2 Timothy Verse by Verse
Session 7 | 2 Timothy 3:1-7
2 Timothy 3:1-7 | Future Perilous Times
Verse 1 --
Paul changes the topic from the perils that are in verses 22-26 of the previous chapter to the perils to come in verses 1-7.
I have kept these in black letters, because right division recognizes that we are raptured before the tribulation. It is perfectly in order for Paul to leave information about the tribulation since his beloved nation will endure these years.
The phrase last days must be taken as eschatological days rather than last days of the church.
The end of the church age is totally unannounced and unpredictable.
Furthermore, allowing scripture to interpret itself leads only to one conclusion: the last days are the tribulation.
Verse 2 --
“laundry list" of the human reasons that perilous times shall come (v. 1). The book of Revelation tells about the physical events, but these verses tell about the sociological environment of the last days.
What follows, for each verse, is a short description of the condition described.
Lovers of their own selves - φίλαυτος [philautos] - translated literally, with no explanation, and nowhere else used in the New Testament.
Covetous - literally, lovers of silver. φιλάργυρος [phylarguros].
Boasters - Those who promise more than they can deliver.
Proudὑπερήφανος [huperpainos], a hyper-shining.
Blasphemers“harmful fame."
Disobedient to parentsἀπειθής [apeithes], from which we get apathy toward parents.
Unthankful - ἀχάριστος [acharistos“having no grace/thanks/joy."
Unholy - ἀνόσιος [anosios] - the negation of being undefiled by sin.
Verse 3 --
Without natural affection - ἄστοργος [astorgos“unsociable." The word has the negator (a) along with stergo, to cherish or have affection. The last days will be days in which men are hardhearted and cold. Note that the word has nothing to do with a person's sexuality.
Trucebreakers - the word ἄσπονδος [aspondos“the negation of that for which a blood-covenant has been made."
False accusers - the adjective form of διάβολος“devilish" or “accusative." The word diablos is a compound of dia (thoroughly) and ballos (thrown), reminding us of the devil's origins and fall.
Incontinent - ἀκρατής [akretes], the root kratos is power/control, with the negator (a). Rather than a demokratos there will be an abundance of akratos“uncontrollable."
Fierce“not lame," but the meaning is “not tame" or “savage."
Despisers of those that are good - ἀφιλάγαθος [aphilagathos] - the negator (a) of the love of good.
Verse 4 --
Traitorsπροδότης [prodotes“moving toward giving." The word is used in First Century Greek texts in reference to “Judas, the betrayer."
Headyπροπετής [propetes“moving toward a fall" in its etymology. It is a word-picture of someone who is “headlong" or “rash."
Highminded - τυφόω [typhoo], from which we get typhoon“lots of hot air."
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God - φιλήδονος [philedonos] versus φιλόθεος [philotheos]. The root edone“pleasure."
Verse 5 --
Having a form of godliness… For form Paul uses μόρφωσις [morphosis], as one who morphs into someone godly, but at the same time is denying the power thereof.
Paul then gives a parenthetical note, from such turn away. That the end of verse 5 going through verse 6 is parenthetical is seen by the use of the present active imperative of the verb turn away. The verbs in verses 1 and 2 are future tense, while this is present.
Verse 6 --
Continuing his parenthetical note for the present audience, he speaks further of those who have fake godliness, saying that these kinds of men lead captive silly women who are themselves laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.
We do not know whether Paul had specific men in mind (as in 2:17) or just knew that such women are attracted to a form of godliness that isn't actually godly.
Verse 7 --
Paul concludes his list (interrupted in verse 5) with his final attribute of the men of the last days, saying they are ever learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This is a natural outcome of the removal of God from the scientific method. See Scientific Worldviews in Worldviews Graphically Presented by Randy White, in which atheistic science is compared to theistic science.
Since the rise of atheistic science our world has been in a similar situation as described in this verse.
Note on verses 1-7 - this list of the human characteristics of the tribulation add greatly to our understanding of the impact of the physical events of the tribulation. The last days will be perilous times (v. 1) indeed. Can you even begin to imagine the horror of living in a world like this?
