In the first part of this chapter 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul reminds Timothy of the great apostasy which was to be expected in the church, and states some of the characteristics of it. In 2 Timothy 3:9, he says that that apostasy would not always continue; but would be at some time arrested, and so arreste... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS KNOW ALSO - The “object” of this reference to the perilous times which were to occur, was evidently to show the necessity of using every precaution to preserve the purity of the church, from the fact that such sad scenes were to open upon it. The apostle had dwelt upon this subject in his First... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES - It shall be one of the characteristics of those times that men shall be eminently selfish - evidently under the garb of religion; 2 Timothy 3:5. The word here used - φίλαυτος philautos - does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means a lover of... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION - see the notes at Romans 1:31. TRUCEBREAKERS - The same word in Romans 1:31, is rendered “implacable;” see the notes at that verse. It properly means “without treaty;” that is, those who are averse to any treaty or compact. It may thus refer to those who are unwilling to... [ Continue Reading ]
TRAITORS - This word is used in the New Testament only here and in Luke 6:16; Acts 7:52. It means any one who betrays - whether it be a friend or his country. Treason has been in all ages regarded as one of the worst crimes that man can commit. HEADY - The same word in Acts 19:36, is rendered rashly... [ Continue Reading ]
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:, and 1... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OF THIS SORT ARE THEY WHICH CREEP INTO HOUSES - Who go slyly and insidiously into families. They are not open and manly in endeavoring to propagate their views, but they endeavor by their address to ingratiate themselves first with weak women, and through them to influence men; compare Titus 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]
EVER LEARNING - That is, these “silly women;” for so the Greek demands. The idea is, that they seeM to be disciples. They put themselves wholly under the care of these professedly religious teachers, but they never acquire the true knowledge of the way of salvation. AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNO... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW AS JANNES AND JAMBRES WITHSTOOD MOSES - The names of these two men are not elsewhere mentioned in the Bible. They are supposed to have been two of the magicians who resisted Moses (Exodus 7:11, et al.), and who opposed their miracles to those of Moses and Aaron. It is not certain where the apost... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SHALL PROCEED NO FURTHER - There is a certain point beyond which they will not be allowed to go. Their folly will become manifest, and the world will understand it. The apostle does not say how far these false teachers would be allowed to go, but that they would not be suffered always to pr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU HAST FULLY KNOWN MY DOCTRINE ... - Margin, “been a diligent follower of.” The margin is more in accordance with the usual meaning of the Greek word, which means, properly, to accompany side by side; to follow closely; to trace out; to examine Luke 1:3, and to conform to. The meaning here, h... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSECUTIONS - On the meaning of this word, see the notes at Matthew 5:10. AFFLICTIONS - Trials of other kinds than those which arose from persecutions. The apostle met them everywhere; compare the notes at Acts 20:23. WHICH CAME UNTO ME AT ANTIOCH - The Antioch here referred to is not the place of... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, AND ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION - Paul takes occasion from the reference to his own persecutions, to say that his case was not unique. It was the common lot of all who endeavored to serve their Redeemer faithfully; and Timothy himself, therefore, must not h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVIL MEN AND SEDUCERS SHALL WAX WORSE AND WORSE - That is, it is the character of such men to do this; they may be expected to do it. This is the general law of depravity - that if men are not converted, they are always growing worse, and sinking deeper into iniquity. Their progress will be cert... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CONTINUE THOU IN THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST LEARNED AND HAST BEEN ASSURED OF - To wit, the truths of religion. Timothy had been taught those truths when a child, and he had been confirmed in them by the instructions of Paul. Amidst the errors and seductions of false teachers, Paul now exhorts hi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES - That is, the Old Testament; for the New Testament was not then written; see the notes at John 5:39. The mother of Timothy was a pious Hebrewess, and regarded it as one of the duties of her religion to train her son in the careful knowledge... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL SCRIPTURE - This properly refers to the Old Testament, and should not be applied to any part of the New Testament, unless it can be shown that that part was then written, and was included under the general name of “the Scriptures;” compare 2 Peter 3:15. But it includes the whole of the Old Testa... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT - The object is not merely to convince and to convert him; it is to furnish all the instruction needful for his entire perfection. The idea here is, not that any one is absolutely perfect, but that the Scriptures have laid down the way which leads to perfection, an... [ Continue Reading ]