The first section of Chapter 3
consists of just one verse.
2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come.
We will begin in the Barclay commentary:TIMES
OF TERROR
The first verse in paraphrase:
You must realize this – that in the last days
difficult times will set in.
THE early Church lived in an age when the time was
growing late; they expected the second coming at any
moment. Christianity developed within Judaism, and
it very naturally thought largely in Jewish terms
and pictures. Jewish thought had one basic idea. The
Jews divided all time into this present age and the
age to come. This present age was altogether evil;
and the age to come would be the golden age of God.
In between, there was the day of the Lord, a day
when God would personally intervene and shatter the
world in order to remake it. That day of the Lord
was to be preceded by a time of terror, when evil
would gather itself for its final assault, and the
world would be shaken to its moral and physical
foundations. It is in terms of these last days that
Paul is thinking in this passage.
He says that, in them, difficult times would set in.
Difficult is the Greek word chalepos. It is
the normal Greek word for difficult, but it has
certain usages which explain its meaning here. It is
used in Matthew 8:28 to describe the two demoniacs
who met Jesus among the tombs. They were violent and
dangerous. It is used in Plutarch [Ploo-tahrk]
to describe what we would call an ugly wound. It is
used by ancient writers on astrology to describe
what we would call a threatening conjunction of the
heavenly bodies. There is the idea of menace and of
danger in this word. In the last days, there would
come times which would menace the very existence of
the Christian Church and of goodness itself, a final
tremendous assault of evil before its ultimate
defeat.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 8:28
And when he was come to the other side into the
country of the Gergesenes, there met him two
possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs,
exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that
way.
In the Jewish pictures of these last terrible times,
we get exactly the same kind of picture as we get
here. There would come a kind of terrible flowering
of evil, when the moral foundations seemed to be
shaken. In the Testament of Issachar, one of the
books written between the Old and the New
Testaments, we get a picture like this:
Know you, therefore, my children, that in the last
times
Your sons will forsake singleness
And will cleave unto insatiable desire;
And leaving guilelessness, will draw near to malice;
And forsaking the commandments of the Lord,
They will cleave unto Beliar [Satan].
And leaving husbandry,
They will follow after their own wicked devices,
And they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles,
And shall serve their enemies.
(Testament of Issachar 6:1–2*)
In 2 Baruch, we get an even more vivid picture of
the moral chaos of these last times:
And honour shall be turned into shame,
And strength humiliated into contempt,
And probity [integrity and uprightness; honesty]
destroyed,
And beauty shall become ugliness . . .
And envy shall rise in those who had not thought
aught of themselves,
And passion shall seize him that is peaceful,
And many shall be stirred up in anger to injure
many;
And they shall rouse up armies in order to shed
blood,
And in the end they shall perish together with them.
(2 Baruch 27**)
In this picture which Paul draws, he is thinking in
terms familiar to the Jews. There was to be a final
showdown with the forces of evil.
Nowadays, we have to restate these old pictures in
modern terms. They were never meant to be anything
other than visions; we do violence to Jewish and to
early Christian thought if we take them with a crude
literalness. But they do enshrine the permanent
truth that some time there must come the
consummation when evil meets God in head-on
collision, and the final triumph of God comes.
*The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs [of
which the Testament of Issachar is one] is a
constituent of the apocryphal scriptures connected
with the Bible. It is a pseudepigraphical work [certain
writings professing to be Biblical in character.]
comprising the dying commands of the twelve sons of
Jacob.
**2 Baruch is a Jewish pseudepigraphical text
thought to have been written in the late 1st century
AD or early 2nd century AD, after the destruction of
the Temple in AD 70. It is attributed to the
biblical Baruch and so is associated with the Old
Testament, but not regarded as scripture by Jews or
by most Christian groups. It is included in some
editions of the Peshitta, and is part of the Bible
in the Syriac Orthodox tradition. It has 87
sections. ~Barclay commentary
Now to the other commentaries. We will begin
with the general and go to the specific.
A Dark Picture of Evil Men
2 Timothy 3:1-9
The last days of the present age are to be black and
sorrowful. Sinful rejection of Christ will come to a
head. We must not be misled by the wide-spread
profession of the forms of religion; this may
co-exist with the rankest apostasy. When women are
conscious of sins against God, society, and
themselves, they are very liable to the seduction of
false teachers, who promise peace and condone
impurity.
Tares and wheat grow together unto the harvest. The
devil has always set himself to counterfeit God’s
handiwork: the Holy City by Babylon; the Son of man
by the man of sin; blessedness by the worldling’s
giddy merriment. Thus the Egyptian conjurers
repeated the miracles of Moses by resorting to
sleight of hand. So there is a pure gospel and a
specious mimicry of it. Wait for the inevitable
unfoldings of God’s purpose. Time will show what is
true and what is false. In the meantime, examine
yourselves whether ye be in the faith. ~The
Matthew Henry Main
Now the Matthew Henry Concise that also covers
verses 1-9:
Even in gospel times there would be perilous times;
on account of persecution from without, still more
on account of corruptions within. Men love to
gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and
do their duty. When every man is eager for what he
can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes
men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear
God, they will not regard man. When children are
disobedient to their parents, that makes the times
perilous. Men are unholy and without the fear of
God, because unthankful for the mercies of God. We
abuse God's gifts, if we make them the food and fuel
of our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents
are without natural affection to children. And when
men have no rule over their own spirits, but despise
that which is good and to be honoured. God is to be
loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity
against him, prefers any thing before him,
especially carnal pleasure. A form of godliness is
very different from the power; from such as are
found to be hypocrites, real Christians must
withdraw. Such persons have been found within the
outward church, in every place, and at all times.
There ever have been artful men, who, by pretences
and flatteries, creep into the favour and confidence
of those who are too easy of belief, ignorant, and
fanciful. All must be ever learning to know the
Lord; but these follow every new notion, yet never
seek the truth as it is in Jesus. Like the Egyptian
magicians, these were men of corrupt minds,
prejudiced against the truth, and found to be quite
without faith. Yet though the spirit of error may be
let loose for a time, Satan can deceive the nations
and the churches no further, and no longer, than God
will permit. ~Matthew Henry Concise
Now notice this from the Biblical Illustrator:
Perilous times
I. The manner of the warning.
“This know also.”
1. It is the duty of ministers to foresee and take
notice of the dangers which the churches are falling
into.
2. It is the great concern of all professors and
believers to have their hearts very much fixed upon
present and approaching dangers.
3. Not to be sensible of a present perilous season
is that security which the scripture so condemns;
and I will leave it with you under these three
things—
(1) It is that frame of heart which of all others
God doth most detest and abhor. Nothing is more
hateful to God than a secure frame in perilous days.
(2) A secure person, in perilous seasons, is
assuredly under the power of some predominant lust,
whether it appears, or not.
(3) This senseless frame is the certain presage of
approaching ruin.
II. The evil itself. “Perilous times”—times of great
difficulty, like those of public plagues, when death
lies at every door.
III. The manner of introduction—“Shall come.” Our
great wisdom then will be to eye the displeasure of
God in perilous seasons, since there is a judicial
hand of God in them: and we see in ourselves reason
enough why they should come.
IV. The time and season of it—“In the last days.”
You may take it in what sense you will: the last
days, the days of the gospel; the last days towards
the consummation of all things; the last days
following the days of the profession of churches;
and the last days with many of us, with respect to
our lives.
1. The first thing that makes a season perilous is,
when the profession of true religion is outwardly
maintained under a visible predominancy of horrible
lusts and wickedness (see 2 Timothy 3 and verse
2,
3,
4. and
5).
(1) Because of the infection.
(2) Because of the effects. When predominant lusts
have broken all bounds of Divine light and rule, how
long do you think human rules will keep them in
order?
(3) Because of the consequences—the judgments of God
(2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Quoted verse:
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish; because they received not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2. A second perilous season is, when men are prone
to forsake the truth, and seducers abound to gather
them up that are so; and you will have always these
things go together. If it be asked, how we may know
whether there be a proneness in the minds of men in
any season to depart from the truth? there are three
ways whereby we may judge of it.
(1) The first is that mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:3 [See
Lesson]. When men grow weary of sound
doctrine, when it is too plain, too dull, too
common, too high, too mysterious, one thing or other
that displeases them, and they would hear something
new, something that may please.
(2) When men have lost the power of truth in their
conversation, and are as prone and ready to part
with the profession of it in their minds. Do you see
a man retaining the profession of the truth under a
worldly conversation? He wants but baits from
temptation, or a seducer to take away his faith from
him.
(3) The proneness to depart from the truth, is a
perilous season, because it is the greatest evidence
of the withdrawing of the Spirit of God from His
Church.
3. A third thing that makes a perilous season is,
professors mixing themselves with the world, and
learning their manners. Such a season is dangerous,
because the sins of professors in it lie directly
contrary to the whole design of the mediation of
Christ in this world. Christ “gave Himself for us,
that He might purge us from dead works, and purify
us unto Himself a peculiar people” (Titus 2:14). “Ye
are a royal nation, a peculiar people.”
4. Another perilous season is when there is great
attendance on outward duties, but inward, spiritual
decays.
5. Times of persecution are also times of peril.
1. Let us all be exhorted to endeavour to get our
hearts affected with the perils of the day wherein
we live.
(1) Consider the present things, and bring them to
rule, and see what God’s Word says of them.
(2) If you would be sensible of present perilous
times, take heed of centring in self. Whether you
pursue riches, or honours, while you centre there,
nothing can make you Sensible of the perils of the
day.
(3) Pray that God would give us grace to be sensible
of the perils of the day wherein we live.
2. The next thing is this, that there are two things
in a perilous season—the sin of it, and the misery
of it. Labour to be sensible of the former, or you
will never be sensible of the latter.
3. Remember there is a special frame of spirit
required in us all in such perilous seasons as these
are. And what is that? It is a mourning frame of
spirit.
4. Keep up church watch with diligence, and by the
rule. When I say rule, I mean the life of it.
5. Reckon upon it, that in such times as these are,
all of us will not go free. ~Biblical Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries. I am going with
the Barnes on this one and tell you the verse is in
three parts. Others add part 2 and 3.
1] This know also.
2] In the last days.
3] Perilous times shall come.
1] This know also.
This know also - The “object” of this reference to
the perilous times which were to occur, was
evidently to show the necessity of using every
precaution to preserve the purity of the church,
from the fact that such sad scenes were to open upon
it. The apostle had dwelt upon this subject in his
First Epistle to Timothy 2 Tim. 4, but its
importance leads him to advert to it again.
~Barnes Notes
This know also - That not only men of bad principles
and practices are in the churches now, as before
described in the preceding chapter, but that in
succeeding ages there would be worse men, if
possible, and the times would be still worse; this
the apostle had, and delivered by a spirit of
prophecy, and informed Timothy, and others of it,
that he and they might be prepared for such events,
and fortified against them: ~John Gill
2] In the last days.
In the last days - Under the gospel dispensation;
some time in that period during which the affairs of
the world will be closed up; see the 1 Timothy 4:1
note, and Hebrews 1:2 note. ~Barnes Notes
In the last days - This often means the days of the
Messiah, and is sometimes extended in its
signification to the destruction of Jerusalem, as
this was properly the last days of the Jewish state.
But the phrase may mean any future time, whether
near or distant. ~Adam Clarke
3] Perilous times shall come.
Perilous times - Grievous, times of distress.
~People's New Testament
Perilous times shall come - Times of danger, of
persecution, and of trial. On the general meaning of
this passage, and the general characteristics of
those times, the reader may consult the 2
Thessalonians 2:1-12 notes, and 1 Timothy 4:1-3
notes [see below]. There can be no doubt that
in all these passages the apostle refers to the same
events. ~Barnes Notes
That in the last days perilous times shall come -
"or hard" and difficult times to live in; not by
reason of the outward calamities, as badness of
trade, scarcity of provisions, the ravages of the
sword, &c. but by reason of the wickedness of men,
and that not of the profane world, but of professors
of religion; for they are the persons afterwards
described, who will make the times they live in
difficult to others, to live soberly, righteously,
and godly; the days will be evil, because of these
evil men: or they will be "troublesome" times, very
afflicting and distressing to pious minds; as the
places and times, and men and customs of them were
to Lot, David, Isaiah, and others: and also
"dangerous" ones to the souls of men; who will be
beguiled by their fair speeches, and specious
pretences, to follow their pernicious ways, which
will bring destruction upon them; their doctrines
will eat as a gangrene, and their evil
communications will corrupt good manners, before
observed. And these times will be "in the last days"
of the apostolic age, and onward to the end of the
world: the Jews generally understand by this phrase,
when used in the Old Testament, the days of the
Messiah; and which are the last days of the world,
in comparison of the times before the law, from Adam
to Moses, and under the law, from thence to Christ;
and even in the times of the apostles, at least
towards the close of them, great numbers of men rose
up under the Christian name, to whom the following
characters well agree, as the Gnostics, and others;
and who paved the way for the man of sin, the Romish
antichrist, whose priests and votaries are here
likewise described to the life: so that these last
days may take in the general defection and apostasy
of the church of Rome, as well as those times, which
followed the apostles, and those which will usher in
the second coming of Christ. The Ethiopic version
renders it, "in the latter days will come an evil,
or bad year". ~John Gill
Notice some key verses on these perilous times
coming.
Daniel 12:7
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon
the waters of the river, when he held up his right
hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him
that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time,
times, and an half; and when he shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
people, all these things shall be finished.
Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be
taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate
set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and
ninety days.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as
God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I
told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken
out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the
Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish; because they received not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 [Lesson
Verse 1] [Lesson
Verse 2] [Lesson
Verse 3]
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain
from meats, which God hath created to be received
with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the
truth. |