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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Ti_3:1-9
1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes' and Jambres' folly was also.
2Ti_3:1 "the last days" This period of time goes by several names.
1. end of the days, Num_24:14; Deu_8:16; Dan_2:28; Dan_10:14
2. in the last days, Jer_23:20; Jer_30:24; Jer_49:39; Eze_38:8; Eze_38:16; Hos_3:5; Joe_2:28 (Act_2:17); Joh_6:39-40; Joh_6:44; Joh_6:54; Joh_11:24; Joh_12:48; 2Ti_3:1; Jas_5:3
3. in the Last Time, 1Pe_1:5
4. at the end of the times, 1Pe_1:20
5. during the last of the days, 2Pe_3:3
6. the last hour, 1Jn_2:18
At the end of the last days is the "day of the Lord" (i.e., "the consummation," Mat_13:39-40; Mat_24:3; Mat_28:20; Heb_9:26).
The Jews of the interbiblical period saw two ages: the current evil age of rebellion and sin (starting at Genesis 3) and the coming age of righteousness inaugurated by the coming of the Messiah in the power of the Spirit. The OT emphasizes the coming of the Messiah in judgment and power to establish the new age. However, it failed to see clearly the first coming of Jesus as (1) the "Suffering Servant" in Isaiah 53; (2) the humble One riding the colt of a donkey in Zec_9:9; and (3) the pierced One of Zec_12:10. From NT progressive revelation we know that God planned two comings of the Messiah. The period between the Incarnation (the first coming) and the second coming involves the overlapping of the two Jewish ages. This is designated in the NT by the phrase "last days." We have been in this period for over 2000 years. See Special Topic: This Age and the Age to Come at 1Ti_6:17. The last days are now (cf. Act_2:16-17; Heb_1:2; 1Pe_1:20; 1Pe_4:7; 1Jn_2:18).
▣ "difficult times will come" This refers to the "birth pains" of the new age (cf. Matthew 24; Mar_8:13; Luke 21; Rom_8:22; 1Ti_4:1).
There has been much discussion among commentators and theologians about the state of human society when the Lord returns. For some, the power of the gospel and the work of the Spirit are changing human society for the better (postmillennialism). For others, the OT and NT predict a catastrophic conclusion to human history (premillennialism and amillennialism).
Paul's discussion of the "man of lawlessness" in 2 Thessalonians 2 portends an escalating evil and rebellion, as do 1 Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 3. Jesus will come to restore order and righteousness.
2Ti_3:2 "lovers of self" For a similar list on rebellion see Rom_1:28-32. This particular characteristic is the essence of human rebellion. It is a compound term (found only here in the NT) from love (philos) + self (auto) (cf. Php_2:21).
▣ "lovers of money" See note at 1Ti_3:3; 1Ti_6:10.
▣ "boastful" This characterizes human boasting or confidence in one's self (cf. Rom_1:30; Jas_4:16; 1Jn_2:16)
▣ "arrogant" This describes someone who thinks he/she is superior and expresses it in words and deeds (cf. Luk_1:51; Rom_1:30; Jas_4:6; 1Pe_5:5). The Greek term is huperçphanos. See Special Topic: Paul's Use of Huper Compounds at 1Ti_1:14.
NASB "revilers"
NKJV "blasphemers"
NRSV "abusive
TEV "they will be insulting"
NJB "rude"
This is literally "blasphemers." It is uncertain whether they speak against
1. God/Christ (cf. 1Ti_1:13; 1Ti_1:20; 1Ti_6:1; Rev_16:11; Revelation 21)
2. angels (cf. 2Pe_2:10-12)
3. other humans (cf. 1Ti_6:4; Tit_3:2; 1Pe_4:4)
▣ "disobedient to parents" This may relate to the Ten Commandments (cf. Exo_20:12). For Jews, strong families meant a stable society ("Your days will be prolonged in the land"). Self assertiveness always hurts interpersonal relationships at home, at church, at work, etc.
▣ "ungrateful" This is the term for "grace" negated. Several of the words in this list are negated terms with the alpha privative. These are thankless, self-centered, disruptive people.
▣ "unholy" This is the negated form of the term hosios, which referred to someone who observed all of God's laws and, therefore, thought he was pious or devout (cf. Tit_1:8) and pure (cf. 1Ti_2:8). Hosios was used to describe Jesus in Act_2:27; Act_13:35 (a quote from Psalms 16). In Heb_7:26 it is a characteristic of Jesus, our High Priest. Paul uses it to describe his own actions toward the believers at Thessalonika (cf. 1Th_2:10).
2Ti_3:3
NASB, NKJV "unloving"
NRSV "inhuman"
TEV "they will be unkind"
NJB "heartless"
This is the Greek term for natural affection, negated (cf. Rom_1:31). It refers to a lack of human or family love.
NASB "irreconcilable"
NKJV "unforgiving"
NRSV "implacable"
TEV "merciless"
NJB "intractable"
This is the Greek term for making a treaty or agreement, negated (cf. Rom_1:31). It refers to people who are not willing to make up or restore a relationship.
▣ "malicious gossips" This is the Greek term for "slanders" (diaboloi) which is also the term for Satan (Hebrew) or Devil (Greek). See note at 1Ti_3:11.
NASB, NKJV "without self-control"
NRSV, NJB "profligates"
TEV "violent"
This is the Greek term kratos meaning "strength, power, might," negated. It is found only here in the NT. These people lack self-control (cf. Mat_23:25; 1Co_7:5).
▣ "brutal" This is the Greek term for "tame, gentle or mild," negated. The NJB has "savages." It is found only here in the NT.
▣ "haters of good" This is the Greek compound philos + agathos (i.e. lover of good, cf. Tit_1:8), negated. It is found only here in the NT. These people are enemies of all that is good and virtuous.
2Ti_3:4 "treacherous" This is the Greek compound "to give over" which was used idiomatically for "a betrayer" (cf. Luk_6:16; Act_7:52).
▣ "reckless" This Greek term is a compound of pros + piptô used idiomatically for not thinking and thereby acting irrationally (cf. Act_19:36).
NASB "conceited"
NKJV "haughty"
NRSV "swollen with conceit"
TEV "swollen with pride"
NJB "demented by pride"
This is a perfect passive participle which denotes a condition brought about by an outside agent; here, the evil one. It is an idiom relating to deception by being smoke blinded (cf. 1Ti_3:6; 1Ti_6:4).
▣ "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" Paul has used several compounds with philos:
1. self-lovers (2Ti_3:2)
2. money-lovers (2Ti_3:2)
3. not lovers of good (2Ti_3:3)
4. pleasure-lovers (2Ti_3:4)
5. God-lovers (2Ti_3:4)
Instead of focusing on God and His will, these people focus on themselves and their own wills (cf. Php_3:19).
2Ti_3:5 "a form of godliness although they have denied its power" This is a perfect middle participle (cf. Isa_29:13; Rom_2:20; Tit_1:16). This is a settled state of willful self-assertion. Institutionalized religion can be a cruel taskmaster! For "godliness" see Special Topic at 1Ti_4:7.
▣ "Avoid such people" This is a present middle imperative (cf. 2Th_3:6). Timothy is to willfully and continually avoid this kind of person. This is an obvious reference to the false teachers and their followers (cf. 2Ti_2:19-20).
2Ti_3:6 "those who enter into households" Literally this is "sneak" (cf. Mat_7:15; Jud_1:4). The tern is found only here in the NT. These false teachers were taking advantage of unwatchful and uninformed housewives.
▣ "captivate" This is a present participle. This is literally "to capture by means of a spear" (cf. Eph_4:8; Rev_13:10). The false prophets continue to use this strategy of seducing families through the wife, who stayed home during the daytime work hours.
NASB, TEV,
NET"weak women"
NKJV "gullible women"
NRSV, NJB "silly women"
This is gunaikaria which is the diminutive form of gunç (woman). Exactly how it should be understood is questionable, but seems to have a negative connotation (cf. BAGD 168). The rest of 2Ti_3:6 and 2Ti_3:7 are descriptions of these "little women." It is found only here in the NT.
It is uncertain if these are church women or women of the community (note Tit_3:3 and 1Ti_5:6).
▣ "weighed down with sins" This is a perfect passive participle. This seems to relate to a problem with "younger" widows seduced by evil (cf. 1Ti_5:6).
▣ "led on by various impulses" This is a present passive participle. This implies women continuously led by evil impulses (cf. Tit_3:3).
2Ti_3:7 The immediate context and neuter plural verbal forms twice in 2Ti_3:6 and twice in 2Ti_3:7 confirm the antecedent as the "weak women" of 2Ti_3:6. What a tragic description of sin and manipulation!
Generally speaking false teachers of every age are characterized by
1. sexual exploitation
2. financial exploitation
3. revelatory exploitation (God speaks only to me!)
2Ti_3:8 "Jannes and Jambres" These are the traditional names of Pharaoh's magicians in Exo_7:11; Exo_7:22; Exo_8:7; Exo_8:18; Exo_9:11. Their names are learned from Rabbinical Judaism, specifically The Targum of Jonathan, but they are not mentioned in the OT. Paul often uses rabbinical traditions (cf. 1Co_10:4).
▣ "so these men also oppose the truth" This is a present middle indicative. These false teachers have a problem with authority and continue to oppose Apostolic teaching. See Special Topic: Truth at 1Ti_2:4.
NASB "men of depraved mind"
NKJV "men of corrupt minds"
NRSV "these people, of corrupt mind"
TEV "people whose minds do not function"
NJB "their minds corrupt"
This is a perfect passive participle from the compound kata + patheirô, meaning someone who has become and continues to be depraved through an outside agency (i.e., Satan or the demonic) resulting in their own willful rejection of truth (cf. 1Ti_6:5 Tit_1:15).
NASB "rejected in regard to the faith"
NKJV "disapproved concerning the faith"
NRSV "counterfeit faith"
TEV "who are failures in the faith"
NJB "their faith spurious"
This is the term dokimazô with the connotation of testing with a view toward approval, negated. These failed the test of faith (cf. Rom_1:28; 1Co_9:27; 2Co_13:5-7; Tit_1:16; Heb_6:8). This is a frightful description of shipwrecked faith! See Special Topic: Greek Terms for "Testing" and their Connotations at 1Ti_6:9; also note hyperlink at 1Ti_4:1.
2Ti_3:9 "they will not make further progress" This may refer to the false teachers and their followers because the same verb is used of them in 2Ti_2:16; 2Ti_3:13. Its root meaning is to advance in something (i.e., 2Ti_2:16 in godliness and 2Ti_3:13 in deceiving and being deceived).
▣ "for their folly will be obvious to all" "By their fruits you shall know them" (cf. Mat_7:20; 1Ti_5:24). Eternal life has observable characteristics, as does false faith.