“having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:5 ESV).
Before we leave this passage, we should pause to consider some important insights from the following commentators and their efforts to advance our understanding of this passage…
“Having a form of godliness but denying its power. That is an accurate description of much of the church today. They observe rituals, and have a form of godliness, but there is no power there. Churches have often just become social centers, where you can get some entertaining messages dealing with psychological issues, and hear some inspiring music, but the power of God is lacking. You can learn all the practical steps toward having a better life, how to communicate, how to quit smoking, how to raise your children, how to invest your money, and it is often good advice; but the power of God is left out. Jesus said, ‘Without Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5).” (1)
“All that is left of the Christianity of such men is the outward form; they are dead while they live. There is no power to overcome for they are servants of sin. The form of godliness is only maintained because of its advantage to them. What a tragic picture: the walking dead! It is no wonder Paul instructs Timothy to withdraw fellowship from such persons.” (2)
“Outwardly these people seem religious. They make a profession of Christianity, but their actions speak louder than their words. By their ungodly behavior, they show that they are living a lie. There is no evidence of the power of God in their lives. While there might have been reformation, there never was regeneration… Phillips puts it: ‘They will maintain a façade of ‘religion’ but their conduct will deny its validity.’ They want to be religious and to have their sins at the same time (cf. Rev_3:14-22). Hiebert warns: ‘It is the fearful portrayal of an apostate Christendom, a new paganism masquerading under the name of Christianity.'” (3)
“Paul was here speaking of the general apostasy in which evil souls would themselves be in control of the visible machinery of the church; and the thought seems to be directed to the proposition that the true Christian should himself turn away from the corrupt majority. There have been many historical examples of that situation… When one becomes convinced that a whole communion of professing Christians has so far departed from the word of God that he must turn away from them, the social consequences can be very unpleasant.” (4)
(1) Chuck Smith, The Word For Today Bible, study note on 2 Timothy 3:5, pg. 1598
(2) Don De Welt, Paul’s Letters to Timothy and Titus, [Comment on 2 Timothy 3:5] College Press, Joplin, Missouri Copyright 1961
(3) William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, pg. 2120
(4) Coffman, James Burton. “Commentary on 2 Timothy 3”. “Coffman Commentaries on the Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc/2-timothy-3.html. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.