2 Timothy– Chapter Three III

by Ed Urzi

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

2 Timothy 3:2-5 provides us with several distinctive attributes that characterize the cultural attitude of the last days. As mentioned previously, this time period will prove to be “grievous” (ASV), “perilous” (NKJV), “difficult” (GNB), or “violent” (GW). These words communicate an atmosphere of threat, menace, danger, and hostility towards Christ and those who follow Him.

You see, this passage describes a world that has turned against its Creator and holds no interest in emulating His character. In identifying the personality traits that will mark this period, Paul the Apostle begins by observing that people will be lovers of themselves. Today, we might use a descriptive term such as,  self-centered, conceited, egotistical, or narcissistic to describe such individuals.

This is important, for a person who seeks to reject the idea of a Creator must replace Him with something else on the priority scale of life. That “something else” might be a person, an idea, an object, or anything that someone loves, fears, or respects above all else.

For instance, a person who is searching for the most attractive substitute for God often needs to look no further than him or herself. Thus, the needs, wants, and priorities of self take precedence over the Creator’s agenda. This may lead to the type of narcissistic mindset that is described for us in the passage quoted above.

A love of money then follows that characteristic. One perceptive commentator links this character quality with a “love of self” in the following manner: “This is a natural outgrowth of self-love. We cannot pamper self without money.” (1) These are important attributes to note, for whenever someone places a love for self and a love for money above his or her love for God, bad things are sure to follow. Thus, as we were reminded earlier in 1 Timothy 6:10-11…

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:10-11).

(1) Don De Welt, Paul’s Letters to Timothy and Titus, [Comment on 2 Timothy 3:2] College Press, Joplin, Missouri Copyright 1961