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| 2 Timothy 3:3 |
| Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, |
This section of Chapter 3 consists of 4 verses.
2 Timothy 3:2-5
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those
that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away.
We usually begin in the Barclay commentary, but the
commentary on these verse, though essential to our
study of these scriptures, is somewhat long and I do
not want to present it here for all four verses.
You may wish to pause here and go to the text of the
Lesson on
Verse 2 and review
this commentary.
Continuing now...
We will begin with the general commentaries and move
to the specific.
First to the F. B. Meyer covering verses 1-9
The last days of the present age are to be black [gloomy,
pessimistic, dismal] 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. ~F. B.
Meyer
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise which also covers
the first nine verses of the chapter.
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
Let us contrast this with the Matthew Henry Main:
Timothy must not think it strange if there were in
the church bad men; for the net of the gospel was to
enclose both good fish and bad, Matthew 13:47-48.
Jesus Christ had foretold (Matthew 24) that there
would come seducers, and therefore we must not be
offended at it, nor think the worse of religion or
the church for it. Even in gold ore there will be
dross, and a great deal of chaff among the wheat
when it lies on the floor.
Quoted verses:
Matthew 13:47-48
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net,
that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every
kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and
sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but
cast the bad away.
I.
Timothy must know that in the last days (2 Timothy
3:1), in gospel times, there would come perilous
times. Though gospel times were times of reformation
in many respects, let him know that even in gospel
times there would be perilous times; not so much on
account of persecution from without as on account of
corruptions within. These would be difficult times,
wherein it would be difficult for a man to keep a
good conscience. He does not say, “Perilous times
shall come, for both Jews and Gentiles shall be
combined to root out Christianity;” but “perilous
times shall come, for such as have the form of
godliness (2 Timothy 3:5) shall be corrupt and
wicked, and do a great deal of damage to the
church.” Two traitors within the garrison may do
more hurt to it than two thousand besiegers without.
Perilous times shall come, for men shall be wicked.
Note,
1. Sin makes the times perilous. When there
is a general corruption of manners, and of the
tempers of men, this makes the times dangerous to
live in; for it is hard to keep our integrity in the
midst of general corruption.
2. The coming of perilous times is an
evidence of the truth of scripture-predictions; if
the event in this respect did not answer to the
prophecy, we might be tempted to question the
divinity of the Bible.
3. We are all concerned to know this [the
perilous times], to believe and consider it,
that we may not be surprised when we see the times
perilous: This know also.
II.
Paul tells Timothy what would be the occasion of
making these times perilous, or what shall be the
marks and signs whereby these times may be known, 2
Timothy 3:2, etc [meaning this section through
verse 5].
Take note of this description of, "Perilous Times."
They are much more than end time events like famine,
earthquakes and wars. These descriptions speak to
the systemic causes of most all end time events.
1.
Self-love will make the times perilous. Who is there
who does not love himself? But this is meant of an
irregular sinful self-love. Men love their carnal
selves better than their spiritual selves. Men love
to gratify their own lusts, and make provision for
them, more than to please God and do their duty.
Instead of Christian charity, which takes care for
the good of others, they will mind themselves only,
and prefer their own gratification before the
church's edification.
2.
Covetousness. Observe, Self-love brings in a long
train of sins and mischiefs. When men are lovers of
themselves, no good can be expected from them, as
all good may be expected from those who love God
with all their hearts. When covetousness generally
prevails, when every man is for what he can get and
for keeping what he has, this makes men dangerous to
one another, and obliges every man to stand on his
guard against his neighbour.
3.
Pride and vain-glory. The times are perilous when
men, being proud of themselves, are boasters and
blasphemers, boasters before men whom they despise
and look upon with scorn, and blasphemers of God and
of his name. When men do not fear God they will not
regard man, and so vice versâ.
4.
When children are disobedient to their parents, and
break through the obligations which they lie under
to them both in duty and gratitude, and frequently
in interest, having their dependence upon them and
their expectation from them, they make the times
perilous; for what wickedness will those stick at
who will be abusive to their own parents and rebel
against them?
5.
Unthankfulness and unholiness make the times
perilous, and these two commonly go together. What
is the reason that men are unholy and without the
fear of God, but that they are unthankful for the
mercies of God? Ingratitude and impiety go together;
for call a man ungrateful, and you can call him by
no worse name. Unthankful, and impure, defiled with
fleshly lusts, which is an instance of great
ingratitude to that God who has provided so well for
the support of the body; we abuse his gifts, if we
make them the food and fuel of our lusts.
6.
The times are perilous when men will not be held by
the bonds either of nature or common honesty, when
they are without natural affection, and
truce-breakers, 2 Timothy 3:3. There is a natural
affection due to all. Wherever there is the human
nature, there should be humanity towards those of
the same nature, but especially between relations.
Times are perilous when children are disobedient to
their parents (2 Timothy 3:2) and when parents are
without natural affection to their children, 2
Timothy 3:3. See what a corruption of nature sin is,
how it deprives men even of that which nature has
implanted in them for the support of their own kind;
for the natural affection of parents to their
children is that which contributes very much to the
keeping up of mankind upon the earth. And those who
will not be bound by natural affection, no marvel
that they will not be bound by the most solemn
leagues and covenants. They are truce-breakers, that
make no conscience of the engagements they have laid
themselves under.
7.
The times are perilous when men are false accusers
one of another, diaboloi - devils one to another,
having no regard to the good name of others, or to
the religious obligations of an oath, but thinking
themselves at liberty to say and do what they
please, Psalm 12:4.
Quoted verse:
Psalm 12:4
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our
lips are our own: who is lord over us?
8.
When men have no government of themselves and their
own appetites: not of their own appetites, for they
are incontinent; not of their own passions, for they
are fierce; when they have no rule over their own
spirits, and therefore are like a city that is
broken down, and has
no walls; they are soon fired, upon the least
provocation.
9.
When that which is good and ought to be honoured is
generally despised and looked upon with contempt. It
is the pride of persecutors that they look with
contempt upon good people, though they are more
excellent than their neighbors.
10.
When men are generally treacherous, willful, and
haughty, the times are perilous (2 Timothy 3:4) -
when men are traitors, heady, high-minded. Our
Saviour has foretold that the brother shall betray
the brother to death and the father the child
(Matthew 10:21), and those are the worst sort of
traitors: those who delivered up their Bibles to
persecutors were called traditores [traitors],
for they betrayed the trust committed to them. When
men are petulant [pech-uh-luh nt] and puffed
up, behaving scornfully to all about them, and when
this temper
generally prevails, then the times are perilous.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 10:21
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to
death, and the father the child: and the children
shall rise up against their parents, and cause them
to be put to death.
11.
When men are generally lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God. When there are more epicures [ep-i-kyoo
r] than true Christians, then the times are bad
indeed. God is to be loved above all. That is a
carnal mind, and is full of enmity against him,
which prefers any thing before him, especially such
a sordid thing as carnal pleasure is.
Note: An epicure is a person who cultivates a
refined taste, especially in food and wine; [a
highly professional] connoisseur or a person
dedicated to sensual enjoyment. Again, nothing
inherently wrong with being a connoisseur of food
and wine but the person described is dedicated to
this and in doing so excludes God. Should a
Christian be a connoisseur of any food, wine, or
spirit, he or she does in in partnership with God
and is generally an amateur connoisseur or would-be
connoisseur.
12.
When, notwithstanding all this, they have the form
of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5), are called by the
Christian name, baptized into the Christian faith,
and make a show of religion; but, how plausible
soever their form of godliness is, they deny the
power of it. When they take upon them the form which
should and would bring along with it the power
thereof, they will put asunder what God hath joined
together: they will assume the form of godliness, to
take away their reproach; but they will not submit
to the power of it, to take away their sin.
Observe here,
(1.) Men may be very bad and wicked under a
profession of religion; they may be lovers of
themselves, etc., yet have a form of godliness.
(2.) A form of godliness is a very different thing
from the power of it [actual godliness]; men
may have the one and be wholly destitute of the
other; yea, they deny it, at least practically in
their lives.
(3.) From such good Christians must withdraw
themselves. ~Matthew Henry Main
Now to the specific commentaries.
As one can readily see, verses 2-4 are a list of
words and phrases and each one is a division of its
verse. In verse 3 we have six parts:
1] Without natural affection.
2] Trucebreakers.
3] False accusers.
4] Incontinent [in-kon-tn-uh nt].
5] Fierce.
6] Despisers of those that are good.
1] Without natural affection.
Without natural affections - This expression denotes
the lack of affectionate regard toward their
children. The attachment of parents to children is
one of the strongest in nature, and nothing can
overcome it but the most confirmed and established
wickedness. And yet the apostle charges on the pagan
generally the lack of this affection. He doubtless
refers here to the practice so common among pagans
of exposing their children, or putting them to
death. This crime, so abhorrent to all the feelings
of humanity, was common among the pagans ~Barnes
Notes
Without natural affection - Αστοργοι· Without that
affection which parents bear to their young, and
which the young bear to their parents. An affection
which is common to every class of animals;
consequently, men without it are worse than brutes.
~Adam Clarke
Without natural affection - To parents, or children,
or wife; parents thrusting their children into
religious houses, cloisters, &c. against their
wills; children leaving their parents without their
knowledge or consent; married bishops and priests
being obliged to quit their wives, and declare their
children spurious; with many other such unnatural
actions. ~John Gill
2] Trucebreakers.
Truce-breakers - Better, ‘implacable,’—not the
persons who break a truce, but those with whom no
truce can be made. ~Popular commentary
Trucebreakers - The same word in Romans 1:31, is
rendered “implacable;” see the notes at that verse.
It properly means “without treaty;” that is, those
who are averse to any treaty or compact. It may thus
refer to those who are unwilling to enter into any
agreement; that is, either those who are unwilling
to be reconciled to others when there is a variance
- implacable; or those who disregard treaties or
agreements. In either case, this marks a very
corrupt condition of society. Nothing would be more
indicative of the lowest state of degradation, than
that in which all compacts and agreements were
utterly disregarded. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Romans 1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Truce-breakers - Ασπονδοι· From α, negative, and
σπονδη, a libation, because in making treaties
libations both of blood and wine were poured out.
The word means those who are bound by no promise,
held by no engagement, obliged by no oath; persons
who readily promise any thing, because they never
intend to perform. ~Adam Clarke
Trucebreakers - or covenant breakers; stirring up
princes to break through their treaties and
covenants with one another; dissolving the
allegiance of subjects to their sovereigns, and
moving them to rebellion against them; loosing the
marriage bond between husband and wife; making void
all oaths, contracts, and agreements, among men,
which stand in the way of their designs; teaching
that no faith is to be kept with heretics. ~John
Gill
3] False accusers.
False accusers - Better, ‘slanderers.' ~Popular
commentary
False accusers - Margin, “makebates.” The word
“makebate” means one who excites contentions and
quarrels. Webster. The Greek here is διάβολοι
diaboloi - “devils” - the primitive meaning of which
is, “calumniator, slanderer, accuser;” compare the
notes at 1 Timothy 3:11, where the word is rendered
“slanderers.” ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse
1 Timothy 3:11 [See
Lesson]
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers,
sober, faithful in all things.
False accusers - Διαβολοι· Devils; but properly
enough rendered false accusers, for this is a
principal work of the devil. Slanderers; striving
ever to ruin the characters of others. ~Adam
Clarke
False accusers - or devils, being like Satan, the
accuser of the brethren, charging all that depart
from their communion with schism and heresy.
~John Gill
4] Incontinent
[in-kon-tn-uh nt].
Incontinent - 1 Corinthians 7:5. Literally, “without
strength;” that is, without strength to resist the
solicitations of passion, or who readily yield to
it. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with
consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to
fasting and prayer; and come together again, that
Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Incontinent - Ακρατεις· From α, negative, and κρατος,
power. Those who, having sinned away their power of
self-government, want strength to govern their
appetites; especially those who are slaves to
uncleanness. ~Adam Clarke
Incontinent - though they pretend to the gift of
continency, yet give themselves up to all
lasciviousness, and work all uncleanness with
greediness; or "intemperate" in eating and drinking,
indulging themselves in rioting and drunkenness:
"she hath lived deliciously", Revelation 18:7.
~John Gill
5] Fierce.
Fierce - More definitely, ‘untameable’ or ‘inhuman.’
~Popular commentary
Fierce - The Greek word used here - ἀνήμερος
anēmeros - does not elsewhere occur in the New
Testament. It means “ungentle, harsh, severe,” and
is the opposite of gentleness and mildness. Religion
produces gentleness; the want of it makes men rough,
harsh, cruel; compare the notes at 2 Timothy 2:24.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
2 Timothy 2:24 [See
Lesson]
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
Fierce - Ανημεροι· From α, negative, and ἡμερος,
mild or gentle. Wild, impetuous, whatever is
contrary to pliability and gentleness. ~Adam
Clarke
Fierce - like beasts of prey; such was Rome Pagan,
in the times of the ten persecutions; and such has
been Rome Papal, exercising the greatest cruelties
and barbarities on the saints, being drunk with
their blood. ~John Gill
6] Despisers of those that are
good.
Despisers of them that are good - Better, ‘having no
love of good.’ ~Popular commentary
Despisers of those that are good - In Titus 1:8, it
is said of a bishop that he must be “a lover of good
men.” This, in every condition of life, is a virtue,
and hence, the opposite of it is here set down as
one of the characteristics of that evil age of which
the apostle speaks. ~Barnes Notes
Despisers of those that are good - Αφιλαγαθοι· Not
lovers of good men. Here is a remarkable advantage
of the Greek over the English tongue, one word of
the former expressing five or six of the latter.
Those who do not love the good must be radically bad
themselves. ~Adam Clarke
Despisers of those that are good - or without love
to good; both to good works, to which they are
reprobate, notwithstanding all their pretensions to
them, and bluster about them; and to good men, whom
they hate. ~John Gill
We have just reviewed six words and phrases that not
only define the perilous times to come but also
demonstrate the cause of those perilous times and
that is the lesson of verse three. |
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