2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; FOR - Make the most of the present time: for the time will come when, etc. THEY - professing Christians. SOUND DOCTRINE - THE [ tees (G3588)] sound (note, 1 Timothy 1:10) doctrine [ didaskalias (G1319)]; namely, of the Gospel. AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS. Instead of regarding the will of God, they dislike being interrupted in their selfish [ idias (G2398)] lusts by true teachers. Heap...

3_For there will be a time _(193) From the very depravity of men he shews how careful pastors ought to be; for soon shall the gospel be extinguished, and perish from the remembrance of men, if godly teachers do not labor with all their might to defend it. But he means that we must avail ourselves of the opportunity, while there is any reverence for Christ; as if one should say that, when a storm is at hand, we must not labor remissly, but must hasten with all diligence, because there will not afterwards be an equally fit season. _When they will not endure sound doctrine _This means that they will not only dislike and despise, but will even hate, sound doctrine; and he calls it “sound (or healthful) doctrine,” with reference to the effect produced, because it actually instructs to godliness. In the next verse he pronounces the same doctrine to be _truth_, and contrasts it with _fables, _t...

1-5 People will turn away from the truth, they will grow weary of the plain gospel of Christ, they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them. People do so when they will not endure that preaching which is searching, plain, and to the purpose. Those who love souls must be ever watchful, must venture and bear all the painful effects of their faithfulness, and take all opportunities of making known the pure gospel....

Verse 2 Timothy 4:3. _FOR THE TIME WILL COME_] There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the _practical_ truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of "deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me," which Jesus Christ has left in his Church. _BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS_] For _these_ they will follow, and hate those _preachers_ and that doctrine by which they are opposed. _SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS_] They will add one teacher to another, run and gad about after all, to find out those who insist not on the necessity of bearing the cross, of being crucified to the world, and of having the mind that was in Jesus. In this disposition interested men often find their account;

FOR THE TIME WILL COME ... - Probably referring to the time mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1, following. WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE - Greek, “healthful doctrine;” i. e., doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or to salvation. At that time they would seek a kind of instruction more conformable to their wishes and feelings. BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS - They will seek such kind of preaching as will accord with their carnal desires; or such as will palliate their evil propensities, and deal gently with their vices; compare Isaiah 30:10. “Speak unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits.” Shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching

EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 4:1 _In the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus _for _therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, _A.V. and T.R.; _and by _for _at, _A.V. and T.R. I CHARGE THEE (διαμαρτύρομαι); as 2 Timothy 2:14 and 1 Timothy 5:21 (where see note). The words οὖν ἐγώ, wanting in some of the best manuscripts, are "rejected by Griesbach, Tischendorf, Lachmann," and by Huther, Alford, Ellicott, and others. The chapter opens rather abruptly without the connecting "therefore." AND BY HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM. The reading of the T.R., κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν κ.τ.λ.., "at his appearing and kingdom," makes suc

FOR THE TIME WILL COME,.... This is a reason of the solemn charge above given: the time referred to was future, when the apostle wrote, but quickly came on; and the characters of it have appeared more or less in all ages since; and in none more than in ours: WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; the Gospel which contains the wholesome words of Christ, and is sound itself, having no corruption in it, and salutary in its effects to the souls of men; and yet such is the depravity of some men, both in principles and practice, that they cannot receive it, nor bear to hear it, turn their backs on it, express their indignation at it, and treat it not only with neglect, but with ridicule and contempt: BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS; not being content with the ministry of one man only, or of a few, though of their own sort; but must follow many, and have he...

2 Timothy 3:1. _This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sin, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth._ This is the photograph of the present age, and I do not doubt that Paul spoke of it when thus the spirit of prophecy was upon him. This is the very motto of the present age, «Ever learning, and never able to come to the

IV. THE LAST WORDS OF THE APOSTLE CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The last charge (2 Timothy 4:1)_ 2. His last testimony (2 Timothy 4:6) 3. The last personal messages (2 Timothy 4:9) 2 Timothy 4:1 This last chapter is a most impressive one. It is the farewell of this great man of God. joy and sorrow, confidence and love breathe in his final charge and message. “The sorrow that he might have in his soul was only for those he was leaving, and even that is almost swallowed up in the joyful consciousness of the thought with whom he was leaving them.” And so he delivers one more charge, and that solemnly before

(_c_) 2 TIMOTHY 4:1. TIMOTHY'S DUTY IN THE CRISIS. Threatened with such opposition (2 Timothy 3:1) and strengthened by such safeguards (2 Timothy 3:10), Timothy must persistently teach the _positive truth._ He should be ready to reprove error and proclaim the gospel, whether the occasion seem propitious or not (2 Timothy 4:2). For Church members as well as false teachers will cause trouble. Anxious for novelty and piling up congenial instructors, they will turn to the familiar myths of the errorists (1 Timothy 1:3 *). Timothy, on t