that apostate church, while no body of men, at any time, have been more zealous in maintaining “a form of godliness;” that is, in keeping up the forms of religion.

But denying the power thereof - Opposing the real power of religion; not allowing it to exert any influence in their lives. It imposes no restraint on their passions and carnal propensities, but in all respects, except in the form of religion, they live as if they had None. This has been common in the world. The most regular and bigoted adherence to the forms of religion furnishes no evidence in itself that there is any true piety at heart, or that true religion has any actual control over the soul. It is much easier for people to observe the forms of religion than it is to bring the heart under its controlling influence.

From such turn away - Have no contact with them as if they were Christians; show no countenance to their religion; do not associate with them; compare 2 John 1:10-11; see the notes at 2 Corinthians 6:17.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 5. Having a form of godliness — The original word μορφωσις signifies a draught, sketch, or summary, and will apply well to those who have all their religion in their creed, confession of faith, catechism, bodies of divinity, c., while destitute of the life of God in their souls and are not only destitute of this life, but deny that such life or power is here to be experienced or known. They have religion in their creed, but none in their hearts. And perhaps to their summary they add a decent round of religious observances. From such turn away-not only do not imitate them, but have no kind of fellowship with them; they are a dangerous people, and but seldom suspected, because their outside is fair.