2 Timothy 3:2

Contextual Overview

¹ Moreover, understand this: in the acharit-hayamim will come trying times. ¹ But this know, that in [the] last days difficult times shall be there; ¹ But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. ¹ You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come.1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Jude 1:18;">[xr] ¹ But know this, that in the last days hard times will come; ¹ But this know thou, that in the latter days hard times will come: ¹ But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. ¹ But be certain of this, that in the last days times of trouble will come. ¹ But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ¹ This knowe also, that in the last dayes shall come perilous times.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lovers: 2 Timothy 3:4, Romans 15:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Philippians 2:21, James 2:8

covetous: Luke 12:15, Romans 1:29, Colossians 3:5, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, Jude 1:16, Revelation 18:12, Revelation 18:13

boasters: Psalms 10:3, Psalms 49:6, Psalms 52:1, Isaiah 10:15, Acts 5:36, Romans 1:29-31, Romans 11:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, James 4:16, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16

proud: Proverbs 6:17, 1 Timothy 6:4, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

blasphemers: Daniel 7:25, Daniel 11:36, 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10, Revelation 13:1, Revelation 13:5, Revelation 13:6, Revelation 16:9, Revelation 16:11, Revelation 16:21

disobedient: Matthew 15:6, Mark 7:11, Mark 7:12, Romans 1:30

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:29 - creeping things that creep Psalms 107:31 - Oh that men Proverbs 14:2 - but Proverbs 24:19 - Fret Isaiah 48:1 - not in truth Jeremiah 7:9 - steal Daniel 7:8 - a mouth Micah 7:6 - son Matthew 13:47 - and gathered Luke 10:32 - General Luke 20:47 - for Acts 8:9 - giving Acts 17:17 - daily Romans 1:21 - they glorified Romans 3:10 - none Romans 16:18 - by Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness Titus 3:3 - living

Cross-References

Psalms 58:4
From the womb, the wicked are estranged, liars on the wrong path since birth.

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;

Psalms 58:4
Their anger is as deadly as the poison of a snake. They shut their ears like a deaf cobra

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; Like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

Psalms 58:4
The wicked are estranged from the womb; the speakers of lies go astray as soon as they are born.

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;

Psalms 58:4
They haue poyson [within them] lyke to the poyson of a serpent: they be lyke the deafe adder that stoppeth her eares,

Psalms 58:4
Their poyson is euen like the poyson of a serpent: like ye deafe adder that stoppeth his eare.

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf adder that stops its ear,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For men shall be lovers of their own selves,.... Not in a good sense, as men may be, and as such are who love their neighbours as themselves, and do that to others they would have done to themselves; and who take all prudent and lawful care to preserve the life and health of their bodies, and seek in a right way the salvation of their immortal souls: but in a bad sense, as such may be said to be, who only love themselves; their love to God, and Christ, and to the saints, being only in pretence, not in reality; and who do all they do in a religious way, from a principle of self-love, and to selfish and mercenary ends; either to gain glory and applause from men, or to merit something for themselves at the hands of God, without any view to the glory of God, the honour and interest of Christ, and the good of others; and ascribe all they have and do to themselves, to their industry, diligence, power, free will, worth, and merit, and not to the grace of God: and this character may be seen in the principles and practices of the church of Rome, in their doctrines of merit and free will, in works of supererogation c. "Coveteous" lovers of silver, greedy of filthy lucre, doing nothing but for money; everyone looking for his gain from his quarter; making merchandise of the souls of men; and which are reckoned among the wares of Babylon, the Romish antichrist, Revelation 18:13. "No penny, no pater noster".

Boasters; of their wealth and riches, of their honour and grandeur; I sit a queen, c. Revelation 18:7, of their numbers, of their holiness, of the infallibility of their popes, of their having the true knowledge, and certain sense of the Scriptures, and of having all power in heaven and in earth.

Proud as have been the popes of Rome; exalting themselves above all that is called God, above all princes, kings, and emperors of the earth; deposing one, excommunicating another, treading upon their necks, obliging them to hold their stirrups while they mounted their horses; the pride of the popes, cardinals, priests, and the whole clergy of the church of Rome, is notorious.

Blasphemers; of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ; sitting in the temple as God, as antichrist does, showing himself that he is God; assuming that to himself which belongs to God only, which is to forgive sin; calling himself Christ's vicar on earth; taking upon him to enact new laws, and to dispense with the laws of God, and Christ; and has a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies against God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

Disobedient to parents: as many of the votaries of the antichristian church have been; who have withdrew themselves from under the care of their parents, and their fortunes too out of their hands, when they have been in their power; and have shut themselves up in cloisters, monasteries, and nunneries, without the leave and consent, or knowledge of their parents.

Unthankful: to God, for what is enjoyed by them, ascribing all to themselves, and to their merit and good works; and to men, to the princes of the earth, by whom they were first raised to, and supported in their dignity; as the popes of Rome were by the Roman emperors, and whom they in return tyrannized over, and dethroned at pleasure.

Unholy; notwithstanding his holiness the pope at the head of them their holy father, and holy mother church, and holy priests, and holy orders they talk of; yet are without the fear of God, or any regard to him, living most unholy lives and conversations, Daniel 11:37.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For men shall be lovers of their own selves - It shall be one of the characteristics of those times that men shall be eminently selfish - evidently under the garb of religion; 2 Timothy 3:5. The word here used - φίλαυτος philautos - does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means a lover of oneself, “selfish.” Such a love of self as to lead us to secure our salvation, is proper. But this interferes with the rights and happiness of no other persons. The selfishness which is condemned, is that regard to our own interests which interferes with the rights and comforts of others; which makes self the central and leading object of living; and which tramples on all that would interfere with that. As such, it is a base, and hateful, and narrow passion; but it has been so common in the world that no one can doubt the correctness of the prophecy of the apostle that it would exist “in the last times.”

Covetous - Greek, Lovers of silver; i. e., of money; Luke 6:14; see the notes at 1 Timothy 6:20.

Boasters - see the notes at Romans 1:30.

Proud - see the notes at Romans 1:30.

Blasphemers - see the notes at Matthew 9:3.

Disobedient to parents - see the notes at Romans 1:30.

Unthankful - see Luke 6:35. The word here used occurs in the New Testament only in these two places. Ingratitude has always been regarded as one of the worst of crimes. It is said here that it would characterize that wicked age of which the apostle speaks, and its prevalence would, as it always does, indicate a decline of religion. Religion makes us grateful to every benefactor - to God, and to man.

Unholy - see the notes at 1 Timothy 1:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Timothy 3:2. For men shall be — The description in this and the following verses the Papists apply to the Protestants; the Protestants in their turn apply it to the Papists; Schoettgen to the Jews; and others to heretics in general. There have been both teachers and people in every age of the Church, and in every age of the world, to whom these words may be most legitimately applied. Both Catholics and Protestants have been lovers of their own selves, c. but it is probable that the apostle had some particular age in view, in which there should appear some very essential corruption of Christianity.

Lovers of their own selves — φιλαυτοι. Selfish, studious of their own interest, and regardless of the welfare of all mankind.

Covetous — φιλαργυροι. Lovers of money, because of the influence which riches can procure.

Boasters — αλαζονες. Vain glorious: self-assuming; valuing themselves beyond all others.

Proud — υπερηφανοι. Airy, light, trifling persons; those who love to make a show-who are all outside; from υπερ, above, and φαινω, to show.

Blasphemers — βλασφημοι. Those who speak impiously of God and sacred things, and injuriously of men.

Disobedient to parents — γονευσιν απειθεις. Headstrong children, whom their parents cannot persuade.

Unthankful — αχαριστοι. Persons without grace, or gracefulness; who think they have a right to the services of all men, yet feel no obligation, and consequently no gratitude.

Unholy — ανοσιοι. Without piety; having no heart reverence for God.