This is the third installment in a short series on 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Last time, we dealt with “lovers of their own selves” and we saw that in society today, this is largely what people are becoming and have become. People want what is best for themselves first and foremost.
Today’s subject deals with the subcategoriesattached to that main category of people loving themselves (as we discussed last time), and Paul lists numerous. In fact, the entirety of verse 2 after “men shall be lovers of their own selves” are simply adjectives that support his thesis.
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)
Let’s take a few moments to look at all these adjectives, shall we? We’re just dealing with the remainder of verse 2 in this particular article.
covetous
boasters
proud
blasphemers
disobedient to parents
unthankful
unholy
That’s quite a list, isn’t it? To covet something means to earnestly desire it and it usually has to do with wanting what you cannot normally have, often due to affordability or availability. In at least some cases, people might covet something so badly that they are willing to break the law to obtain it.
Let’s take a closer look at verse 2, which talks about exactly how corrupt humanity will become as we approach the end of days prior to the return of Jesus. By the way, it is important to keep things in context and in chapter two, Paul has just finished telling Timothy that false teachers (heretics) would introduce false doctrines (heresy) into the Church. Because of this, the Church itself would begin to move away from its true Anchor, doctrinally speaking. This would bring about a change in the way people/Christians see themselves and God, as always happens.
In fact, our view of God, others and ourselves is always based on what we believe. That’s not hard to understand. So it is of the utmost importance to understand the reality of who God is, our relationship to Him and what He expects from us as Christians.
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