Bible Commentaries
2 Timothy 3

Verse 1

WARNINGS OF APOSTASY The Scriptures’ Source of Resistance

1) "This know also" (touto de ginoske) "Moreover, know this." In addition to warnings against those who reject the deity of Christ, blood redemption, and the resurrection, men will depart from moral standards and ethical conduct, yet claiming to be Christians.

2) "That in the last days" (hoti en eschatais hemerais) "That in (the) last days;" referring to the Gentile dispensation in general and the latter seasons or periods of the dispensation in particular.

3) "Perilous times shall come." (enstesontai kairoi chalepoi) "Grievous or perilous times (seasons or periods) wiII be at hand;" to confront men. These times of grief and suffering with increased intensity and frequency are described; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Judges 1:17-18.

Verse 2

1) "For men shall be" (esontai gar oi anthropoi) "For the men will be," Romans 1:29-31.

a) "Lovers of their own selves" (philautoi) "Self-lovers,” specimens of perennial, recurring impostors, Matthew 24:24-26; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Emotionally selfish for their own interests, both religious and secular.

b) "Covetous" (philarguroi) "Money- lovers." Selfish, 2 Peter 2:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:9; 1 Timothy 6:16.

c) "Boasters" (alazontes) "Boasters" James 4:16; Psalms 10:3.

d) "Proud (huperephanoi) "Arrogant," an ungodly attitude toward God and men, Psalms 119:21; Proverbs 6:17; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5.

e) "Blasphemers" (blasphemoi) "Blasphemers," ones who speak in derision against holy people and holy things, Matthew 15:19.

f) "Disobedient to parents" (goneusin apeitheis) Romans 1:30; Ephesians 6:1.

g) "Unthankful" (acharistoi) "Unthankful or without gratitude," like the non-returning healed lepers, Luke 17:17.

h) "Unholy" (anosioi) "Unholy." Though they profess holiness, 2 Timothy 3:5. Though all and each of these sins have been in and/or committed by regenerate and unregenerate men in time, such shall increase in intensity and recurring tempo as the latter seasons and times come toward the end; selfish, covetous egotism leads to all kinds of sins; while the gift of love through Christ is the fulfilling of the Law, 1 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 13:10; Hebrews 12:14.

Verse 3

1) "Without natural affection" (astorgoi) or "Apart from natural affections" -- homosexuals, lesbians, sex perverts, Romans 1:26-27; sodomy and sex relations with animals, Leviticus 18:22-24.

a) "Trucebreakers" (aspondoi) "Implacable," who can not be turned from their wrong, Romans 1:31.

b) "False accusers" (diaboloi) "Slanderers," character assassin.

c) "Incontinent" (akrateis) "Incontinent" or without sexual self-control as well as with tongue and appetite uncontrolled, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

d) "Fierce" (anemeroi) "Untamed," vicious, like a wild lion, Job 4:10; Job 10:16; 1 Peter 5:8.

e) "Despisers of those that are good" (aphilagathoi) "Haters of good things or good men," as approved Philippians 4:8; Titus 1:8, as required of Bishops. True ministers shall be despised, hated more and more as end times pass on; Proverbs 1:7; 2 Peter 2:10; Judges 1:8; John 15:18; John 15:24; Romans 1:30.

Verse 4

1) "Traitors" (prodotai) "Betrayers," treacherous persons, like Judas, Luke 6:16; Luke 21:16; and the Jews, Acts 7:52.

2) "Heady" (propeteis) "Reckless," headstrong, precipitate in actions and passions, like a hot-head.

3) "Highminded" (teuphomenoi) "Having been puffed up," with pride, like a puff-adder, Romans 11:20; 1 Timothy 6:17.

4) "Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God-" (philedonoi mallon e philotheoi) "Pleasure-lovers rather than God-lovers." 1 John 2:15-17; Psalms 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:6; 2 Peter 2:13.

Verse 5

1) "Having a form of godliness" (echontes morphosin eusebeias) “Having a form or pattern of piety;” They shall profess godliness, but live like demons, Titus 1:16; 1 Timothy 5:8.

2) "But denying the power thereof" (ten de dunamin autes ernemenoi) -"But the dynamics of it having denied," by their manner of moral, ethical, and doctrinal conduct, Matthew 7:20-23; Matthew 25:12; 1 John 2:4.

3) "From such turn away." (kai toutos apotrepou) "From these (standards or forms of behavior) turn away," implying some of these characteristics were already in the church, 1 Corinthians 4:20-21.

Verse 6

1) "For of this sort" (ek touton gar) "Out of these," those of the disposition and attitude just reviewed, 2 Timothy 3:5.

2) "Are they which creep into houses" (eisin oi endunontes eis tos oikias) "Are the ones creeping into houses," by cunning, stealth, and ulterior motive; Titus 1:11; Matthew 23:14; Stealthily; 2 Peter 2:1; Judges 1:4.

3) "And lead captive silly women laden with sins" (aichmaloti-ontes gunaikaria sesoreumena hamartiais) "Capturing silly women having been heaped with sin;” Silly women, made silly by a consciousness of sin, more easily led than men, a ready prey to promises of false teachers, 2 Timothy 2:14; 2 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:19.

4) "Led away with divers lusts" (agomena epithumiais poikilais) "Being led (on) by various or variegated types of appealing lusts," Isaiah 1:4; Not only running after animal passions of false teachers, fashionable men, and fashionable tenets, but also a change in doctrines and manners of conduct ... permissive looseness in morals to the shipwreck of the faith, 1 Timothy 1:19.

Verse 7

1) "Ever learning" (pantote manthanonta) "Always learning," professional intellectual learners, these false prophets, "pretty-boys," shall be, with novelties and fancies to suit their passions, even if they conflict with truth, Acts 17:21; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 2:10-16.

2) "And never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (kai medepote eis epignosin aletheias eithein dunamena) "And not ever being able to come to a full knowledge of truth;" A perfect or mature knowledge of the truth is never comprehended or taught by an apostate religious deviate. Gnosticism or doubt played heavily on the female sex. False prophets with "eyes full of adultery," 2 Peter 2:14, will spot such and seek to "make flesh-merchandise" of them to the end time, 2 Peter 2:13. Remember the admonition of 2 Timothy 3:1: "This know also," that these things shall come among you with a crashing tempo.

Verse 8

1) "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses" (on tropon de lannes kai lambres antestesan mousei) "By which way indeed Jannes and Jambres turned against Moses;" Tradition names these as Egyptian magicians, opponents of Moses, Exodus 7:11; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11.

2) "So do these also resist the truth" (houtos kai houtoi anthistantai te aletheia) "So also these oppose or stand against the truth;" They tried to rival Moses’ miracles, as false prophets shall try to do in end times -impostors are they. Acts 13:8; Acts 19:13-19; Matthew 24:24; Revelation 13:14-15.

3) "Men of corrupt minds" (an thropoi katephtharnenoi) "Men with corrupted, distorted, or deranged minds, mentality;" Unregenerate, servants of corruption, 1 Timothy 6:5; Judges 1:6; Judges 1:8; Judges 1:12-13.

4) "Reprobate concerning the truth" (adokimoi peri ten pistin) "Reprobate concerning the faith -- the system of Christian truth;" Apostate, having turned their backs on divinely revealed truth; These deceivers do not stand the test, Jeremiah 6:30; Romans 1:28-32.

Verse 9

1) "But they shall proceed no further" (alia ou prokopsousin epi pleion) "But they will not advance farther;" There is a final limit for every rebel against God, Job 38:11; Proverbs 29:1; Acts 12:21-24.

2) "For their folly shall be manifest unto all men" (e gar anoia auton ekdelos estai pasin) "For the folly of them will be (made) very clear to all;" "Be sure your sins will find you out," is an eternal, moral principle, irrevocable, Numbers 32:23; Galatians 6:7-8. Theirs was a senseless dementation.

3) "As theirs also was" (hos kai he ekeinon egeneto) "As also the (folly) of those Jannes and Jambres) became;" who had the lice and boils come upon them when they could not create them. They are believed to have drowned with Pharaoh and his armies, after being involved in offering false apostle, magic hope to the Egyptians; See Exodus 8:12; Exodus 8:18; Exodus 9:11; Exodus 14:21-31; Acts 19:13-20; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

Verse 10

1) “But thou hast fully known" (su de parekolouthesas) "But thou -hast closely followed, pursued;" Note the verb "follow," to pursue directionally, to or toward a goal, uses the dative form, as an example, 1 Corinthians 11:1.

a) "My doctrine" (mou te didaskalia) "My teaching," Acts 20:18-21.

b) "Manner of life" (te agoge) "My conduct, manner of daily behavior," Acts 26:4-5.

c) "Purpose" (te prothesei) "My Motives, purposes," 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:17-19.

d) "Faith" (te pistei) "My faith, system or body of truth," Philippians 1:17.

e) "Longsuffering" (te makrothtimia) "My longsuffering," Ephesians 4:2; 1 Timothy 1:16.

f) "Charity" (te agape) "My love," of divine affections, Romans 1:14-16.

g) "Patience" (te hupomone) "My endurance," Philippians 3:13-14.

Verse 11

1) "Persecutions" (tois diogmois) "The persecutions (of me),” 2 Corinthians 11:30-33.

2) "Afflictions, which came unto me" (tois pathemasin oia moi egeneto) "The sufferings which happened to me," Psalms 34:17-19.

a) "At Antioch" (en antiocheia) "in Antioch," Acts 13:14; Acts 13:45; Acts 13:50.

b) "At Iconium" (en Ikonio) "In Iconium," Acts 14:1-2; Acts 14:5.

c) "At Lystra" (en Lustrois) "in Lystra," Acts 14:6; Acts 14:19.

3) "What persecution I endured" (oious diogmous hupenegka) "What persecutions I bore;" 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; In Israel, in Asia, and in Europe, on three continents for the Master’s sake.

4) "But out of them all the Lord delivered me." (kai ek panton me errusato ho kurios) "And out of all (I bore) the Lord delivered me," 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Matthew 5:10-12.

Verse 12

1) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus" (kai pantes de oi thelontes zen eusebos en Christo lesou) "And indeed all those willing to live piously in Christ Jesus," whose will is to live godly, Acts 14:22; Matthew 5:11-12.

2) "Shall suffer persecution," (diochthesontai) "Will be persecuted;" John 17:14. We are appointed to them, John 16:2; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Peter 2:21.

Verse 13

1) "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse" (poneroi de anthropoi kai goetes prokopsousin epi to cheiron) "But wicked men, seducers, and impostors will advance worse and worse." Matthew 24:4-5; Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24-26.

2) "Deceiving, and being deceived." (planontes kai planomenoi) "Leading astray (deceiving) and being led astray (deceived)," into degradation always downward, 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. To deceive one is to impair his sense of distinction. between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, so that he will embrace the latter, blinded by Satan, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.

Verse 14

1) "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned" (su de mene en ois emathes) "But remain or continue thou in what (things) thou didst learn;" the Landmarks of truth and right; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; Deuteronomy 32:7.

2) "And hast been assured of" (kai epistothes) "And wast assured of," Proverbs 22:28; Joshua 1:1-9; Joshua 24:14-15; Psalms 119:160. His Word is true from the beginning.

3) "Knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (eidos para tinon emathes) "Knowing from (alongside) whom thou didst learn (them):" First, Eunice and Lois and, second, from Paul, 2 Timothy 1:5; Acts 16:1-5; Acts 20:20; Acts 20:27.

Verse 15

1) "And that from a child" (kai hoti apo brephous) "And that from a babe in truth," as commanded in the Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4.

2) "Thou hast known the holy scriptures" (hiera grammata oidas) "Sacred letters thou doest perceive," the Holy Scriptures, John 5:39. A trustworthy standard of right and wrong, unbreakable, John 10:35.

3) "Which are able to make thee wise unto salvation" (ta dunamena se sophisai eis soterian) "The ones (scriptures) being able to make thee wise with reference to salvation;" Proverbs 1:22-23; 1 Peter 1:8-11; Romans 1:16.

4) "Through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (dia pisteos tes en Christo lesou) "Through faith (placed) in Christ Jesus," John 1:11-12; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:26.

Verse 16

1) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (pasa graphe theopneustos) "Every scripture (is) God-breathed, inspired;" This means every sacred writing which is inspired of God is also profitable; Sacred writings of false religions were neither inspired nor profitable; 2 Peter 1:20-21.

2) "And is profitable for" (kai opelemos pros) "Even profitable for;" Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Psalms 119:9-10; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:130.

a) "Doctrine" (didaskalian) "Teaching," Matthew 28:20; Matthew 24:35.

b) "For reproof" (pros elegmon) "For reproof," chiding for wrong, Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 29:15.

c) "For correction" (pros epanorthosin) "For correction," making orthodox, true, or correct, Proverbs 3:11; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13.

d) "For instruction in righteousness" (pros paideian ten en dikaosune) "For child-training in righteousness," for disciplinary purposes, Hebrews 12:5; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 15:32-33.

Verse 17

1) "That the man of God may be perfect" (hina artios e ho tou theou anthropos) "in order that the man of God may be fitted (fully equipped);" The term "man of God" used here primarily means the minister of the gospel, yet so true for laymen, 2 Timothy 2:15.

2) "Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (pros pan ergon agathon eksertismenos) "For every (kind of) good work having been adequately furnished," with information, motive, and zeal necessary for every kind of good work, 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:21; Titus 2:11-15.