And this know thou, that in the last days there shall come perilous times, (AVS says, “grievous times”) for men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, evil-speakers, to parents disobedient, unthankful, unkind, without natural affection, implacable, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, not lovers of those who are good, traitors, heady, lofty, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of piety, and its power having denied; and from these be turning away. (2Tim. 3:1-5 YNG)
You’ve read this passage before, and even heard it preached on. Most times you get the classic run-down of how bad things have become relating to the sinfulness of the lost and unbelieving. Then it is noted, we must be in the last days that Paul was referring to since the morality of sinners in the U.S. and around the world has declined to an all-time low. But no one seems to look close enough at the text to see that Paul was not talking about unbelievers at all. He was talking about those who profess to be Christians.
Certainly Paul did not think that the sinners of the last days would be any better at sinning than the ones in his day. Sinning is what sinners do, no matter what century they happen to be born in. Paul’s warning was that of a more pensive nature. It is a grievous thing to read this text realizing it is speaking of those who claim they are of Christ. Nevertheless, the text and the context bears this out.
Paul’s intent in writing this second letter to Timothy was to deal with and give instruction to church order, doctrine, and discipline. In chapter two he exposes Hymenaeus and Philetus saying they were men,
. . . who, concerning the truth, have erred. (2 Tim. 2:18)
Even though these two men may have appeared to be of Christ, Paul infers that they may not have been true Christians after all by saying,
However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” (2 Tim. 2:19)
Simply put, those who are truly His will depart from iniquity.
This is the backdrop to Paul’s statement in 2 Tim. 3:1-5 concerning some who will profess Christianity in the last days. His mention that they will have “a form of piety” (KJV – godliness), keeps them in the realm of those who appear to be of the faith. Yet they deny the inner-working power of Christ, thereby, denying Christ. What an awful state of existence. So close to the life-changing power of God, yet not willing to yield to it.
Even so, Paul charges us to “turn away” (2 Tim. 3:5) from those who frustrate the grace of God in this way. There is no doubt he was speaking of “so called Christians” since we are not to turn away from the unbeliever, but endeavor to share the gospel with them. It is expected that the ungodly would act ungodly, but those who claim Christ should exemplify His nature. And if they don’t, in the words of Paul,
. . . even as Jannes and Jambres stood against Moses, so also these do stand against the truth, men corrupted in mind, disapproved (corrupt) concerning the faith; but they shall not advance any further, for their folly shall be manifest to all . . . (2 Tim. 3:8-9)
Now read the introductory verse again, but this time, in the right context.
As a good friend of mine likes to say . . . Yikes!
by John Wiertzema
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