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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Timothy 3:5 - 3:5
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5. ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας, having the form of godliness. See on 1Ti 2:2.
μόρφωσις is an affectation of, or aiming at, the μορφή of godliness, but not the μορφή itself (cp. Rom 2:20). μορφή is that which manifests the essence or inward nature of anything (see Php 2:6) as opposed to the σχῆμα, the outward fashion or bearing; this the semipagan teachers of the future will not have. The melancholy thing is that they will affect to have it, although they have repudiated its power over the heart and life (Tit 1:16), wherein is the real uniqueness of the Gospel (1Co 4:20). For this use of ἀρνὲομαι cp. 1Ti 5:8.
καὶ τούτους ἀποτρέπου, from these turn away; the καί adds force and speciality to τούτους. Cp. 1Ti 6:20 where ἐκτρέπομαι is used in a like context; ἀποτρέπειν is a ἅπ. λεγ. in the N.T. The injunction shews that these corruptions of the Gospel were not merely contemplated as about to arise in the future, but as already a present danger. This is clearly brought out by the next clause ἐκ τούτων γάρ εἰσιν κ.τ.λ.