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...
As usual, we will begin with the general
commentaries and move to the specific.
First the Matthew Henry Concise:
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 to the Matthew Henry Main and we are breaking
into the commentary when it gets to verse five:
When, notwithstanding all this [everything
spoken of from verses 1-4], 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; 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
We will now go to the Cambridge commentary:
Having a form of godliness. - The word for ‘form’ is
strictly ‘formation,’ its ending implying process
rather than result, the producing of the form; hence
in Romans 2:20 ‘thou hast the ideally perfect
presentation of knowledge and truth.’
Quoted verse:
Romans 2:20
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes,
which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in
the law.
From such turn away - The conjunction emphasizes the
‘such,’ but not without affecting also the verb turn
away,’ cf. 2 Timothy 3:9; ‘offenders of the first
degree try to win back; but from these men, hardened
in error, make it your habit to turn away. ~Cambridge Bible commentary
Quoted verse:
2 Timothy 3:9 [See
Lesson]
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly
shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Now something from the Biblical Illustrator. This
one speaks to a description of one who only has a
form of Godliness.
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
Form and power of godliness
This form is a profession of religion; the outward
appearance of piety; the external performance of
holy duties.
Its power is the inward experience of its saving
efficacy [effectiveness];
that is attested by a holy, heavenly walk. This
power is denied, not merely by the declaration of
the lips, but by all those actions which are
inconsistent with it, and which prove that we do not
feel its influence.
I. A form of godliness is absolutely necessary if we
would be saved. We are unequivocally commanded to
assume the form of godliness; to testify by external
acts our allegiance to the Lord [living
the elements of the Salvation Process];
and to attend on those ordinances and sacraments
which He surely did not appoint that we might with
impunity neglect them. Say not that you secretly and
in your hearts worship and love Him. It is
impossible that there should be internal piety
without some outward manifestation of it. If “with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness, with the
lips confession will be made to salvation.” Besides,
what right have you to withhold the acts of external
worship from Him who is “the God of all flesh,” as
well as the “Father of spirits”; who made your body
as well as your soul; who confers upon it daily
mercies: who purchased it by the sufferings of His
Son, who, when He was offered a sacrifice, not only
endured agonies of soul, but was also crucified in
His body; and who offers at the last great day to
raise it up from the grave and crown it with
immortality and glory! “Glorify Him therefore in
your body and your spirit, which are His.” Without
the form of godliness, you will probably render
yourselves guilty of the blood of souls. There is no
one, whose example has not some influence on those
with whom he associates.
II. But this form is insufficient, unless it be
united with the power of godliness.
1. This mere outward service is a worship not
conformed to the nature of God.
2. It is not conformed to the commands of God
(Proverbs 23:26)
Quoted verse:
Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes
observe my ways.
3. It is not conformed to the design of the mission
of the Savior, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
4. It is not conformed to the nature of that
covenant which is the foundation of our hopes
(Jeremiah 31:33.)
Quoted verse:
Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel; After those days, saith the
LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and
write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and
they shall be my people.
5. It is not conformed to the examples of the pious;
all of whom have used language the same in substance
with that of Paul, “The God whom I serve in my
spirit” (Romans 1:9).
Quoted verse:
Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit
in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I
make mention of you always in my prayers;
6. It is not conformed to the example of the blessed
Redeemer; concerning whom none can be so
blasphemous, as to doubt whether His whole soul was
engaged in doing and in suffering the will of God.
7. It is not conformed to the great ends of
religion. These are to deliver the soul from guilt,
to renew it, to re-impress upon it the image of God,
to make us meet for the inheritance of the saints in
light. And how certain is it, that for these great
purposes “bodily exercise profiteth little.” (1
Timothy 4:8.)
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 4:8 [See
Lesson]
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness
is profitable unto all things, having promise of the
life that now is, and of that which is to come.
III. Yet notwithstanding the clear evidence of this
truth, these are many who satisfy themselves with
the form without the power of godliness.
1. At their head must be placed the intentional
hypocrite, who knows that he is utterly destitute of
love to God and the Redeemer, who has no desire for
holiness, but who assumes the mask of religion to
cover his sinful purposes.
2. The cold formalist.
3. The vain enthusiast.
4. The worldly-minded professor.
5. The bitter sectarian [narrowly
confined or limited in interest, purpose, scope].
6. The censorious professor [severely
critical; faultfinding; carping].
7. The unfruitful professor.
~Biblical Illustrator
Here is another piece from the Biblical Illustrator.
Godliness—its form and its power
I. By the form of godliness may be properly
understood, not only a specious [superficially
pleasing or plausible] practice of
religious duties, exhibited to public notice, but
all external acts of worship, all rites and
ceremonies, all stated observances, and all
compliance with temporary and local injunctions and
regularities. In ages and countries in which
ignorance has produced, and nourished, superstition,
many artifices have been invented of practicing
piety without virtue, and repentance without
amendment. As almost every man is, by nature or by
accident, exposed to danger from particular
temptations, and disposed to some vices more than to
others; so all are, either by disposition of mind,
or the circumstances of life, inclined or compelled
to some laudable practices. Of this happy tendency
it is common to take advantage, by pushing the
favorite, or the convenient, virtue to its utmost
extent, and to lose all sense of deficiency in the
perpetual contemplation of some single excellence.
Note: Fancy text
to express the idea that men often do bad things but
do not wish to appear bad so they choose an
acceptable practice so as to appear pious or good.
II. The power of godliness is contained in the love
of God and of our neighbour; in that sum of religion
in which, as we are told by the Savior of the world,
the law and the prophets are comprised.
1. The love of God will engage us to trust in His
protection, to acquiesce [submit]
in His dispensations, to keep His laws, to meditate
on His perfection, and to declare our confidence and
submission, by profound and frequent adoration, to
impress His glory on our minds by songs of praise,
to inflame our gratitude by acts of thanks giving,
to strengthen our faith, and exalt our hope, by
pious meditations, and to implore His protection of
our imbecility [im-buh-sil-i-tee---weakness;
feebleness] , and His assistance of our
frailty by humble supplication; and when we love God
with the whole heart, the power of godliness will be
shown by steadiness in temptation, by patience in
affliction, by faith in the Divine promises, by
perpetual dread of sin, by continual aspirations
after higher degrees of holiness, and contempt of
the pains and pleasures of the world, when they
obstruct the progress of religious excellence.
2. The power of godliness, as it is exerted in the
love of our neighbour, appears in the exact and
punctual discharge of all the relative and social
duties. He whom this power actuates and directs,
will regulate his conduct, so as neither to do
injury, nor willingly to give offence.
III. How far it is necessary to the Christian life,
that the form and power of godliness should subsist
together. It may be with great reason affirmed that,
though there may be the appearance of godliness
without the reality, there can hardly be the reality
without the appearance. The form of godliness, as it
consists in the rites of religion, is the instrument
given us by God for the acquisition of the power;
the means as well as the end are prescribed; nor can
he expect the help of grace, or the Divine
approbation [approval;
commendation], who seeks them by any
other method than that which infinite wisdom has
condescended to appoint.
~Biblical Illustrator
Note: Again with
the fancy text. It is saying that a firstfruit must
have both the form and the power of Godliness. It
says that you will encounter those with the form but
without the power. The truth of the matter is that
those with the power will have the appearance.
Godliness is given to us and is commanded of us to
invoke it to know and understand the power of God in
all that we do. One cannot expect the approval of
God if all they show to Him is the form of
Godliness.
Of the form and the power of godliness
The word µ?´?f?s??, which is here translated “form,”
signifies the show or image of a thing, which is
dead and ineffectual: in opposition to the reality
and life, which is quick and powerful. And, I think,
this word is but once more used in the New
Testament, and much in the same sense; viz., for an
empty and ineffectual knowledge of religion without
the practice of it (Romans 2:17-21).
Quoted verse:
Romans 2:17-21
17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the
law, and makest thy boast of God,
18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things
that are more excellent, being instructed out of the
law;
19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide
of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes,
which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in
the law.
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest
thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should
not steal, dost thou steal?
A show of Godliness:
I. To snow wherein a form of godliness doth consist.
In general it consists in an external show and
profession of religion, or of any eminent part of
it, or of that which is reputed to be so.
1. An external devotion.
2. An orthodox profession of the Christian faith.
3. Enthusiasm and pretence to inspiration.
4. A great external show of mortification.
5. An imperfect repentance and partial reformation.
6. The appearance and ostentation [os-ten-tey-shuh
n, -tuh n-...display to impress others]
of some particular grace and virtue.
7. A great zeal for some party, or opinions, or
circumstances of religion.
8. Silliness and freakishness, and either a
pretended or real ignorance in the common affairs
and concernments of human life.
9. Much noise and talk about religion.
Description of the real power:
II. Wherein the power of godliness doth consist.
1. A due sense of God, and suitable affections
towards Him. This is the principle and fountain of
all religion, from whence all actions of piety and
goodness do spring.
2. A sincere and diligent use of the means and
instruments of religion, such as prayer, reading,
and hearing the Word of God, and receiving the
sacraments.
3. A firm and steady resolution of well-doing. This
is the result of a true and sincere repentance, and
the great principle of a new life; and if it be firm
and steadfast, it will derive its influence into all
our actions; but if it be wavering and inconsistent,
it is only the occasion of a religious mood and fit,
but not the principle of a religious state.
4. As the proper and genuine effect of all these,
the practice of a good life, in the several parts
and instances of it.
(1) In the mortifying of our lusts, the lusts of
intemperance and uncleanness, covetousness, and
ambition. He that is a slave to any of these, his
religion is but a form, how glorious a show soever
it may make.
(2) In the subduing of our passions, wrath, hatred
malice, envy, and revenge.
(3) In the government of our tongues.
(4) In the several virtues of a good life, in
opposition to these and all other vices; such as are
the truth and justice, humility and meekness,
patience and contentedness with our condition,
peaceableness and charity to those that are in want
and necessity, a readiness to forgive our enemies,
and an universal love and kindness to all men.
How to tell when form and power are separated:
III. Some marks whereby we may know when these are
separated, when there is a form of religion without
the power of it.
1. He hath only “a form of godliness,” who minds
merely the external part of religion, without any
inward sense of it.
2. He that useth only the means of religion, without
regard to the end and effect of it.
3. He that is grossly and knowingly defective in the
practice of any part of it.
The purpose of one using the form and power:
IV. That a form of godliness, without the power of
it, is insignificant to all the great ends and
purposes of religion. The great ends that men can
reasonably propound to themselves in being
religious, are these three:
1. The pleasing of God.
2. The peace and tranquility of our own minds.
3. The saving of our souls. Now a form of godliness,
without the power of it, is unavailable to all these
purposes.
The disadvantage of those using only the form:
V. That he who takes upon him a form of religion,
without the power of it, doth not only lose all the
considerable advantages of religion, but he hath two
great disadvantages by it.
1. He hath the trouble of making a show and
appearance of religion, without the real benefit of
it.
2. He incurs a heavier sentence upon this account,
that he hath a form of religion, and yet is
destitute of the power of it.
Concluding inferences:
1. To take heed of mistaking the form of religion
for the power of it.
2. To take heed of being captivated and seduced by
those who have only a form of godliness.
3. To persuade men to mind the life, and power and
substance of religion.
~Biblical Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries:
One can easily see that this verse is in three
parts:
1] Having a form of godliness.
2] But denying the power thereof.
3] From such turn away.
Up to this point we have covered, in some detail,
the first two parts of the verse. The most important
admonition is in the third part.
1] Having a form of godliness.
Having a form of godliness.
- This implies that the persons described professed
to be religious, worshipers of God in outward form.
A godless church is described.
~People's New Testament
Having a form of godliness
- An appearance of godliness, but not regarding,
nay, even denying and blaspheming, the inward power
and reality of it. Is not this eminently fulfilled
at this day? ~John Wesley
Having a form of godliness
- That is, they profess religion, or are in
connection with the church. This shows that the
apostle referred to some great corruption in the
church; and there can be little doubt that he had
his eye on the same great apostasy to which he
refers in 2 Thessalonians 2, and 1 Timothy 4: All
these things to which he refers here have been
practiced and tolerated in that apostate church,
while no body of men, at any time, have been more
zealous in maintaining “a form of godliness;” that
is, in keeping up the forms of religion.
~Barnes Notes
Having a form of godliness
- The original word μορφωσις signifies a draught,
sketch, or summary, and will apply well to those who
have all their religion in their creed, confession
of faith, catechism, bodies of divinity, etc., while
destitute of the life of God in their souls; and are
not only destitute of this life, but deny that such
life or power is here to be experienced or known.
They have religion in their creed, but none in their
hearts. And perhaps to their summary they add a
decent round of religious observances. ~Adam Clark
Having a form of godliness
- Either a mere external show of religion,
pretending great piety and holiness, being outwardly
righteous before men, having the mask and visor [disguise]
of godliness; or else a plan of doctrine, a form of
sound words, a scheme of truths, which men may have
without partaking of the grace of God.
~John Gill
2] But denying the power thereof.
But denying the power thereof
- Rejecting its power. Their lives are not
molded by it. ~People's New
Testament
But denying the power thereof
- Opposing the real power of religion; not
allowing it to exert any influence in their lives.
It imposes no restraint on their passions and carnal
propensities, but in all respects, except in the
form of religion, they live as if they had None.
This has been common in the world. The most regular
and bigoted adherence to the forms of religion
furnishes no evidence in itself that there is any
true piety at heart, or that true religion has any
actual control over the soul. It is much easier for
people to observe the forms of religion than it is
to bring the heart under its controlling influence.
~Barnes Notes
But denying the power thereof
- though in words they profess religion and
godliness, the fear of God, and the pure worship of
him, yet in works they deny all; and though they may
have a set of notions in their heads, yet they feel
nothing of the power of them on their hearts; and
are strangers to experimental religion, and powerful
godliness: or though they profess the Scriptures to
be the word of God, yet they deny the use, the
power, and efficacy [effectiveness]
of them; they deny the use of them to the laity [congregation],
and affirm that they are not a sufficient rule of
faith and practice, without their unwritten
traditions; and that they are not able to make men
wise, or give them a true knowledge of what is to be
believed and done, without them; and that the sense
of them is not to be understood by private men, but
depends upon the infallible judgment of the church
or pope: ~John Gill
Note:
"experimental religion" here is speaking of a
firstfruit who lives his or her life based on or
derived from experience or what we preach, "the
invoking of the Holy Spirit."
3] From such turn away.
From such turn away -
This implies that some of this formal, godless
religion had begun to show itself even at that time.
~People New Testament
From such turn away -
Have no contact with them as if they were
Christians; show no countenance to their religion;
do not associate with them; compare 2 John 1:10-11;
and 2 Corinthians 6:17. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
2 John 1:10-11
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither
bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of
his evil deeds.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you,
From such turn away -
not only do not imitate them, but have no kind of
fellowship with them; they are a dangerous people,
and but seldom suspected, because their outside is
fair. ~Adam Clark
From such turn away -
have no fellowship with them, depart from their
communion, withdraw from them, and come out from
among them: this passage sufficiently justifies the
reformed churches in their separation from the
church of Rome. ~John Gill |