In contrast to the hope expressed at the end of the preceding chapter.

Denoting the present age (2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 1:18), which began with Christ's first coming (1 Pet. 1:20) and will last until His second appearing. That this period was to be lengthy was not revealed to the apostles (Matt. 24:36); they expected the Lord to return in their generation.

Or, hard times, grievous times, perilous times.

The prophetic picture presented in vv. 2-5 portrays not the evil condition of the non-Christian society but the corrupted situation of the great house mentioned in 2 Tim. 2:20, which is Christianity in decline. This is proved by the phrase having an outward form of godliness in v. 5. Non-Christians do not have even the outward form of godliness.

In 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus seven kinds of lovers are mentioned:
1) lovers of self,
2) lovers of money (v. 2; 1 Tim. 6:10),
3) lovers of pleasure,
4) lovers of God (v. 4),
5) lovers of good (Titus 1:8),
6) lovers of husbands,
7) lovers of children (Titus 2:4).

Also, two kinds of nonlovers are mentioned:
1) nonlovers of good,
2) nonlovers of God (vv. 3-4).
Whatever one loves, his whole heart, even his entire being, is set on and occupied and possessed by. This is crucial! Whether there would be a day of glory in the church's victory or grievous days of the church's decline depends altogether on what kind of lovers we are. History tells us that the root of the church's decline was the loss of her first love toward the Lord (Rev. 2:4). To maintain the victorious standard of the church, we must be lovers of God and lovers of the good that pertains to God's economy.

Or, haughty.

Lit., blasphemers; as in 1 Tim. 1:13. Here, however, it does not refer to blasphemers of God but to revilers or railers, those who speak evilly and injuriously against men.

Or, ungrateful.

Or, irreconcilable.

Or, betrayers.

Or, headstrong.

See note 1 Tim. 3:6^2a.

In this picture there are three kinds of lovers — lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure — and two kinds of nonlovers — nonlovers of good and nonlovers of God.

Merely an outward semblance without the essential reality.

The real and practical virtue with a living influence to express God.

See note 1 Tim. 2:4^2c.

According to Jewish tradition, these two were the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses in Exo. 7:11, 22.

See note 1 Tim. 3:15^5e. In the decline among the churches, truth is the target of the enemy's attack. Hence, truth is also the remedy for and the rescue from the diseased and ruined situation.

Or, reprobate.

See note 1 Tim. 4:1^4c.

The lack of intelligence and the senselessness in their doings.

Jannes and Jambres, who were defeated and brought to nothing (Exo. 8:18; 9:11).

I.e., manner of life.

This Greek word is used in Paul's Epistles in relation to the purpose of God (Rom. 9:11).

The city where Timothy lived (Acts 16:1-2), near Iconium and Pisidian Antioch.

Or, determine.

I.e., live a life of godliness. See note 1 Tim. 2:2^2b, and note 1 Tim. 3:16^2a, note 1 Tim. 3:16³.

Juggling impostors. This verse indicates that the decline of the church will become worse.

Or, abide.

The things that Timothy learned from the apostle and was assured of constituted the vital portion of the content of the New Testament, a portion that completed the divine revelation (Col. 1:25). Hence, he had practical apprehension of a great part of the New Testament.

In addition to his knowledge of the New Testament, Timothy had, from his childhood, a good foundation in the knowledge of the Old Testament. He was one who was fully perfected and equipped to minister the word of God, not only in caring for a local church but also in confronting the worsening decline of the church.

Cf. note Rom. 3:22¹.

Or, Every Scripture God-breathed is also profitable. To confront the death, corruption, and confusion in the church's decline, the eternal life, on which ch. 1 is based (2 Tim. 1:1, 10), the divine truth, emphasized in ch. 2 (2 Tim. 2:15, 18, 25), and the holy Scripture, highly regarded in ch. 3 (2 Tim. 3:14-17), are all needed. The eternal life not only swallows up death but also renders the life supply; the divine truth replaces the vanity of corruption with the reality of all the divine riches; and the holy Scripture not only dispels the confusion but also furnishes divine light and revelation. Hence, in this book the apostle stressed these three things.

This indicates that the Scripture, the word of God, is the breathing out of God. God's speaking is God's breathing out. Hence, His word is spirit (John 6:63), or breath. Thus, the Scripture is the embodiment of God as the Spirit. The Spirit is therefore the very essence, the substance, of the Scripture, just as phosphorus is the essential substance in matches. We must strike the Spirit of the Scripture with our spirit to catch the divine fire.

As the embodiment of God the Spirit, the Scripture (God's word) is also the embodiment of Christ. Christ is God's living Word (Rev. 19:13), and the Scripture is God's written word (Matt. 4:4).

Reproof, confutation.

Setting right what is wrong, turning someone to the right way, restoring to an upright state.

Discipline or chastisement according to righteousness; to discipline or chastise by the element and condition of righteousness.

See note 1 Tim. 6:11^1a.

Complete and perfect in qualifications.

Or, fitted out, furnished, made ready.