2 Timothy 3:1-9
A Form of Godliness
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1But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
4traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
6They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions,
7who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
9But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.
Berean Standard Bible
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Paul warns Timothy about terrible times marked by corrupt loves and conduct. People will love themselves, money and pleasure rather than God. Pride, abuse, ingratitude, betrayal and a lack of self-control will accompany those desires.
Such people may still display a form of godliness while denying its power. Religious appearance can coexist with a refusal to submit to God. Timothy is told to turn away from them; their vocabulary and appearance do not make their influence safe.
Paul describes teachers entering households and captivating vulnerable women burdened by sins and led by various passions. Continual learning has not brought these hearers to knowledge of the truth. The warning concerns both deceptive influence and desires that leave people open to it. It is not a description of all women or a criticism of learning itself.
Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses; these men likewise oppose the truth and are disqualified from the faith. Their advance has a limit, and their folly will become plain. That promise gives Timothy confidence while he takes the warning seriously. He must refuse their influence and continue in the truth rather than trusting a religious appearance.
Questions
1 Which loves does Paul connect with the coming troubles?
AnswerHe describes love of self, money and pleasure taking the place of love for God, accompanied by pride and harmful conduct.
2 What is wrong with a form of godliness without its power?
AnswerIt preserves religious appearance while refusing God's authority over life. Timothy must not mistake that appearance for faithful obedience.
3 What danger does Paul describe within households?
AnswerDeceptive teachers captivate vulnerable women burdened by sins and passions, leaving them continually learning without coming to knowledge of the truth.
4 What limit does Paul place on these teachers' success?
AnswerTheir folly will become plain, as with the men who opposed Moses. They will not advance indefinitely against God's truth.
What This Means for Us
Consider whose teaching you welcome into your home. Look at both the message and the conduct it encourages. A religious reputation should not excuse manipulation, greed or abuse.
Examine your own response as well. If learning about God never leads to repentance and obedience, ask what you are resisting. Seek trustworthy help with the sins or desires that make a false promise attractive.
Prayer
Lord, protect our household from deceptive teaching and hollow religion. Expose our wrong desires, bring us to the knowledge of Your truth and make our worship visible in love and obedience. Amen.