2 Timothy 3:2

2 Timothy 3:2

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

a. NLT: For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV:  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Young’s Literal Translation: for men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, evil-speakers, to parents disobedient, unthankful, unkind, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible: For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Worrell Translation: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, [Copyright 1904 by A.S. Worrell. Copyright assigned to the Assemblies of God, Springfield, MO. This edition was published 1980 by the Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802. Printed in the U.S.A.]

1. “For men shall be…”

a. For [Strong: 1063 gár, gar; a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):—and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. [Strong: 3588. [hoi] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [hoi] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, ‘Hē  hē, hai, tas.]

c. men [Strong: 444 * ánthrōpos, anth'-ro-pos; from G435 and ὤψ ṓps (the countenance; from G3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:—certain, man.]

d. shall be [Strong: 2071 ésomai, es'-om-ahee; future of G1510; will be:—shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), × may have, × fall, what would follow, × live long, × sojourn.

1). This is why the dangerous, violent, fierce perilous times come, because “men shall be”. Men shall yield themselves to evil. There will be more people possessed with demons during this time than perhaps any other time in human history. As Christians, we cannot be demon possessed, but we can be oppressed and we can be influenced if we allow it. We can choose to be lazy believers and have some of these characteristics in our lives, are we selfish? Are we covetous? Do we slander someone’s good name? Am I unthankful? The next few verses highlight characteristics that we as believers do not want in our lives. I personally believe that these characteristics describe the group who have a “form of godliness but deny the power thereof”. In other words he is applying it to professing believers, in particular those who live in the “last days”. Believers that I propose are pretending Christians.

2). Jesus stated these things proceed out of the heart of man.

a). Matthew 15:18, 19  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

2. “…lovers of their own selves…”

a. lovers of their own selves [Strong: 5367 * phílautos, fil'-ow-tos; from G5384 and G846; fond of self, i.e. selfish:—lover of own self.] [Zodhiates: philautos; philos-loving; autos-himself; philautos; philos-loving; autos-himself; Self centered or selfish. An undue sparing of self with the primary concern that things be easy and pleasant for oneself. The philautos is one who loves his life so much that he seeks ignobly to save it.]

1). Characteristics of those who have a “form of godliness but deny the power thereof”.

a). Matthew 16:24, 25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

b). Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

2). Our perfect example is found in Christ Jesus who laid down his own life to redeem humanity.

a). John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

b). Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

3). The Apostle Paul’s example.

a). Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

3. “…covetous…”

a. covetous [Strong: 5366 * philárgyros, fil-ar'-goo-ros; from G5384 and G696; fond of silver (money), i.e. avaricious:—covetous. philarguros; philos-loving; arguros-silver, money] [D.C.: The definition explains itself. These are money loving.]

1). Luke 16:13-15 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous [philarguros- money loving] heard all these things: and they derided him.

16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

4. “…boasters…”

a. boasters [Strong: 213 * alazṓn, al-ad-zone'; from ἄλη álē (vagrancy); braggart:—boaster.]  [Vines? Primarily signifies a wanderer about the country, a vagabond; hence an imposter, a boaster.] [Bullinger: False pretender, quack.]

5. “…proud…”

a. proud [Strong: 5244 * hupĕrēphanŏs, hoop-er-ay'-fan-os; from G5228 and G5316; appearing above others (conspicuous), i.e. (figuratively) haughty:—proud.

ύπερλίαν hupĕrlian.] [Zodhiates: hupereephanos; huper-above; phaino-to shine, show; Arrogant, proud, often associated with the rejection of God.] 

6. “…blasphemers…”

a. blasphemers [Strong: 989 * blásphēmos, blas'-fay-mos; from a derivative of G984 and G5345; scurrilious, i.e. calumnious (against men), or (specially) impious (against God):—blasphemer(-mous), railing.] [Zodhiates: To be abusive, reviling, destroying one’s good name (2 Timothy 3:2, a slanderer, blasphemer in respect to men).]

b. Note: D.C. Although this word can be used in blasphemy against God, Acts 6:11, I lean toward what Zodhiates and others say. Mainly because in 2 Timothy 3:5 the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write that these have a “form of godliness” they are pretending Christians. Their blasphemy, their railing and slander is against men and in this case true followers of Christ.

7. “…disobedient to parents…”

a. disobedient [Strong: 545 * apeithḗs, ap-i-thace'; from G1 (as a negative particle) and G3982; unpersuadable, i.e. contumacious:—disobedient.] [Zodhiates: apeithes; a-without; peitho-to persuade; Unwilling to be persuaded, unbelieving, disobedient.]

b. [to] parents [Strong: 1118 * goneús, gon-yooce'; from the base of G1096; a parent:—parent.] [Zodhiates: In the N.T., parents.]

8. “…unthankful…”

a. unthankful [Strong: 884 * acháristos, ach-ar'-is-tos; from G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G5483; thankless, i.e. ungrateful:—unthankful.] [Zodhiates: acharistos; a-without; charizomai-to show kindness, unthankful, ungrateful.] 

9. “…unholy…”

a. unholy [Strong: 462 * anósios, an-os'-ee-os; from G1 (as a negative particle) and G3741; wicked:—unholy.] [Zodhiates: anosis; a-without; hosios-consecrated, hallowed, holy; unholy, ungodly, no regard of duty to God or man.]

1). 1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

2). The reason perilous, life threatening times come is because men will become the examples given in 2 Timothy 3:2-5.

3). Institute of Creation Research Days of Praise 8/22/2023 The warning in the previous verse to our text for today insists that “perilous times” will characterize the last days. This list describes the types of people who will dominate the last days, and it’s frightful. The “self love” of these people is demonstrated by internal motivations driven by the sin nature. Such people will be “covetous”; the Greek term means “fond of silver.” They will also be “boasters” (braggarts) who revel in their sinful behavior. That boasting is driven by a “proud” spirit that is arrogant, willing to show off gaudy ostentations of their conquests. Such behavior, of course, leads them to be “blasphemers,” speaking evil with low, vulgar taunts designed to be injurious. Part of this list includes Greek words with an “un” prefix. There are those who are un-persuadable by parents, obstinate, stubborn, and inflexible. Many are un-thankful, without grace, thanks, or any pleasantry. All are un-holy, without the nature to be just or moral. Some are un-affectionate, without a natural love for family or friends. There are also those who are un-reconcilable, not able to make or keep a promise. Finally, there will be those who are diabolos (like the devil). They are slanderous liars, “incontinent” (without self control), savage “despisers” who are opposed to “those who are good.” They will be treacherous, rash, and “high minded” people who are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” But, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). HMM III