2 ทิโมธี 3:4 วิจารณ์

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 3 In this chapter the apostle delivers out a prophecy of the last days, showing how perilous the times will be, describing the persons that will live in them, and what will be their end; and in opposition to these men, proposes himself an example in doctrine and sufferings; and encourages Timothy to persevere, and highly commends the sacred writings. The prophecy begins Ti2 3:1 the description it gives of hypocrites, formal professors, and false teachers, that should rise up in the last days, and perilous times spoken of, is in Ti2 3:2. And these are compared to the magicians of Egypt for the corruption of their minds, the badness of their principles, and their opposition to truth, and for their exit, and the issue of things; they will be stopped in their progress, and their folly exposed, Ti2 3:8 and as the reverse of these men, the apostle gives an account of his own doctrine, conversation, and sufferings; which he proposes to Timothy for imitation, as being well known to him, and as also the common state of all godly persons in this life, being a suffering one, Ti2 3:10 nor can it be expected that it should be otherwise, since false teachers, who are wicked and deceitful men, grow worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. And then the apostle exhorts Timothy to abide by, and continue in the doctrines of the Gospel, from the assurance he had of the truth of them, from the consideration of his having learned them of the apostle, and especially from their agreement with the holy Scriptures, which he had knowledge of from a child, Ti2 3:14 which Scriptures are commended, partly from the useful effect of them, making men wise unto salvation; and chiefly from the author of them, being by the inspiration of God; and also from the profitableness of them, both for doctrine and manners, and especially to furnish a Gospel minister for the work he is called unto, Ti2 3:15.

Traitors,.... To their princes and sovereigns, whose deaths they have contrived and compassed, and whom they have assassinated and murdered; and have been betrayers of the secrets of persons, which they have come at by auricular confession to them; and of their best and nearest friends, to preserve and secure themselves. Heady; rash, daring, bold, and impudent, fit to say and do any thing, though ever so vile and wicked. High, minded; puffed and swelled up with a vain conceit of themselves, and speaking great swelling words of vanity; lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; lovers of sinful pleasures, or the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, and not God; serving divers lusts and pleasures, and not God; making a god of their belly; sensual idolaters, delighting themselves in their carnal lusts, and not in the service of God.

These make merchandise of Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are corrupters of women, and covetous of other men's possessions, swallowing up wealth insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ! ... who are "lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."

These, therefore, who have been anathematized by the brotherhood, let no one of you receive, nor admit of those things which are either said or written by them. For these seducers do always lie, nor will they ever speak the truth. They go about the cities, attempting nothing else but that under the mark of friendship and the name of peace, by their hypocrisy and blandishments, they may give and receive letters, to deceive by means of these a few "silly women, and laden with sins, who have been led captive by them," ...

traitors. One who betrays friendship and companionship. reckless. That is, rash and having nothing stable. snobbish. That is, full of arrogance. lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Exchanging the love of the divine for something shameful. Indeed, the very form of holiness exposes both hypocrites themselves and deceivers.

Betrayers of friendship. That is, unsteady, inconstant. Filled with arrogance. Otherwise it cannot be but so: for where there is love of worldly pleasures, there is no place for the desire of divine things.

Then he lists the vices which flow from the degeneration of the rational appetite. This appetite is made perfect by prudence, to which one vice is opposed by way of abuse, and another by way of privation. And he lists both. In regard to the first he says, traitors; for prudence depends on sagacity which some abuse unto evil, and these are called traitors: he who walks deceitfully reveals secrets (Prov 11:13). Prudence depends also on constancy, against which a person sins when he becomes stubborn in evil; hence he says, stubborn: rely not on your own prudence (Prov 3:5). Then he lists the vices which imply a lack of prudence. First, he mentions the cause of this lack, when he says, puffed up. For proud men are puffed up when they act, because they do not know their own weaknesses; hence they fail: where pride is, there also shall be reproach; but where humility is, there also is wisdom (Prov 11:2). Second, he mentions the result of this lack, which leads men to prefer temporal things over eternal things; hence he says, lovers of pleasures more than of God: sirens in the temples of pleasure (Isa 13:22). But is it not the same to be incontinent and to be a lover of pleasure? I answer, no; because, strictly speaking, an incontinent person is one who hopes to flee pleasures, but is overcome by them; but the lover of pleasure is intemperate, because his judgment is jaded.

Dangerous times in the latter days, from the apostasy and wickedness of men, of whom an affecting description is given, Ti2 3:1-7. It shall happen to them as to Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses, Ti2 3:8, Ti2 3:9. The apostle speaks of his persecutions and sufferings, and shows that all those who will live a godly life must suffer persecution, Ti2 3:10-12, because evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. Timothy is exhorted to continue in the truths he had received, having known the Scriptures from a child, Ti2 3:14, Ti2 3:15. All Scripture is given by Divine inspiration, Ti2 3:16, Ti2 3:17.

Traitors - Προδοται· From προ, before, and διδωμι, to deliver up. Those who deliver up to an enemy the person who has put his life in their hands; such as the Scots of 1648, who delivered up into the hands of his enemies their unfortunate countryman and king, Charles the First; a stain which no lapse of ages can wipe out. Heady - Προπετεις· From προ, forwards, and πιπτω, to fall; headstrong, precipitate, rash, inconsiderate. High-minded - Τετυφωμενοι· From τυφος, smoke; the frivolously aspiring; those who are full of themselves, and empty of all good. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God - This is nervously and beautifully expressed in the Greek, φιληδονοι μαλλον η φιλοθεοι lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; i.e. pleasure, sensual gratification, is their god; and this they love and serve; God they do not.

COMING EVIL DAYS: SIGNS OF EVIL ALREADY: CONTRAST IN THE DOCTRINE AND LIFE OF PAUL, WHICH TIMOTHY SHOULD FOLLOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS EARLY TRAINING IN SCRIPTURE. (2Ti. 3:1-17) also--Greek, "but." last days--preceding Christ's second coming (Pe2 3:3; Jde 1:18). "The latter times," Ti1 4:1, refer to a period not so remote as "the last days," namely, the long days of papal and Greek anti-Christianity. perilous--literally, "difficult times," in which it is difficult to know what is to be done: "grievous times." shall come--Greek, "shall be imminent"; "shall come unexpectedly" [BENGEL].

heady--precipitate in action and in passion. high-minded--literally, "puffed up" with pride, as with smoke blinding them. lovers of pleasure . . . God--Love of pleasure destroys the love and sense of God.