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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

2 Timothy 4:3

A time when

(καιρος οτε). One of the ακαιρως (out of season) times.Will not endure

(ουκ ανεξοντα). Future middle (direct) of ανεχω. "Will not hold themselves back from" (Col. 2 Timothy 3:13). Having itching ears (κνηθομενο την ακοην). Present middle (causative) participle of κνηθω, late and rare form of the Attic κναω, to scratch, to tickle, here only in N.T. "Getting the ears (the hearing, την ακοην) tickled." The Vulgate has πρυριεντες. Cf. the Athenians (Acts 17:21). Clement of Alexandria tells of speakers tickling (κνηθοντες) the ears of those who want to be tickled. This is the temptation of the merely "popular" preacher, to furnish the latest tickle.

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See also 2 Timothy 4:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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 eithe...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    (_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 t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    I charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead--I charge you by his appearing and by his Kingdom--herald forth the word; be urgent in season and out of season;...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    PAUL'S GROUNDS OF APPEAL (2 Timothy 4:1-5)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TIME. season. COME. be. NOT. App-106. SOUND. the sound. See 1 Timothy 1:10. DOCTRINE. Greek. _didaskalia_, as 1 Timothy 4:6. AFTER. App-104. HEAP. Greek. _episoreuo._ Only here. HAVING ITCHING E...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The last appeal. The same warning. The old example The three main thoughts (see 2 Timothy 3:1) recur, but with added intensity, in this last brief _appeal_, and _warning_, and _example_. Similarly in...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _sound doctrine_ THE SOUND DOCTRINE as in 1 Timothy 1:10, where see note. _but after their own lusts_ Vulg. -ad sua desideria," in opposition to the healthful doctrine. Compare the same phrase in the...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤᾺΣ ἸΔΊΑΣ ἘΠΙΘΥΜΊΑΣ. The rec. text has τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τὰς ἰδίας, following KL. 3. ἜΣΤΑΙ ΓᾺΡ ΚΑΙΡῸΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., _for the time will come_ &c.; there is need of zeal and instant labour, for the time will com...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CHARGE III. BE DILIGENT IN THE DUTIES OF YOUR OFFICE...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΣΤΑΙ _fut. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΕΙΜΊ (G1510) быть, ΚΑΙΡΌΣ (G2540) пора, период времени. ΎΓΙΑΙΝΟΫΣΗΣ _praes. act. part. от_ ΎΓΙΑΊΝΩ (G5198) хорошо себя чувствовать, быть в добром здравии, ΔΙΔΑΣΚΑΛΊΑ...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR THE TIME WILL COME— This is another hint of the introduction of the grand apostacy, and it has been verified to an amazing degree. That is _sound doctrine_ which promotes a holy life: it is the lo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

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  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

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  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

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  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

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  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλία : See note on 1 Timothy 1:10. ἰδίας : ἴδιος here, as constantly, has merely the force of a possessive pronoun. See on 1 Timothy 3:4. ἐπισωρεύσουσιν : _coacervabunt_ (Vulg.). “H...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    I solemnly charge you, in view of the coming judgment, to be zealous in the exercise of your ministry while the opportunity lasts, while people are willing to listen to your admonitions. Soon the craz...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE VICTOR'S FINAL CHARGE 2 Timothy 4:1 To the end Paul held to the appearing of Jesus, though he might not live to see it; and it was to precede and usher in the coming of the Kingdom. The world of...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

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  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

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  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (2) 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; (2) Faithful pastors in times past took all...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Having itching ears; [3] i.e. the hearers have such ears, running after novelties and such doctrine as favours their passions. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Prurientes auribus, _Greek: knethomenoi; if i...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Turning to the SECOND EPISTLE, we find that, although there is the same grand truth of the Saviour God maintained, the state of things had become sensibly worse, and the hour for the apostle's departu...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

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  • John Darby's Synopsis

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  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

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  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Having, in the preceding chapter, explained to Timothy the duties of his office, as an evangelist, the apostle now proceeds solemnly to charge him, in the presence of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

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  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

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  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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;...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

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  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

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  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Timothy 4:3 For G1063 time G2540 come G2071 (G5704) when G3753 will G430 not G3756 endure G430 ...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2 Timothy 4:3. THE TIME SHALL COME. Better, ‘ _there shall be a season_.' The Greek is the same word as ‘in season, out of season,' and gives the reason for that command. Make the most of any season,...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

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  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

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  • Summarized Bible Commentary

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  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THE TIME WILL COME. It was already there! See note on 1 Timothy 4:1. AND WILL COLLECT. They will run from teacher to teacher until they find one who says what they are itching to hear! [They wanted so...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

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  • The Pulpit Commentaries

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  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

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  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

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  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

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  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    For they will heap up teachers — Therefore thou hast need of "all longsuffering." According to their own desires — Smooth as they can wish. Having itching ears — Fond of novelty and variety, which the...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here we have the reason of our apostle's solemn adjuration in the foregoing verses, by which he stirs up Timothy to. careful discharge of his duty; namely, in regard of the apostasy of the times, in w...

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Old Testament