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Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:3

Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

3. sound doctrine ] The sound doctrine as in 1Ti 1:10, where see note.

but after their own lusts ] Vulg. ‘ad sua desideria,’ in opposition to the healthful doctrine. Compare the same phrase in the singular, Jas 1:14, ‘Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.’ R.V. still retains ‘lusts’; this word in the age of the A.V. had also the wider sense of ‘strong desire’ not being restricted as now to one passion only. ‘Lust’ in Psa 92:10, Pr. Bk., is ‘desire’ in A.V. and R.V. But the word here denotes a corrupt will leading both to corrupt doctrine and corrupt life. See note on 2Ti 3:6. Trench, N.T. Syn. 87, quotes Cicero’s definition of the word here rendered ‘lust’; ‘immoderata appetitio opinati magni boni rationi non obtemperans,’ Tusc. Qust. iii. 11. It is sometimes ‘concupiscence’ Rom 7:8; very rarely in a good sense ‘desire,’ Php 1:23.

shall they heap to themselves ] A compound form of the verb used in ch. 2Ti 3:6 for ‘laden.’

having itching ears ] An ambiguous rendering in A.V.; but the original is clear, the nominative case shewing that it is the pupils not the teachers who have the itching ears. R.V. corrects this by transposing the clause to the commencement of the sentence; but this gives up the close proximity of the two words for ‘ears’; because they have itching ears should be the rendering. The participle is middle, lit. ‘scratching themselves,’ as Arist. H. A. ix. 1, 18. Out of a prurient longing for novelty and excitement, ‘instead of receiving those Teachers who are authorized by Christ to instruct them and have a regular call and mission from Him to execute their sacred office, and preach by the Rule of Faith, they will stray away from their Pastors and from their own proper Fold and will raise up for themselves a confused heap of Teachers.’ Wordsworth.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

For the time will come … – Probably referring to the time mentioned in 2Ti 3:1, following.

When they will not endure sound doctrine – Greek, healthful doctrine; i. e., doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or to salvation. At that time they would seek a kind of instruction more conformable to their wishes and feelings.

But after their own lusts – They will seek such kind of preaching as will accord with their carnal desires; or such as will palliate their evil propensities, and deal gently with their vices; compare Isa 30:10. Speak unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits.

Shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears – The word rendered heap – episoreuo – does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means to heap up upon, to accumulate; and here to multiply. The word rendered itching – knetho – also occurs only in this place in the New Testament. It means to rub, to scratch; and then to tickle, and here to feel an itching for something pleasing or gratifying. The image is derived from the desire which we have when there is an itching sensation, to have it rubbed or scratched. Such an uneasiness would these persons have to have some kind of instruction that would allay their restless and uneasy desires, or would gratify them. In explanation of this passage we may observe,

(1) That there will be always religious teachers of some kind, and that in proportion as error and sin abound, they will be multiplied. The apostle here says, that by turning away from Timothy, and from sound instruction, they would not abandon all religious teachers, but would rather increase and multiply them. People often declaim much against a regular ministry, and call it priest-craft; and yet, if they were to get rid of such a ministry, they would by no means escape from all kinds of religious teachers. The deeper the darkness, and the more gross the errors, and the more prevalent the wickedness of men, the more will a certain kind of religious teachers abound, and the more it will cost to support them. Italy and Spain swarm with priests, and in every pagan nation they constitute a very numerous class of the population. The cheapest ministry on the earth is a well-educated Protestant clergy, and if society wishes to free itself from swarms of preachers, and prophets, and exhorters, it should secure the regular services of an educated and pious ministry.

(2) In such classes of persons as the apostle here refers to, there is a restless, uneasy desire to have some kind of preachers. They have itching ears. They will be ready to run after all kinds of public instructors. They will be little pleased with any, and this will be one reason why they will have so many. They are fickle, and unsettled, and never satisfied. A desire to hear the truth, and to learn the way of salvation, is a good desire. But this can be better gratified by far under the patient and intelligent labor of a single religious teacher, than by running after many teachers, or than by frequent changes. How much would a child learn if he was constantly running from one school to another?

(3) Such persons would have teachers according to their own lusts; that is, their own tastes, or wishes. They would have those who would coincide with their whims; who would foster every vagary which might enter their imagination; who would countenance every wild project for doing good; who would be the advocates of the errors which they held; and who would be afraid to rebuke their faults. These are the principles on which many persons choose their religious teachers. The true principle should be, to select those who will faithfully declare the truth, and who will not shrink from exposing and denouncing sin, wherever it may be found.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

2Ti 4:3-4

They will not endure sound doctrine.

Inclination the enemy of truth

The reason is here assigned for this faithful ministry: one that has always been in force, since human nature has always been the same. Mens own inclinations will become the guide of their conduct concerning truth and duty. Because sound or salutary teaching about their own errors and sins is abasing to their pride and crucifying to their selfish passions, it will not be endured. Yet their minds crave stimulus, and even their moral natures demand some opiate. Hence they will resort to various so-called teachers, in order to obtain fancies that please and rules of life that suit their native tastes. And the effect of this will be that they turn themselves away from truth to falsehood, and are at last given up of God to the fixed delusion of believing a lie, to their own perdition. The picture is sad indeed, and common as sad, in this as in every century and land. None believe so wildly, and none are so hopelessly hardened, as those who finally reject the saving truth of God. (J. G. Butler, D. D.)

Smooth things preferred

Edward Irving found no favour as a preacher in the commencement of his ministry. After various disappointments, Dr. Chalmers heard and appreciated him, and invited him to be his assistant in Glasgow. Irving, in astonishment and doubt, replied: I will preach to them if you think fit, but if they bear with my preaching they will be the first people who have borne with it.

Dislike to the truth

Aristotle writeth that vultures are killed with oil of roses. Sweet smells enrage tigers. Swine cannot live in some parts of Arabia, saith Pliny, by reason of the pleasant scent of aromatical trees there growing in every wood. (J. Trapp.)

Sound doctrine forsaken

1. The grounds of their apostasy–viz., their hatred of the truth; they will not endure sound doctrine; they will reject it and cast it behind their backs; they hate and abhor it. They look upon it as a grievous burden, as Israel did upon the doctrine and visions of the prophets (Jer 23:34; Jer 23:36). It is not so much they cannot, but they will not endure sound doctrine; they love their lusts above the law, and therefore they hate him that reproves in the gates. Errors they can tolerate, and superstition they can tolerate, but the truth they cannot hear.

2. A second ground of their apostasy is their delight in false teachers; they so dote on them, that one or two will not content them, they must have heaps of them. They love their lusts, and therefore they seek out for such teachers as may not disquiet them. They wittingly and willingly suffer themselves to be deluded by them. The word signifies–

(1) An earnest desire of getting such teachers.

(2) It notes an indiscreet and confused gathering together of such a multitude of teachers without wit or reason, without any respect either to their life or learning, head nor tail. The disciples create their doctors, the lusts of their followers are their call.

3. A third cause of their apostasy is that innate malice and inbred concupiscence which is in the hearts of men. But the word in the original is lusts, which implies, not a simple desire or sudden motion, but a vehement, ardent, earnest desire and pursuit of a thing.

4. They have itching ears; this is another reason why they seek out for false teachers; they love not such as deal plainly and faithfully with them, they must have such as please their humours, tickle their fancies with novelties and curiosities, but they must in no wise touch their vices.

5. Here is the issue and consequences of their contempt of the truth–viz., the loss of truth, and following fables.

This is the devils method. First he stops the ear against sound doctrine, and then he opens it to error. Like a cruel thief, he draws the soul out of the right road into some wood, by-lane or corner, and there binds, robs, and rifles it.

1. God not only knoweth what men do at present, and what they have done, but what they will do in time to come. He tells Timothy here what will be done many years after he is dead and gone.

2. The more perfidious the world is, and the more false teachers abound, the more careful must Christs ministers be to oppose them by preaching sound doctrine. The badness of the times approaching must make us to redeem the present season. The sun will not always shine; tempests will arise, and the night will come when no man can work. Those that reverence Moses to-day, to-morrow are murmuring against him (Exo 14:1-31, ult., and 15:14).

3. Saving doctrine is sound doctrine.

4. Unsound persons cannot endure sound doc trine. It is salt which searcheth mens sores and puts them to pain. It is light which these sore eyes cannot endure, nor these thieves abide. They do evil, and therefore they hate the light (Joh 3:20). They do not only fear, but hate the light. They cannot endure to have the law preached, their consciences searched, nor their sins discovered. But as for sound men, they love sound doctrine; they desire it (Psa 43:3). They come to it (Joh 3:21), and bless God for it (1Sa 25:32-33).

5. In the last days there will be many false teachers. There will not be one or two, but there will be heaps of them, the world will swarm with them. Men will have variety of lusts, and those call for variety of teachers to uphold them. Good men, and especially good ministers, are rare, they are one of a thousand (Job 33:23), but wicked ones abound; there is much dross, but little gold; much chaff, but little wheat; many weeds, few good flowers. If the devil have any work to do, he wants no agents to effect it. If men once set open their doors, they shall not want deceivers. When men slight truth they shall have teachers which shall be Gods executioners to bind them and blind them, and lead them into error.

6. Observe, as all other parts of man, so amongst the rest the ear hath its diseases. Salt is fitter for such than oil: though it be more searching, yet it is more sovereign. This itching disease was never so common as in our days. There is a sinful spiritual itch upon the soul which is sevenfold–viz., an itch of–

(1) Novelty.

(2) Curiosity.

(3) Singularity.

(4) Popularity.

(5) Flattery.

(6) Disputing.

(7) Quarrelling. (T. Hall, B. D.)

Application in preaching objected to

A farmer went to hear John Wesley preach. The farmer was not a converted man; he cared little about religion; on the other hand, he was not what we call a bad man. His attention was soon excited and riveted. John said he should take up three topics of thought–he was speaking greatly about money. His first head was, Get all you can. The farmer nudged a neighbour and said, This is strange preaching. I never heard the like of this before. This is very good. Yon man has got things in him; it is admirable preaching. John discoursed of Industry, Activity, Living to purpose, and reached his second division, which was, Save all you can. The farmer became more excited. Was there ever anything like this? he said. Wesley denounced thriftlessness and waste, and he satirised the wilful wickedness which lavishes in luxury; and the farmer rubbed his hands, and he thought, All this have I been from my youth up; and what with getting, and what with hoarding, it seemed to him that salvation had come to his house. But Wesley advanced to his third head, which was, Give all you can. Ay dear, ay dear, said the farmer; he has gone and spoilt it all. There was now no further point of contact, no interest in the farmers mind. (Preachers Lantern.)

Itching ears.

Curious hearers

Some come to the Word preached, not so much to get grace, as to enrich themselves with notions–Itching ears (2Ti 4:3). Austin confesseth that before his conversion he went to hear St. Ambrose, rather for his eloquence than for the spirituality of the matter. Thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument. Many come to the Word only to feast their ears; they like the melody of the voice, the mellifluous sweetness of the expression, the newness of the notion (Act 17:21). This is to love the garnishing of the dish more than the food; this is to desire to be pleased rather than edified. Like a woman that paints her face, but neglects her health, so they paint and adorn themselves with curious speculations, but neglect their souls health. This hearing doth neither sanctify the heart, nor the Sabbath. (T. Watson.)

Shall be turned unto fables.–

Truth hidden when neglected

From these words we learn that there is such a thing as religious truth, and therefore such a thing as religious error. We learn that religious truth is one, and therefore that all views of religion but one are wrong. And we learn, moreover, that so it was to be that professed Christians, forgetting this, should turn away their ears from the one truth, and be turned, not to one, but to many fables. This is a most solemn thought, and a perplexing one. However, there is another which, though it ought not to be perplexing, is perplexing still, and perhaps has greater need to be considered and explained–I mean that men of learning and ability are so often wrong in religious matters also. Now, if we consult St. Pauls Epistles to the Corinthians, we shall find the same state of things existing even in the first age of Christianity. Even the apostle speaks of those who were blind, or to whom his Gospel was hid; and he elsewhere describes them, not as the uneducated and dull of understanding, but as the wise of this world, the scribe and the disputer. Does not our Saviour Himself say the same thing, when He thanks His Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that He hath hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes? Now it should not surprise us when men of acute and powerful understandings more or less reject the gospel, for this reason: that the Christian revelation addresses itself to our hearts, to our love of truth and goodness, our fear of sinning, and our desire to gain Gods favour and quickness, sagacity, depth of thought, strength of mind, power of comprehension, perception of the beautiful, power of language, and the like, though they are excellent gifts, are clearly quite of a different kind from these spiritual excellences–a man may have the one without having the other. This should be kept in mind when Christians are alarmed, as they sometimes are, on hearing instances of infidelity or heresy among those who read, reflect, and inquire; whereas, however we may mourn over such instances, we have no reason to be surprised at them. It is quite enough for Christians to be able to show, as they well can, that belief in revealed religion is not inconsistent with the highest gifts and acquirements of mind, that men even of the strongest and highest intellect have been Christians; but they have as little reason to be perplexed at finding other men of ability not true believers, as at finding that certain rich men are not true believers, or certain poor men, or some in every rank and circumstance of life. A belief in Christianity has hardly more connection with what is called talent, than it has with riches, station, power, or bodily strength. Now let me explain what I mean by a further remark. Is it not plain that earnestness is necessary for gaining religious truth? On the other hand, is it not a natural effect of ability to save us trouble, and even to tempt us to dispense with it, and to lead us to be indolent? Do not we see this even in the case of children–the more clever are the more idle, because they rely on their own quickness and power of apprehension? Is indolence the way to gain knowledge from God? Though there is no art or business of this world which is learned without time and exertion, yet it is commonly conceived that the knowledge of God and our duty will come as if by accident or by a natural process. Men go by their feelings and likings; they take up what is popular, or what comes first to hand. They think it much if they now and then have serious thoughts, if they now and then open the Bible; and their minds recur with satisfaction to such seasons, as if they had done some very great thing, never remembering that to seek and gain religious truth is a long and systematic work. And others think that education will do everything for them, and that if they learn to read, and use religious words, they understand religion itself. And others, again, go so far as to maintain that exertion is not necessary for discovering the truth. They say that religious truth is simple and easily acquired; that Scripture, being intended for all, is at once open to all, and that if it had difficulties, that very circumstance would be an objection to it. And others, again, maintain that there are difficulties in religion, and that this shows that it is an indifferent matter whether they seek or not as to those matters which are difficult. In these and other ways do men deceive themselves into a carelessness about religious truth. And is not all this varied negligence sufficient to account for the varieties of religious opinion which we see all around us? How are the sheep of Christs flock scattered abroad in the waste world! What religious opinion Can be named which some men Or other have not at some time held? All are equally confident in the truth of their own doctrines, though the many must be mistaken. In this confusion let us look to ourselves, each to himself. There must be a right and a wrong, and no matter whether others agree with us or not, it is to us a solemn practical concern not to turn away our ears from the truth. Let not the diversity of opinion in the world dismay you, or deter you from seeking all your life long true wisdom. It is not a search for this day or that, but as you should ever grow in grace, so should you ever grow also in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (“Plain Sermons by Contributors to Tracts for the Tithes.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 3. For the time will come] There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the practical truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of “deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me,” which Jesus Christ has left in his Church.

But after their own lusts] For these they will follow, and hate those preachers and that doctrine by which they are opposed.

Shall they heap to themselves teachers] They will add one teacher to another, run and gad about after all, to find out those who insist not on the necessity of bearing the cross, of being crucified to the world, and of having the mind that was in Jesus. In this disposition interested men often find their account; they set up for teachers, “and widen and strew with flowers the way, down to eternal ruin,” taking care to soothe the passions and flatter the vices of a trifling, superficial people.

Having itching ears] Endless curiosity, an insatiable desire of variety; and they get their ears tickled with the language and accent of the person, abandoning the good and faithful preacher for the fine speaker.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

For the time will come; this time always was, (as appears by the writings of the prophets), but it will come more and more; as the world grows older, it will grow more mad.

When they, very many that shall live in the world, yea, in the bosom of the church,

will not endure sound doctrine, will not endure that preaching which hath any soundness in it, or is of any tendency, life, power, or efficacy, to recover their souls from the diseases of sin and lusts.

But after their own lusts, but in favour of their own lusts, and to secure their satisfaction in them,

shall they heap to themselves teachers, will be finding out teachers, not according to Gods, but to their own hearts; and there will be plenty of them to be found, they shall heap them up, choosing them without any judgment, regarding nothing but whether they will not be smart upon their lusts.

Having itching ears; for their ears itch, and they must have those that will scratch them. The disease of lust in their souls brings forth an itch in their ears, that they will have a mind to hear only such as will by scratching please them.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

3. theyprofessing Christians.

sound doctrineGreek,“the sound (see on 1Ti 1:10)doctrine (didascalias)” or “teaching,” namely,of the Gospel. Presently follows the concrete, “teachers.”

after their own lustsInsteadof regarding the will of God they dislike being interrupted in theirlusts by true teachers.

heapone on another: anindiscriminate mass of false teachers. Variety delights itching ears.”He who despises sound teaching, leaves sound teachers; theyseek instructors like themselves” [BENGEL].It is the corruption of the people in the first instance, thatcreates priestcraft (Ex 32:1).

to themselvessuch aswill suit their depraved tastes; populus vult decipi, etdecipiatur“the people wish to be deceived, so let them bedeceived.” “Like priest, like people” (1Ki 12:31;Hos 4:9).

itchinglike to hearteachers who give them mere pleasure (Ac17:19-21), and do not offend by truths grating to their ears.They, as it were, tickle with pleasure the levity of the multitude[CICERO], who come as to atheater to hear what will delight their ears, not to learn [SENECA,Epistles, 10.8] what will do them good. “Itch in the earis as bad in any other part of the body, and perhaps worse”[SOUTH].

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

For the time will come,…. This is a reason of the solemn charge above given: the time referred to was future, when the apostle wrote, but quickly came on; and the characters of it have appeared more or less in all ages since; and in none more than in ours:

when they will not endure sound doctrine; the Gospel which contains the wholesome words of Christ, and is sound itself, having no corruption in it, and salutary in its effects to the souls of men; and yet such is the depravity of some men, both in principles and practice, that they cannot receive it, nor bear to hear it, turn their backs on it, express their indignation at it, and treat it not only with neglect, but with ridicule and contempt:

but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers; not being content with the ministry of one man only, or of a few, though of their own sort; but must follow many, and have heaps of them; which seems to express not only the number of false teachers which they accumulate to themselves, but the confused and indiscreet choice they make of them; and that after their own lusts; choosing to hear such as either indulge them in their sinful lusts and pleasures; or are agreeable to their private corrupt sentiments, in opposition to the generally received doctrine of faith. It is a blessing to have pastors and teachers after God’s heart, and who preach according to the word of God; these feed men with knowledge and understanding, Jer 3:15 but it is a curse upon a people, when they are left to choose teachers after their hearts’ lusts:

having itching ears; always desirous of new things, as the Athenians of old; or loving to have their ears scratched and tickled with smooth things; that are pleasing and agreeable to natural men, and carnal minds; as the purity of human nature, the power of man’s free will, the excellency of his righteousness, and the merit of his works, and the like; see Isa 30:9. Now, this being the case, should not discourage, but rather animate the ministers of the Gospel to preach it; for should they desist, in all likelihood the Gospel would soon be gone.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

A time when ( ). One of the (out of season) times.

Will not endure ( ). Future middle (direct) of . “Will not hold themselves back from” (Col. 3:13). Having itching ears ( ). Present middle (causative) participle of , late and rare form of the Attic , to scratch, to tickle, here only in N.T. “Getting the ears (the hearing, ) tickled.” The Vulgate has . Cf. the Athenians (Ac 17:21). Clement of Alexandria tells of speakers tickling () the ears of those who want to be tickled. This is the temptation of the merely “popular” preacher, to furnish the latest tickle.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

1) “For the time will come” (estai gar chairos) “For there will be a season;” make the most of the present time and opportunities, prepare for the worst, Mat 24:1-51.

2) “When they will not endure sound doctrine” (hote tes hugiainouses didaskalias ouk aneksontai) “When they will not bear with healthy, wholesome, or sound teaching,” of the Word; the they means professing Christians.

3) “But after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves” (alla kata tas idias epithumias heautois episoreusbusin) “But according to (or in keeping with) their own will or lusts they will heap to themselves, choose over them;” a corrupt will leads to a corrupt life, corrupt conduct, Hos 4:6-9.

4) “Teachers, having itching ears” (didoskalous knethomenoi ten akoen) “Teachers of ear-tickling kind,” men-pleasers, a rabble of teachers without holiness of character or conduct, Mat 7:13-19.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

3 For there will be a time (193) From the very depravity of men he shews how careful pastors ought to be; for soon shall the gospel be extinguished, and perish from the remembrance of men, if godly teachers do not labor with all their might to defend it. But he means that we must avail ourselves of the opportunity, while there is any reverence for Christ; as if one should say that, when a storm is at hand, we must not labor remissly, but must hasten with all diligence, because there will not afterwards be an equally fit season.

When they will not endure sound doctrine This means that they will not only dislike and despise, but will even hate, sound doctrine; and he calls it “sound (or healthful) doctrine,” with reference to the effect produced, because it actually instructs to godliness. In the next verse he pronounces the same doctrine to be truth, and contrasts it with fables, that is, useless imaginations, by which the simplicity of the gospel is corrupted.

First, let us learn from it, that the more extraordinary the eagerness of wicked men to despise the doctrine of Christ, the more zealous should godly ministers be to defend it, and the more strenuous should be their efforts to preserve it entire; and not only so, but also by their diligence to ward off the attacks of Satan. And if ever this ought to have been done, the great ingratitude of men has now rendered it more than necessary; for they who at first receive the gospel warmly, and make a show of some kind of uncommon zeal, afterwards contract dislike, which is by and by followed by loathing; others, from the very outset, either reject it furiously, or, contemptuously lending an ear, treat it with mockery; while others, not suffering the yoke to be laid on their neck, kick at it, and, through hatred of holy discipline, are altogether estranged from Christ and, what is worse, from being friends become open enemies. So far from this being a good reason why we should be discouraged and give way, we ought to fight against such monstrous ingratitude, and even to strive with greater earnestness than if all were gladly embracing Christ offered to them.

Secondly, having been told that men will thus despise and even reject the word of God, we ought not to stand amazed as if it were a new spectacle, when we see actually accomplished that which the Holy Spirit tells us will happen. And indeed, being by nature prone to vanity, it is no new or uncommon timing, if we lend an ear more willingly to fables than to truth.

Lastly, the doctrine of the gospel, being plain and mean in its aspect, is unsatisfactory partly to our pride, and partly to our curiosity. And how few are there who are endued with spiritual taste, so as to relish newness of life and all that relates to it! Yet Paul foretells some greater impiety of one particular age, against which he bids Timothy be early on his guard.

Shall heap up to themselves teachers It is proper to observe the expression, heap up, by which he means that the madness of men will be so great, that they will not be satisfied with a few deceivers, but will desire to have a vast multitude; for, as there is an unsatiable longing for those things which are unprofitable and destructive, so the world seeks, on all sides and without end, all the methods that it can contrive and imagine for destroying itself; and the devil has always at hand a sufficiently large number of such teachers as the world desires to have. There has always been a plentiful harvest of wicked men, as there is in the present day; and therefore Satan never has any lack of ministers to deceive men, as he never has any lack of the means of deceiving.

Indeed, this monstrous depravity, which almost constantly prevails among men, deserves that God, and his healthful doctrine, should be either rejected or despised by them, and that they should more gladly embrace falsehood. Accordingly, that false teachers frequently abound, and that they sometimes multiply like a nest of hornets, should be ascribed by us to the righteous vengeance of God. We deserve to be covered and choked by that kind of filth, seeing that the truth of God finds no place in us, or, if it has found entrance, is immediately driven from its possession; and since we are so much addicted to fabulous notions, that we never think that we have too great a multitude of deceivers. Thus what all abomination of Monks is there in Popery! If once godly pastor were to be supported, instead of ten Monks and as many priests, we should presently hear nothing else than complaints about the great expense. (194)

The disposition of the world is therefore such that, by “heaping up” with insatiable desire innumerable deceivers, it desires to banish all that belongs to God. Nor is there any other cause of so many errors than that men, of their own accord, choose to be deceived rather than to be properly instructed. And that is the reason why Paul adds the expression, itching ears. (195) When he wishes to assign a cause for so great an evil, he makes use of an elegant metaphor, by which he means, that the world will have ears so refined, and so excessively desirous of novelty, that it will collect for itself various instructors, and will be incessantly carried away by new inventions. The only remedy for this vice is, that believers be instructed to adhere closely to the pure doctrine of the gospel.

(193) “ Car un temps viendra.” — “For a time will come.”

(194) “ Incontinent on n’orroit autre chose que plaintes de la trop grande despense.”

(195) “The greater part cannot endure corrections, or threatenings, or even simple doctrine. When we denounce vices, though we do not employ violent language, they think that all is lost. Never was the world so obstinately wicked as it now is, and those who have made a profession of the gospel appear to endeavor, as far as they can, to destroy the grace of God. For we are not speaking about Papists only, who fight furiously against us, but of those who adhere to the Protestant Reformation of the Gospel. We see that they would wish to be like unbridled calves. (They care not about a yoke, or government, or anything of that sort.) Let them be allowed to do what they please, let blasphemies and all licentious conduct be permitted; it is all one, provided that they have no form of ceremony, and that they despise the Pope and idolaters. This is the way in which many who make a profession of the gospel would wish to be governed, but the reason is, that they have ‘itching ears.’” — Fr. Ser.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.Timothy must bear in mind that things in the Church of Christ on earth will not change for the better. The great drag-net of the Church, in its wide sweep, would keep drawing into its meshes something of every kind. Errors now just apparent, he must remember, would attain more formidable dimensions. The thirst for novelties in doctrine, the desire for a teaching which, while offering peace to a troubled conscience, would yet allow the old self-indulgent life to go on as before, would increase. In full view of this development of error, in sure expectation of a future full of anxious care, Timothy and his brother teachers must indeed be wakeful, watchful, and earnest in their preaching and ministrations. And the thought that more and ever more of the so-called Christians would dislike the preaching of the sound doctrine, as taught by the Apostle, the very knowledge of this growing unpopularity, must serve as an incentive to greater labour, more interest, and more loving activity on the part of Timothy and his companions.

But after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers.Their own lusts: this expression gives us some insight into the reason which led to this future apostasy of so many, concerning which St. Paul warned Timothy. Their own lusts, which, at all risks, they would gratify, would serve to alienate them from that severe and strictly moral school of Apostolic teaching, in which the sternest morality was bound up with purity of doctrine, to which school St. Pauls pupilsmen like Timothy and the presbyters of Ephesusbelonged. These worldly ones to whom St. Paul referred, reluctant to part with the hope Christianity taught, and unwilling to live the life which St. Paul and Timothy insisted upon as necessary to be lived by all those who would share in that glorious hope, sought out for themselves more indulgent teachers, who would flatter and gratify their hearers with novelties in doctrine, and would, at the same time, lay comparatively little stress on the pure and saintly life.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

3. For Reason for this urgent charge. The falling away, predicted. 2Ti 3:1-9; 1Ti 4:1-3.

Sound words, 2Ti 1:13.

Itching ears Ears that itch for pleasant doctrines, rather than severe truth.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.’

For a time is coming when ‘they’ (those who veer from the truth – 1 Timothy 1:6, 22; 1Ti 6:3-5; 1Ti 6:20 – and those who listen to them – 1Ti 3:6-7; 1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 4:1; 1Ti 6:21) will not be able to bear sound teaching. They will have ears that ‘itch with desire’ to learn the latest newfangled ideas (compare Act 17:21) and want to be tickled with the latest fancy. They will want to discover some teaching that will satisfy them and yet enable them to live as they like. They will look for teachers who pander to what they want (prophets who say ‘peace, peace’ where there is no peace – compare Jer 6:4; Jer 8:11; Eze 13:10). They will turn away their ears from the uncomfortable truth, preferring fables which sound fascinating, but make no demands on them and pander to their ‘spiritual’ taste buds. For they will not want truth, they will want what suits them. It was not difficult for Paul to foresee this, for he had already come across enough of such people himself, and was old in experience. But he was aware that young Timothy was still optimistic about reaching everyone effectively, and he wanted to ensure that he did not become disillusioned.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

2Ti 4:3. For the time will come This is another hint of the introduction of the grand apostacy, and it has been verified to an amazing degree. That is sound doctrine which promotes a holy life: it is the love of sin which renders men averse to sound doctrine, and puts them upon following such teachers as will gratify their humours and inclinations, and please their ears and fancies, without attacking or condemning their false opinions, or corrupt practices. Instead of shall, here and in the next verse, it is best to read will.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

2Ti 4:3-4 . Ground of the previous exhortation, , ] see 2Ti 2:16-17 , 2Ti 3:1 ff.

The shows that he is speaking not of the present (Heinrichs), but of the future; comp. 2Ti 3:1 ; 1Ti 4:1 .

] see 1Ti 1:10 .

] comp. Act 18:14 ; 2Co 11:4 . De Wette: “find intolerable, because not consistent with their desires.”

] “according to wilful, selfish lusts;” the accent is on a contrast to obedience under the divine will.

] ( . ., the simple form in 2Ti 3:6 ), “heap up, procure in abundance.” Heydenreich’s conjecture is groundless, that the word here has the suggestion of: they will set him up for a burden to themselves (Luther: “burden themselves”) for their own hurt; on the other hand, Chrysostom is right: , . We cannot but see that the word here is meant to indicate the contemptible part of their conduct. The does not compel us to follow Hofmann in his exposition: “in addition to those who represent sound doctrine;” what follows rather shows that they turn away from all such.

The reason is given in the words: . ( . .), tickle, cause to itch; , “be tickled in the ear,” i.e. feel a tickling in the ear ( being the accusative of more precise definition). This tickling is usually taken to mean a pleasant sensation; [57] so Hesychius: , and almost all expositors. But this view, before adopted in this commentary, is opposed by the fact that is purely imported. The present participle cannot mean: “that they wish to feel a tickling in the ear, but only that they do feel it.” Hofmann is therefore right in explaining this tickling of the ear to mean the desire of hearing something different from what they had heard before; “because they feel a tickling in the ear, they procure for themselves teachers after their own lusts.” 2Ti 4:4 . . . .] = . .

] see 1Ti 1:4 .

] see 1Ti 1:6 .

[57] Plutarch ( De Superst. p. 167): .

Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Ver. 3. Sound doctrine ] Which, as honey, vulnera purgat, ulcera mordet, purgeth green wounds, but causeth pain to exulcerate parts. (Alex. Aphtod. problem.) Children, though they love and lick in honey, yet will not endure to have it come near their lips when they have sore mouths. There are those who are mad against the medicine, and fly in the faces of their spiritual physicians that come to cure them: they are sick of a Noli me tangere, refuse to touch me, and had rather perish in their sins than part with them. These must be pitied as people out of their right minds, and pulled out of the devil’s paws; this, saith Jerome, is sancta violentia, optabilis rapina, a holy violence, a desirable rapine; they will thank us, if ever they recover; as if not, yet our reward is with the Lord. The physician is paid, whether the patient live or die. A minister must exhort “with all longsuffering,” and often sigh out with good old Jacob (troubled at his children’s untowardness), “Lord, I have waited for thy salvation,” Gen 49:18 .

Having itching ears ] Which must have clawing preachers; such as will never auriculas mordaci radere vero (Horat.), deal plainly and faithfully with their souls.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

3, 4 .] Reason why all these will be wanted . For there shall be a time when they (men, i.e. professing Christians, as the context shews) will not endure (not bear as being offensive to them: reff.) the healthy doctrine (reff.: viz. of the Gospel), but according to (after the course of) their own desires (instead of, in subjection to God’s providence) will to themselves (emphatic) heap up (one upon another: , Chrys. There is no meaning of ‘heap upon themselves,’ ‘to their own cost,’ as Luth., ‘ werden sie ihnen selbst Lehrer aufladen :’so Heydenr. also) teachers, having itching ears ( , Hesych.: ‘sermones qurunt vitia sua titillantes,’ Grot. This in fact amounts to the same as Chryrs.’s, , though De W. draws a distinction between them. Plut. de superst, p. 167 b (Wetst.), : see more examples in Wetst.), and shall avert their ears from the truth, and be turned aside (ref. and note) to fables (the art. seems to imply that they would be at least like the fables already believed: see 1Ti 1:4 , and cf. Ellic. here).

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

2Ti 4:3 . : See note on 1Ti 1:10 .

: here, as constantly, has merely the force of a possessive pronoun. See on 1Ti 3:4 .

: coacervabunt (Vulg.). “He shews the indiscriminate multitude of the teachers, as also their being elected by their disciples” (Chrys.).

: prurientes auribus (Vulg.). The same general idea is expressed in (2Ti 3:7 ). Their notion of a teacher was not one who should instruct their mind or guide their conduct, but one who should gratify their sthetic sense. Cf. Eze 33:32 , “Thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, &c.” The desire for pleasure is insatiable, and is increased or aggravated by indulgence; hence the heaping up of those who may minister to it. Ell. quotes appropriately from Philo, Quod Det. Pot . 21, [ ] .

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson

time = season.

come = be.

not. App-106.

sound = the sound. See 1Ti 1:10.

doctrine. Greek. didaskalia, as 1Ti 4:6.

after. App-104.

heap. Greek. episoreuo. Only here.

having itching ears = itching in regard to hearing.

itching. Greek. knetho. Only here.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

3, 4.] Reason why all these will be wanted. For there shall be a time when they (men, i.e. professing Christians, as the context shews) will not endure (not bear-as being offensive to them: reff.) the healthy doctrine (reff.: viz. of the Gospel), but according to (after the course of) their own desires (instead of, in subjection to Gods providence) will to themselves (emphatic) heap up (one upon another: , Chrys. There is no meaning of heap upon themselves, to their own cost, as Luth., werden sie ihnen selbst Lehrer aufladen:so Heydenr. also) teachers, having itching ears ( , Hesych.: sermones qurunt vitia sua titillantes, Grot. This in fact amounts to the same as Chryrs.s, , though De W. draws a distinction between them. Plut. de superst, p. 167 b (Wetst.), : see more examples in Wetst.), and shall avert their ears from the truth, and be turned aside (ref. and note) to fables (the art. seems to imply that they would be at least like the fables already believed: see 1Ti 1:4, and cf. Ellic. here).

Fuente: The Greek Testament

2Ti 4:3. ) will be, and now is, ch. 2Ti 3:1.-, doctrine) The concrete follows, teachers. He who despises sound doctrine, leaves sound teachers; they seek instructors like themselves.[13]-) carnal lusts, in the indulgence of which they are unwillingly interrupted by true teachers, and the seasoning of which they seek in the sweetness of softer (laxer) doctrine.-, they shall heap up) A weighty compound, denoting abundance. Variety delights those who have itching ears.

[13] Similes labra lactucas qurunt. Our proverb is, like teacher, like pupil, or like priest, like people.-TR.

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament

2Ti 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine;-Paul urges that this be done the more earnestly while it may do good, for the time will come when these professed Christians will not endure the sound doctrine. Errors now just apparent, he must remember, would attain more formidable dimensions. The thirst for novelties in doctrine, the desire for a teaching which, while offering peace to a troubled conscience, yet allow the old self-indulgent life to go on, as before, would increase. In full view of this development of vicious error, in sure expectation of a future full of anxious care, Timothy and his fellow laborers must indeed be watchful and earnest in their teachings and ministrations.

but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;-They will serve teachers who will gratify their own desires by teaching the things that please their own fancy, that gratify the itching of their own ears. The prophet describes them in the following terse words: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings. And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah. (Hos 4:6-10.) That is, teachers can always be found who will teach what the people wish to be taught. As they are catered to, they grow more and more depraved in appetite, and in hearing they will wax worse and worse. When we leave the truth of God, there is no stopping place.

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

the time: 2Ti 3:1-6, 1Ti 4:1-3

they will: 1Ki 22:8, 1Ki 22:18, 2Ch 16:9, 2Ch 16:10, 2Ch 24:20-22, 2Ch 25:15, 2Ch 25:16, Isa 28:12, Isa 33:9-11, Jer 6:16, Jer 6:17, Jer 18:18, Amo 7:10-17, Luk 20:19, Joh 8:45, Gal 4:16

sound: 1Ti 1:10

but: 2Ti 3:6, 1Ki 18:22, 2Ch 18:4, 2Ch 18:5, Jer 5:31, Jer 23:16, Jer 23:17, Jer 27:9, Jer 29:8, Mic 2:11, Luk 6:26, Joh 3:19-21, 2Pe 2:1-3

having: Exo 32:33, Act 17:21,*Gr: 1Co 2:1, 1Co 2:4

Reciprocal: 1Ki 22:6 – the prophets together Job 21:14 – for we Psa 50:17 – hatest Pro 15:12 – scorner Pro 17:4 – General Pro 28:9 – turneth Ecc 9:18 – sinner Isa 9:15 – the prophet Jer 6:10 – the word Jer 23:26 – prophets of Jer 27:15 – that I Eze 13:18 – that sew Dan 11:34 – cleave Mat 7:15 – which Mat 13:25 – men Mat 13:47 – and gathered Mat 18:7 – for Joh 10:5 – General Act 20:30 – of your 1Co 3:12 – wood 1Co 4:15 – ye have 1Co 14:38 – General 2Co 2:17 – which 2Co 11:3 – so 2Co 11:13 – false Gal 1:7 – pervert Eph 4:14 – tossed Phi 3:2 – evil 2Th 2:3 – except 1Ti 4:6 – good doctrine 1Ti 6:3 – to wholesome 2Ti 3:7 – learning 2Ti 3:10 – my Tit 1:9 – sound 1Jo 2:18 – ye have 1Jo 4:5 – and

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2Ti 4:3. Among the things predicted to get worse (chapter 3:13), was the growing dislike for the teaching of the word, especially that part of it that condenms a sinful life. When the term sound is used with reference to the physical body, it means to be in good health. When used of doctrine or teaching, it signifies the kind of in struction that will result in good moral and spiritual health. But evil men are not interested in that kind of health, hence they will not endure or put up with such teaching. They want the kind that will allow them to feel comfortable in the midst of their corrupt practices. To do so, they seek to obtain men who will give them that kind of teaching. A faithful pro-claimer of the word will not try to tickle the itching ears of these lustful pretenders, hence they seek for the kind of teachers who are as bad as they–men whose lives are also fashioned after the lusts like those of the hearers with itching ears. This verse might seem clearer if the construction would be arranged as follows: “They will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, they will heap to themselves teachers who practice their own lusts.”

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

2Ti 4:3. The time shall come. Better, there shall be a season. The Greek is the same word as in season, out of season, and gives the reason for that command. Make the most of any season, whether good or bad, now, for before long you will find none willing to listen.

Sound doctrine. Better, as in previous passages, healthy teaching

Heap to themselves. The word is the same as the laden of 2Ti 3:6, and was probably suggested by it.

Having itching ears. Another example of St. Pauls medical phraseology. Those of whom he speaks are, as it were, suffering mentally from a pruritus aurium, which is soothed by external applications of fantastic myths and high-flown phrases.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Here we have the reason of our apostle’s solemn adjuration in the foregoing verses, by which he stirs up Timothy to a careful discharge of his duty; namely, in regard of the apostasy of the times, in which many would grow weary of sound doctrine, and follow fables.

Here note, 1. The ground of this apostasy: men’s hatred of the truth: They will not endure sound doctrine, that is, they will reject and abhor it; they love their lusts above God’s law, and will not endure to hear it.

A second ground of their apostasy is, a delight in false teachers: they heap up to themselves such as will claw their itching ears, and gratify their wanton desires, and in now wise disturb their lusts.

Thirdly, Here is the doleful issue and dreadful consequence of this their malicious contempt of the truth; they shall turn away their hearts from the truth, and be turned unto fables; that is, say some, to the fabulous traditions of the Jewish doctors, say others.

Learn hence, 1. That Christian doctrine is sound doctrine, wholesome words.

2. Unsound persons cannot endure sound doctrine; sore eyes cannot abide the light.

3. That in the last days there will be many teachers to claw and gratify itching ears.

4. That the more false teachers do abound, the more careful and industrious should the ministers of Christ be to oppose them, by preaching sound doctrine.

Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

Verse 3

Heap to themselves teachers; by listening to every teacher that offers instruction, however false his pretensions.

Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament

Week 11

2Ti 4:3-8

A FAITHFUL SERVANT IS REWARDED

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

Ah, where the church in general lives today. The congregations do not like to be told of sin lest they know what they do is wrong – ya – right as if they don’t know it is wrong – they just don’t like to hear it verbalized.

Many leave churches because they don’t like what they are hearing – the truth – they find some place where the preacher finds new and interesting ways to skirt the issues of sin and righteousness.

Years ago I knew a man that was totally against divorce – until he met a lady that proved that God wouldn’t put that kind of restriction on his happiness – he began teaching many reasons for divorce.

The sad part is that the church did not call him on his error – they most likely liked his way of thinking. He continued on as their pastor. Another pastor had an affair with one of the church women, divorced his wife and married the adulteress that had by then also divorced.

The term heap could be translated “accumulate in piles” – stack up that false teaching so you can dig through it and find rationalization for your sin.

Itching is a word that means to scratch – to relieve discomfort – to hear something pleasant. Now isn’t that a most descriptive word for todays drivel in so many pulpits.

Scratching that makes your discomfort of sin go away. I wonder if the word wasn’t chosen by Paul to relate to the fact that many itches return almost immediately and need more scratching – might relate to why false teaching gains such a large audience.

Two Problems: On the one hand we have congregations that call this sort of man to pastor their church, and then there are this sort of man out there waiting to be called.

There is a congregational responsibility to reject such, and there is a school responsibility not to turn out such men. The school has a double responsibility. Their training should never produce this sort of man, yet if they do crank out one, they should take responsibility to declare him for what he is if anyone comes looking for references.

They should never give good reference to a seeker of information, and they should consider not granting a diploma/degree.

When teaching we had a very nice student that was way off in the area of eschatology. It was of great concern to the faculty and ultimately led us to refrain from granting him his diploma. He knew this was coming as the school bylaws required general assent to the school doctrinal statement.

Schools have a responsibility in this area whether they like it or not. We might speak briefly to the idea of ordination as we have it today. This is another process by which this type of man should be weeded out.

Most ordination councils are scheduled the same day as the ordination service – that is wrong – there should be a viewing of the man with time given to consider his worth and value to the church universal. Today it is very nearly a rubber stamp process – if they ask for ordination – make him sweat but give it to him, seems to be the practice.

Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson

4:3 {2} For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

(2) Faithful pastors in times past took all occasions they could, because men were very prompt and ready to return to their fables.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

Paul explained the reason for this charge next. "They" are the people to whom Timothy and his followers would preach: his listeners. In the end time they would not tolerate the truth but would only listen to speakers who told them what they wanted to hear (false doctrine, entertainment, etc.; cf. 2Ti 3:6). Paul pictured people who would be bored by, apathetic to, and annoyed by sound doctrine.

"In other words, they have made themselves the measure of who should teach them and what teaching is acceptable." [Note: Knight, p. 455.]

Moreover they would choose to believe myths rather than the truth (e.g., atheistic evolution, humanism, reincarnation, etc.; cf. 1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 4:7; Tit 1:14). The context seems to indicate that these people were believers (cf. Luk 8:13; 1Ti 4:1; Heb 3:12; 2Ti 2:12). Earle believed the phrase "sound doctrine" is the key one in the Pastorals (cf. 1Ti 1:10). [Note: Earle, "2 Timothy," p. 411.]

"Timothy’s major responsibility in Ephesus was to defend and proclaim sound doctrine." [Note: Ibid.]

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)