2 Timothy 3:5

2 Timothy 3:5 

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

a. NLT: They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [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: having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. [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: having a form of piety, and its power having denied; and from these be turning away, [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 [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Worrell Translation: having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from these also turn away. [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. “Having a form of godliness…”

a. Having [Strong: 2192 * échō, ekh'-o; a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):—be (able, × hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), × conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, × sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

 

b. form [3446 * morphosis] [Zodhiates: To form…it denotes primarily the process or activity of forming and shaping. In 2 Timothy 3:5, morphosis is used ironically referring to that godliness which is merely a form and simply an external appearance. Such godliness is a sham and devoid of any real power to break the power of sin.]

c. of godliness [2150 * eusebeia] [Zodhiates: The word eusebeia literally means well directed reverence, but does not imply an inward, inherent holiness. It is actually an externalized piety. Paul uses it only in the Pastoral Epistles.]

1). A shocking realization is that these appear to be church folks, professing Christians, pretend Christians that have a mere outward appearance of godliness, of Christianity. Jesus spoke very strongly to those who just try to clean up the outside and neglect the inside.

a). Matthew 23:25-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

b). The people Paul is writing about are nothing more than New Testament Pharisees.

2). In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul speaks of true godliness and encourages Timothy to live in it. I cannot remember where I got the following definition of godliness, but it is a good one. Please forgive me for not remembering the source. Godliness is a “well directed reverence that springs from an internal holiness, a behavior that springs from a sanctified heart and spirit.” It is a life lived in obedience to the Scriptures.

a).  1 Timothy 4:7-9 But refuse profane and old wives fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

3). In 2 Timothy 3:5 Paul is speaking of “form of godliness” that is just an outward show, a godliness without a relationship. I am not speaking here of individuals who are struggling with sin and are crying out for help. We are surely commanded to come along side of them and pray, comfort, direct and help them. I am speaking of people who attend churches and they are never changed for the better because their ministers do not preach the Scriptures. In America, there are 23 million men and women boys and girls, who attend churches governed by administrations that are pro-abortion. Within these same churches and others like them are millions of church folk who do not believe the Bible is the Word of God. They believe that modern man has more knowledge than the writers of the Scriptures and as such they have in some cases contempt for many of the positions of Scripture, such as the value of human life and Biblical morality. 

2. “…but denying the power thereof:…”

a. but [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. denying [Strong: 720 * arnéomai, ar-neh'-om-ahee; perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of G4483; to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:—deny, refuse.] [Zodhiates: Used as with something as its objective, to reject anything, retract, renounce, deny, disown, depending on the context. 

1). We can deny God by our works.

a). Titus 1:15, 16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

b). Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

c. the [Strong: 3588. [tēn] 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: [tēn] 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.]

d. power [Strong: 1411 * dýnamis, doo'-nam-is; from G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):—ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.] [Zodhiates: Power, especially achieving power.]

1). Surely part of their denial centers on the effects of godliness that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 1 Timothy 4:8, “having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” They are those who deny the benefit in living a godly life now and/or deny the life to come. Personally I would stay as far away from these pretend Christians and their churches as I could get.

e. thereof [Strong: 846 * autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

1). Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ brings the power of God to bear on any situation, any need, including resisting temptation to sin.

a). Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

2). The power of the gospel will free men and women from any sin or any bondage.

a). 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

3). These people have a form of godliness but they deny the power of it, by walking in the fleshly characteristics mentioned in the first 4 verses of the chapter. There are other ways of denying the power of God, such as denying the New Birth, denying the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, denying the inspiration and authority of Scripture. The NLT reads, “they will reject the power that could make them holy.” All of the things mentioned that God wants to bless the world or the church is rejected by these individuals. 

. “…from such turn away.”

a. from [Strong: 2532 * kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

b. such [Strong: 5128 * toútous, too'-tooce; accusative case plural masculine of G3778; these (persons, as objective of verb or preposition):—such, them, these, this.

c. turn away [Strong: 665 * apotrépō, ap-ot-rep'-o; from G575 and the base of G5157; to deflect, i.e. (reflexively) avoid:—turn away; [Zodhiates: apotrepo; apo-from; trepo-to turn; To turn away from, avoid, shun.]

1). It reads like I am to shun these so-called Christians who habitually exhibit these characteristics, I am not to associate with such people. I personally believe that churches that do uphold the Scriptures should not work with churches that do not uphold the Scriptures. There are other examples but one that comes up first is Pro life churches should not work together with churches that are pro-abortion. We are also to avoid individuals who divide through their doctrines.

a). Romans 16:17, 18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

2). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 1/20/13 The Lord is long-suffering, and those who speak in His name should be also. There do come times, however, when further witness becomes useless or even harmful, or when continued interaction merely invites contamination with ungodliness. In such cases we must simply leave such people alone, following them with prayer and trusting God alone to deal with them. Such was the ten-tribe nation of Israel, led by the tribe of Ephraim, just before God sent them into Assyrian captivity. God, through the prophet Hosea, told Judah in Hosea 4:17 [“Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.”] they were hopelessly given over to pagan evolutionist idolatry. The words "joined to" in today’s verse mean, literally, "under the spell of." The Lord Jesus used similarly harsh language in reference to the hypocritical Pharisees of His own day: "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:14). There are other similar warnings. Of those who come, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," Paul says, "from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5). He has also warned us to "shun profane and vain babblings |that is, the empty philosophizing of those who reject God|: for they will increase unto more ungodliness" (2 Timothy 2:16). "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11). Most, if not all, such warnings seem in context to apply especially to people who once knew and understood the truth, perhaps even professing to accept it for a time, and then knowingly rejected it. When such men oppose our testimony, God says to let them alone; He can deal with them better than we. HMM

3). Institute Of Creation Research Days of Praise 8/30/2023 Those with a “form of godliness” are much more difficult to recognize than those who are openly wicked. Jesus gave His most harsh criticism to the hypocritical leaders of the religious sects of His day. Jesus also warned of “false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). On another occasion, Jesus illustrated the challenge of identifying those who looked like God’s people but were really “tares” that the Enemy had sown among the wheat. In His parable, Jesus indicated that even the “servants of the householder” might uproot the wheat along with the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). The Corinthian church was warned about the same problem when they were told that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). We are strongly urged to “turn away” from these kinds of people. They have the ability to cause serious damage among the churches. They will “creep” into “houses” (a metaphor for churches—1 Timothy 3:15) and will lead “silly women” away with many different desires (2 Timothy 3:6). They will resist the truth and will have power like the magicians of Egypt who deceived Pharaoh and opposed Moses. And like those magicians, their minds are corrupt (focused on sin) and are already condemned (2 Timothy 3:8). The good news is that they will be forcibly stopped and exposed as foolish (2 Timothy 3:9). Peter notes that they will have swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1-3) and will utterly perish in corruption (2 Peter 2:12-13). Like the magicians who produced snakes, blood for water, and frogs aplenty (Exodus 7-8), they will be unable to go any further and will be forced to say, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19). HMM III