Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 3:4
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
4. traitors, heady, highminded ] The last triad again descending, false and forward and full of conceit, the spirit of one who ‘with a light heart’ (1) betrays old friends, and (2) rushes headlong on new faiths, and (3) remains to the end impenetrably wrapped in clouds of self-esteem. The second word only occurs Act 19:36, ‘to do nothing rash’; the third has been explained 1Ti 6:4; cf. 1Ti 3:6; a purely ‘pastoral’ phrase in N.T., though thoroughly classical. Note the weight and force of the perfect participle closing the list of epithets. Cf. 2Ti 2:25. The A.V. ‘highminded’ has entirely changed its meaning, as Rom 11:20 shews, ‘be not highminded, but fear.’ Cf. Lightfoot, Revision of N. T. p. 175; and see note on 1Ti 6:17.
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God ] Both compounds only occurring here, like the similar compounds ‘self-lovers’ and ‘money-lovers’ with which the passage opens. The word for ‘pleasures’ is always in a bad sense in N.T., Luk 8:14 ‘choked with pleasures of this life.’ So Jas 4:1; Jas 4:3; 2Pe 2:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Traitors – This word is used in the New Testament only here and in Luk 6:16; Act 7:52. It means any one who betrays – whether it be a friend or his country. Treason has been in all ages regarded as one of the worst crimes that man can commit.
Heady – The same word in Act 19:36, is rendered rashly. It occurs only there and in this place in the New Testament. It properly means falling forwards; prone, inclined, ready to do anything; then precipitate, headlong, rash. It is opposed to that which is deliberate and calm, and here means that men would be ready to do anything without deliberation, or concern for the consequences. They would engage in enterprises which would only disturb society, or prove their own ruin.
High-minded – Literally, puffed up; compare the notes at 1Ti 3:6, where the same word is rendered lifted up with pride. The meaning is, that they would be inflated with pride or self-conceit.
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God – That is, of sensual pleasures, or vain amusements. This has been, and is, the characteristic of a great part of the world, and has often distinguished even many who profess religion. Of a large portion of mankind it may be said that this is their characteristic, that they live for pleasure; they have no serious pursuits; they brook no restraints which interfere with their amusements, and they greatly prefer the pleasures to be found in the gay assembly, in the ball-room, or in the place of low dissipation, to the friendship of their Creator.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Traitors] . From , before, and , to deliver up. Those who deliver up to an enemy the person who has put his life in their hands; such as the Scots of 1648, who delivered up into the hands of his enemies their unfortunate countryman and king, Charles the First; a stain which no lapse of ages can wipe out.
Heady] . From , forwards, and , to fall; headstrong, precipitate, rash, inconsiderate.
High-minded] . From , smoke; the frivolously aspiring; those who are full of themselves, and empty of all good.
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God] This is nervously and beautifully expressed in the Greek, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; i.e. pleasure, sensual gratification, is their god; and this they love and serve; God they do not.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Traitors; prodotai signifies the betraying of any trust, or a falsehood to any person to whom we are obliged. It is in Scripture applied to Judas, Luk 6:16, and to the Jews that crucified Christ, Act 7:52. The verb whence it derives is by authors applied to persons, places, and causes: it signifies that in the latter times there should be a general falsehood amongst men; see Mat 10:21; falsehood towards their superiors, their relation, profession, &c.
Heady; rash, inconsiderate.
High-minded; blown up as bladders with an opinion of their own deserts.
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; voluptuous men, not using what God hath given them with a moderate satisfaction and delight in them, but contrary to Gods commandments, and thereby showing that they have more love for the gratification of their sensitive appetite than the pleasing of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. headyprecipitate in actionand in passion.
high-mindedliterally,”puffed up” with pride, as with smoke blinding them.
lovers of pleasure . . .GodLove of pleasure destroys the love and sense of God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Traitors,…. To their princes and sovereigns, whose deaths they have contrived and compassed, and whom they have assassinated and murdered; and have been betrayers of the secrets of persons, which they have come at by auricular confession to them; and of their best and nearest friends, to preserve and secure themselves.
Heady; rash, daring, bold, and impudent, fit to say and do any thing, though ever so vile and wicked.
High, minded; puffed and swelled up with a vain conceit of themselves, and speaking great swelling words of vanity;
lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; lovers of sinful pleasures, or the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, and not God; serving divers lusts and pleasures, and not God; making a god of their belly; sensual idolaters, delighting themselves in their carnal lusts, and not in the service of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Traitors (). Old word (from ), in N.T. only here, Luke 6:16; Acts 7:52.
Headstrong (). Old word (from and ), falling forward, in N.T. only here and Ac 19:36.
Puffed up (). Perfect passive participle of . See 1Ti 3:6.
Lovers of pleasure (). Literary Koine word (, ), only here in N.T.
Lovers of God (). Old word (, ), only here in N.T.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Traitors [] . Or betrayers. Only here, Luk 6:16; Act 7:52. Heady [] . Precipitate, reckless, headstrong in the pursuit of a bad end under the influence of passion. Only here and Act 19:36. In LXX, slack, loose, hence foolish, Pro 10:14, and dividing or parting asunder, as the lips; of one who opens his lips and speaks hastily or thoughtlessly, Pro 13:3. Comp. Sir. 9 18.
High – minded [] . Better, besotted or clouded with pride. See on 1Ti 3:6, and comp. 1Ti 6:4.
Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God [ ] . Pleasure – lovers rather than God – lovers. Both words N. T. o. o LXX
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Traitors” (prodotai) “Betrayers,” treacherous persons, like Judas, Luk 6:16; Luk 21:16; and the Jews, Act 7:52.
2) “Heady” (propeteis) “Reckless,” headstrong, precipitate in actions and passions, like a hot-head.
3) “Highminded” (teuphomenoi) “Having been puffed up,” with pride, like a puff-adder, Rom 11:20; 1Ti 6:17.
4) “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God-“ (philedonoi mallon e philotheoi) “Pleasure-lovers rather than God-lovers.” 1Jn 2:15-17; Psa 5:4; 1Ti 5:6; 2Pe 2:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) Traitors.Or, betrayers, probably, as it has been suggested, of their Christian brethren. (Comp. Luk. 6:16, where this epithet is used of Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor; and also Act. 7:52, where Stephen, in his Sanhedrin speech, uses this term betrayers of the Jews, of whomthe Just Oneye have been now the betrayers. In these days of Timothy, and for many a long year, to inform against the believers in Jesus of Nazareth, to give information of their places of meeting in times of persecution, was often a profitable though a despicable work.
Heady.Better rendered, headstrong in words, or thoughts, or actions.
Highminded.Better translated, blinded by pride. (See 1Ti. 3:6.)
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.Men who would make any sacrifice to procure a fleeting pleasure, and who would give nothing up in order to do honour to the eternal but invisible God. Need the ministers of the Lord tarry for the last period preceding the return of Messiah for judgmentwhen a still more awful iniquity shall reignfor examples of these short-sighted mortals? The sorrowful catalogue began with love of self, that unhappy vice which excludes all love for others; it closes with that love of pleasure which shuts out all love of God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Traitors Ready to sacrifice a friend for self-interest.
Heady Headstrong, impetuous, rushing heedless in their own course.
Highminded Puffed up and swelling with self-conceit.
Lovers of pleasures God A clear and striking antithesis, but too descriptive of most of the world.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ti 3:4. Traitors Betrayers of civil and sacred trusts, and delivering up even their nearer relations to miseries and death.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Ver. 4. Heady ] Head long and head strong, rash and inconsiderate, Qui non vident , that look not well about them, but make desperate adventures. The Greek word signifieth such as fly before they are fledged.
Lovers of pleasure ] Not considering that the pleasure passeth, but the pain that attends it is perpetual, . (Chrysost.) Momentaneum est quod delectat, aeternum quod cruciat. Let not men take pleasure in pleasure. It was not simply a sin in Esau to go a hunting; but yet the more he used it, the more profane he waxed, and came at length to contemn his birthright. Who are void of the Spirit but sensual ones? Jdg 1:18-19 . Who say to God, Depart from us, but those that dance? Job 21:10-11 . Better be preserved in brine than rot in honey. These pleasure mongers are at last as the worst of all. Such a one was Catullus, who wished all his body were nose, that he might spend all his time in sweet smells. Such was Philoxenus, who likewise wished that his neck were as long as a crane’s, that he might take more delight in meats and drinks. Such was Boccas the poet, who said that he was born por l’amore delle donne, for the love of women. But in the kingdom of pleasure virtue cannot consist. These voluptuaries (as one saith of them) are, Magis solliciti de mero quam de vero: Magisque amantes mundi delicias quam Christi divitias: as those recusant guests; the worst of all whom, and least excusable, was that epicure, who had married a wife, and therefore could not come.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ti 3:4 . : has no special reference to persecution of Christians.
: See note on 1Ti 3:6 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Traitors. Greek. prodotes. Only here; Luk 6:16. Act 7:52.
heady = headstrong. See Act 19:36,
highminded = puffedup. See 1Ti 3:6,
lovers, &c. Greek. philedonos. Only here,
lovers of God. Greek. philotheos. Only here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ti 3:4. ) rash, those who are headstrong [Engl. Vers. heady] in acting, etc.-, [high-minded] puffed up) 1Ti 6:4, note; as if a person should be so suffocated with smoke (), that he has no longer power over his mind. Such is the condition to which pride brings men.-, lovers of pleasure) An epithet of the Epicureans. Pleasure destroys the love and sense of God. Such are our Epicureans.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Ti 3:4
traitors,-Those ready to betray any person or trust committed to their keeping. Treason has been in all ages regarded as one of the worst crimes that man can commit.
headstrong,-[Stubbornly bent on pursuing ones own plans or accomplishing ones own ends; obstinate; willful, ungovernable.]
puffed up,-[Self-conceit, like smoke without substance, puffed out into great volume, envelops and blinds them, distorting and magnifying their views of themselves as compared with others.]
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;-More ready to follow sensual pleasures than to follow the law of God. [They are people who would make any sacrifice to procure a fleeting pleasure and who would give nothing up in order to do honor to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sorrowful catalogue which has just passed before our minds began with lovers of self, that unhappy vice which excludes all love for others, closes with the lovers of pleasure which shuts out all love of God.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Traitors: 2Pe 2:10-22, Jud 1:8, Jud 1:9
highminded: Rom 11:20, 1Ti 6:17
lovers of God: Rom 16:18, Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19, 1Ti 5:6, 2Pe 2:13, 2Pe 2:15, Jud 1:4, Jud 1:19
Reciprocal: Deu 32:41 – them that hate Psa 52:3 – lovest Pro 21:17 – loveth Mat 22:5 – one Luk 12:19 – take Joh 15:24 – hated Rom 1:25 – the creature Rom 8:7 – the carnal mind 1Ti 6:4 – He 2Ti 3:2 – lovers Jam 5:5 – have lived
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ti 3:4. Traitors are those who will turn against their best friends if they oppose their evil ways, using underhanded means to overcome them. Heady means to be rash, inclined to plunge forward without “thinking twice before the leap.” Highminded is another word for “proud,” and it is used for those who are puffed up over some imaginary personal merit. Lovers of pleasures. The last word does not occur here as a separate term, hence we cannot give a specified definition of it as we can in other passages. It is also true that the simple word “pleasure” is not definite as to whether lawful or unlawful enjoyment is meant; the context in each case must determine that. But regardless of this distinction, the sin in our passage consists in loving pleasure more than loving God. Even things that are right in themselves will become evil if they are preferred above God. (See Mat 10:37.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Ti 3:4. Heady. Better, headlong.
High-minded. The same word as 1Ti 3:6, 1Ti 6:4, fevered or delirious with pride.
Lovers of pleasures. Better, as contrasting more pointedly the two objects of love, Movers of pleasure in the singular.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
They would also be (15) disposed toward betrayal, treacherous (prodotai), and (16) headstrong, reckless (propeteis). They would be (17) conceited (tetyphomenoi), puffed up with pride, wrapped in a mist of self-delusion, and (18) devoted to personal pleasure (philedonoi) rather than to God (philotheoi).
This "vice list" is quite similar to the one in Rom 1:29-31. [Note: A. T. Hanson, The Pastoral Epistles, p. 144. See René A. López, "A Study of Pauline Passages with Vice Lists," Bibliotheca Sacra 168:671 (July-September 2011):301-16.] Vice lists were commonly used in Greco-Roman rhetoric to caricature an opponent. They often employed the repetition of sound and other rhythmic devices to increase the impact. [Note: See Towner, The Letters . . ., pp. 552-53.]
Paul wrote this list of 18 characteristics in a somewhat chiastic arrangement. His list begins and ends with two groups of two words expressing a misdirection of love. Then come two groups with three terms each that focus on pride and hostility toward others. Then come two groups, five words followed by three words, all of which begin with a in the Greek text that negate some good quality that God’s common grace affords. These eight words-the first one is in a two-word phrase-depict people who are devoid of the most basic characteristics of human life. The center of the chiasm is the word diaboloi, meaning slanderers, devilish people (cf. 2Ti 2:26; 1Ti 3:11; Tit 2:3). [Note: Knight, pp. 429-32.]