Chapter 3
In the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
For the next eight verses, Paul prophetically describes what he calls “times of difficulty” that will occur during the last days. Difficulty for whom? Paul just finished his call for Timothy (and of course us readers) to be a worker of the kingdom approved by God (see 2 Timothy 2:14-26) and how to engage others (which could include new believers, false teachers, and unbelievers) and here Paul tells us that task is going to get harder as time goes on. He lists several negative attributes that will result in difficulty in teaching the Word of God, evangelism efforts, or discuss anything to do with Jesus. Simply put, it’s going to be difficult to be a Christian believer. Well actually, scratch that, the last days are here.
3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
Paul identifies the source of the difficulty, people! He then proceeds to list twenty of their attributes. Let’s take them one at time:
1) Lovers of self. There is nothing new in that (see Matthew 22:37-39; Philippians 2:21), we live in a self-obsessed culture that seeks pleasure, personal wealth, and social status above all other pursuits, I believe narcissism is on the rise.
2) Lovers of money. As a subset of being lovers of self, many seek high-paying careers for minimal work effort. Remember, Paul warned Timothy in the first epistle that the love of money was the root of all evil (see 1 Timothy 6:10).
3) Proud. The book of Proverbs tells us that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, ESV) Pride is one of the more insidious sins, often considered the oldest sin against God since Satan, before tempting Eve, fell and revolted against God as a result of his pride. We read, “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god…” (Ezekiel 28:2a, ESV, God speaking through the prince of Tyre to Satan). Much pride is expressed by those that willfully disobey God, as pride causes one to take their eyes off God. This “first sin” is still an effective tool in Satan’s arsenal against God.
4) Arrogant. One thinking they have all the answers. In many circles science has displaced God. For example, believing the myth of evolution instead of the truth of creation.
5) Abusive. The Greek word is blasphēmooi, being blasphemous, that of not caring or concerned about what is said, often deliberately uttering words to ruin a reputation.
6) Disobedient to their parents. God set up the family structure, Satan and the world want to destroy it. Paul says there will be a rise in children becoming more disrespectful to their parents and challenging their authority.
7) Ungrateful. Not being appreciative of other people’s efforts or contributions often develops into an entitlement mentality.
8) Unholy. Translated from the Greek anosioi, meaning to have no regard of, or any duty to, God, being ungodly.
9) Heartless. Paul uses the Greek astorgoi, which refers to being without family love, essentially the opposite of being kind. That of promoting hostility and hate towards others, an unwillingness to listen and accept other opinions.
10) Unappeasable. Nothing short of getting what is demanded is never enough, no compromises or delays accepted or allowed. Likely the result of combining several behaviors such as pride, arrogance, being abusive, being ungrateful, being unholy, and heartless together.
11) Slanderous. Publicly saying something untrue about someone else, like blasphemy, often with the intent to ruin a reputation or belittle.
12) Without self-control. Anyone can occasionally lose their temper or fall to temptation, but Paul is using the Greek akrateis, found only this one time in the New Testament, which refers to the inability to control oneself, like that of being incontinent. This is a reference to uncontrollable lusts and actions, such as violence, mayhem, and vandalism, those of which are often seen during riots and protests.
13) Brutal. Being overly harsh, perhaps even cruel in behavior.
14) Not loving good. The phrase is translated from the Greek aphilagathoi, which refers to a person that can be unfriendly, hostile, or one who may express pity but does not do anything to relieve the suffering of others. In modern terms, one might call this malady apathy, an attitude of indifference towards those unimportant or perhaps guilty of just being different.
15) Treacherous. One who is guilty of betrayal or deception, a traitor. Betrayal can also be internalized such as a betrayal of one’s country, ethics, upbringing, education, or even morals.
16) Reckless. Racing forward without regard. A behavior that is harmful to everyone. When someone becomes no longer concerned about any ramifications resulting from their actions, they are essentially out of control and cannot be controlled. If the fear of caring about what is going to happen to them (life-threatening or potential punishment) or to others (any harm done) is no longer part of one’s thinking process before doing something, that person has become extremely dangerous.
17) Swollen with conceit. Another verb referring to being prideful. The Greek tetphōmenoi means to be inflated with pride, the word is derived from the word for smoke (typhos), essentially one being full of smoke.
18) Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. This list of Paul’s began with “lovers of self,” now he focuses on what might be one of the key distractions that prevents someone from seeking God, the pursuit of pleasure.
19) Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Like the Pharisees who outwardly looked pious but were indeed self-centered and corrupt, Paul exposes the reality that frauds also exist in Christianity. People that present themselves as a Christian, perhaps someone who is seen going to church or praying, but have denied or rejected God and His offer of salvation. Sadly, they may not be aware of this condition, remember Matthew 7:21-23, truly the scariest words in the Bible are, "I never knew you.”
Paul stops and simply instructs, “Avoid such people.” Then he adds, “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,” (2 Timothy 3:6, ESV) This verse is often misunderstood due to the Greek aichmalōtizontes, translated here as ‘capture’, which can mean being held prisoner. However, in context it is referring to being captivated, not in a physical sense but mentally and emotionally. Paul is noting that there will be some that will enter homes and captivate weak women (Greek gynaikaria referring to a foolish or immature woman) who are weighed down by sins that will be led astray by false teachers who promote wrongful and possibly a lascivious lifestyle. It is important to note that falling for false doctrine is not limited to women. Paul is warning that there will be a rise of cult-like groups in the end times, some may even call themselves churches.
3:7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Paul finalizes the list with the twentieth attribute, “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses [magicians in Pharaoh's court, see Exodus 7:11-12, 22; 8:7, 18-19, although their names are not in the Exodus account], so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupt in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.” (2 timothy 3:7-8, ESV, bracketed information added). This statement concludes Paul’s insight regarding the behavior and thinking of people approaching the last days. Here Paul clearly identifies the central theme and cause of the corruption found in each of the above negative attributes, HAVING NO TRUTH! They may be studying hard, going to school, seeking, but never finding the truth. Paul contrasts the efforts made by the Pharaoh’s magicians to counter Moses’ presentations of God’s power to how much energy people will expend to banish and expel the truth near the end. Their minds being corrupt prevent them from seeing the truth about Jesus and salvation. After this lengthy and depressing outlook, Paul does close on a high note by writing that these people "will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.” ( Timothy 3:9, ESV)
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
Paul reminds Timothy that he has followed his teaching (accepted and applied the God’s Word to his life), his conduct (concerned more for others than self), his aim in life (sharing of the gospel), his faith (Jesus as Savior), his patience (willingness to endure hardship for the sake of others), his love (of Jesus and others, total strangers) and his steadfastness (continually pressing on). These are positive attributes, which are polar opposites from the nine verses above. These are attributes that every believer should strive for and hold on to.
3:11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
It may seem strange to include persecutions and sufferings as a positive aspect, but as Paul notes here he endured much (see also 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), demonstrating that he was on the right path since, as he states, all who live a godly life dedicated to Jesus will be persecuted. If a believer is not being persecuted something may not be right (see below). Paul wrote that Timothy has followed his persecutions and sufferings that happened to him at Antioch (the Jews drove Paul and Barnabas out of town for preaching the gospel, see Acts 13:13-52), at Iconium (the Jews attempted to stone them, see Acts 14:1-7), and Lystra (after healing a man crippled from birth the townspeople tried to deifie them but they stopped them only to have the local Jews come and stone Paul leaving him for dead, see Acts 14:8-23) which he endured, but recognizes that God is the one that rescued him from each encounter. Some speculate that Paul did die there but there is nothing in Scripture to support that theory.
3:13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Instead of these conditions getting better there will be a steady decay. Paul states that evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse. It is interesting that he adds that they will be actively deceiving others, all while they themselves are being deceived. Who is the deceiver of the deceived? That would be the devil, Satan! As Jesus called him, "a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44b, ESV) And later the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation, "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." (Revelation 12:9)
3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Verse fourteen appears to be a good place to start a new chapter. Now, after the review of being strengthened in Christ and becoming a worker approved by God, which was followed by a quick overview of the growing resistance of people accepting the gospel message, Paul stops and talks directly to Timothy, and says, “But as for you…” He encourages Timothy to continue in what he had learned and unshakably believed. A belief that he learned through reading sacred writings when he was a child, which made him wise to understand later the salvation available through faith in Jesus. We might ask, “What sacred writings is Paul referring to?” Since the New Testament didn’t exist at that time (some epistles may have been collected, like the book of James, but nothing organized) it is could be portions of the Torah (first five books written by Moses), some of the Psalms or the writings of the prophets, or perhaps the whole Tanakh (the entire collection of what we call the Old Testament). Since the entire Bible points to Jesus, any of these could aid in understanding God’s plan of redemption. Paul then takes that idea to a new level and offers the following often-quoted passage.
3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Paul proclaims that every word in Scripture is from God. This counters those who say that the Bible only ‘contains’ the Word of God, but is not as a whole the Word of God. That is a false statement! The Bible is the Word of God. Paul says the Bible is “useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16b, NLT) In other words, study it, know it, and apply it! It is the Word of God!
Considerations
Expect Persecution
When a person accepts Jesus as their Savior they automatically become participants in an invisible war. Paul explains in his epistle to the church in Ephesus that Christians will battle dark forces that cannot be seen (see Ephesians 6:10-12). In this war there are no rules, the enemy will use anything they can to stop, impede, or slow us down. And that includes lustful temptations, suffering, and persecutions. But how do you fight an invisible enemy? Paul goes on to describe the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:13-18). There are five pieces of defensive armor that should remain on every believer twenty-four hours a day (belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes, shield of faith, and helmet of salvation). The offensive weapons require some training, those being the sword of the Spirit and prayer. The sword is identified as the Word of God (which needs to be studied and ultimately known in order to be effective as a weapon). Note how Paul refers to these as the armor of God, as He is the provider. Click here to read the commentary on these verses. Prayer may not require much training but it may be more effective with discipline. A regular schedule with an organized approach can be beneficial. Plus we should remember that praying for avoidance instead of perseverance through something is akin to not exercising at a gym. God builds often builds us up through adversity. Just ask Paul!