2 Timothy 3:1

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

a. last [2078 * eschatos] [Zodhiates: The extreme, most remote, spoken of place and time. In 2 Timothy 3:1, with a noun of time, as the last dayof the worldin the phrase "the last days.] [D.C.: Where we get the term eschatology the studies of the last days.]

b. perilous [5467 * chalepos] [Bullinger: Heavy, difficult, hard to bear; connected with toil and suffering, dangerous] [Zodhiates: Violent, fierce. Used of demoniacs, wild, difficult]. [D.C: This word is used in only one other place in the N.T., In Matthew 8:28 when describing those possessed with demons. I believe that is very significant.]

c. Dangerous, fierce, hard to bear, violent and perilous times do not come just because these are the last days, they come simply because what men will become. Men will become these things because they will open the door for demonic influences to tempt them into these things. It is a relatively slow progressive descent in the same way spiritual growth is a relatively slow progressive ascent. Men don't become Ted Bundy, William Gacy or David Berkowitz overnight, just as men don't become the Apostle Paul or Kenneth Hagin overnight. It takes time to descend into evil or to grow spiritually.

2 Timothy 3:2

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

1. "For men shall be"

a. This is why the dangerous, violent, fierce perilous times come, because men yield themselves to evil. There will be more people possessed with demons during this time than perhaps any other time in human history. As Christians, do we have any of these characteristics in our lives, not that we are demon possessed of course, but are we selfish? Are we covetous? Do we slander someone's good name? Am I unthankful?

b. This list is applied to a group who have a "form of godliness but deny the power thereof". In other words he is applying it to last day Christians.

2. "lovers of their own selves"

a. lovers of self [5367 * philautos; philos-loving; autos-himself] [Zodhiates: Self centered or selfish. An undue sparing of self with the primary concern that things be easy and pleasant for oneself. The philautos is one who loves his life so much that he seeks ignobly to save it.]

1). Matthew 16:24, 25 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

2). Philippians 3:18 "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:"

3. "covetous"

a. covetous [5366 * philarguros; philos-loving; arguros-silver, money] [D.C.: The definition explains itself. These are money loving.]

1). Luke 16:13-15 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
And the Pharisees also, who were philarguros,[money loving] heard all these things: and they derided him.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

4. "boasters"

a. boasters [213 * alazon] [Vines? Primarily signifies a wanderer about the country, a vagabond; hence an imposter, a boaster.] [Bullinger: False pretender, quack.]

5. "proud"

a. proud [5244 * hupereephanos; huper-above; phaino-to shine, show] [Zodhiates: Arrogant, proud. Often associated with the rejection of God.]

6. "blasphemers"

a. blasphemers [989 * blasphemos] [Zodhiates: To be abusive, reviling, destroying one's good name (2 Timothy 3:2, a slanderer, blasphemer in respect to men).]

7. "disobedient to parents"

a. disobedient [545 * apeithes; a-without; peitho-to persuade] [Zodhiates: Unwilling to be persuaded, unbelieving, disobedient.]

b. parents [1118 * goneus] [Zodhiates: In the N.T., parents.]

8. "unthankful"

a. unthankful [884 * acharistos; a-without; charizomai-to show kindness] [Zodhiates: Unthankful, ungrateful.]

9. "unholy"

a. unholy [462 * anosis; a-without; hosios-consecrated, hallowed, holy] [Zodhiates: Unholy, ungodly, no regard of duty to God or man.]

1). 1 Timothy 1:9 "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,"

2 Timothy 3:3

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good.

1. "Without natural affection"

a. without natural affection [794 * astorgos; a-without; storge-family love] [D.C.: The definition is self explanatory. It just means without family love. Some mistakenly apply this as unnatural affection, i.e., homosexuality, but it does not mean that.]

b. Is this in my life? In my heart?

2. "trucebreakers"

a. trucebreaker [786 * aspondos; a-without; sponde-libation or drink offering.] [Zodhiates: The absolutely irreconcilable person who, being at war, refuses to lay aside his enmity or to listen to terms of reconciliation. In a state of war.

b. NIV: "unforgiving"

3. "false accusers"

a. false accursers [1228 * diabolos] [Zodhiates: A false accuser, used for the devil. One who falsely accuses and divides people without a reason.]

b. NIV: "slanderous".

4. "incontintent"

a. incontinent [193 * akrates; a-without; krates-strength] [Zodhiates: Unable to govern ones appetites.]

b. It seems that the word "addiction" is being applied to every thing these days. People are addicted to choclate or addicted to the internet, addicted to pornography. A person is "addicted" to this, or "addicted" to that. It seems a characteristic of these days is we can't govern our appetites.

5. "fierce"

a. fierce [434 * anemeros; a-without; hemeros-mild] [Zodhiates: Ungentle.]

6. "despisers of those who are good"

a. despisers of those who are good [865 * aphilagathos; a-without; philagathos-lover of being good.] [Zodhiates: Used only in 2 Timothy 3:3, and means hostile to good men.]

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is costello.don@gmail.com

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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