Teks -- 2 Timothy 4:3 (NET)

4:3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 2Ti 4:3 - A time when

A time when ( kairos hote ).

One of the akairōs (out of season) times.

Robertson: 2Ti 4:3 - Will not endure

Will not endure ( ouk anexontai ).

Future middle (direct) of anechō . "Will not hold themselves back from"(Col 3:13). Having itching ears (knēthomenoi tēn akoēn ). Present middle (causative) participle of knēthō , late and rare form of the Attic knaō , to scratch, to tickle, here only in N.T. "Getting the ears (the hearing, tēn akoēn ) tickled."The Vulgate has prurientes . Cf. the Athenians (Act 17:21). Clement of Alexandria tells of speakers tickling (knēthontes ) the ears of those who want to be tickled. This is the temptation of the merely "popular"preacher, to furnish the latest tickle.

Vincent: 2Ti 4:3 - For

For ( γὰρ )

Ground for the preceding exhortations in the future opposition to sound teaching.

Vincent: 2Ti 4:3 - Endure

Endure ( ἀνέξονται )

Only here in Pastorals. Mostly in Paul. Comp. Act 18:14; 2Co 11:4; Heb 13:22.

Vincent: 2Ti 4:3 - Sound doctrine

Sound doctrine ( τῆς ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας )

Or healthful teaching . The A.V. overlooks the article which is important. The teaching plays a prominent part in these Epistles, and signifies more than teaching in general. See on 1Ti 1:10.

Vincent: 2Ti 4:3 - Shall they heap to themselves teachers

Shall they heap to themselves teachers ( ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισωρεύ σουσιν διδασκάλους )

A vigorous and graphic statement. Ἑπισωρεύειν to heap up , N.T.o . Comp. σεσωρευμένα laden , 2Ti 3:6. The word is ironical; shall invite teachers en masse . In periods of unsettled faith, skepticism, and mere curious speculation in matters of religion, teachers of all kinds swarm like the flies in Egypt. The demand creates the supply. The hearers invite and shape their own preachers. If the people desire a calf to worship, a ministerial calf-maker is readily found. " The master of superstition is the people, and in all superstition wise men follow fools" (Bacon, Ess . 17).

Vincent: 2Ti 4:3 - Having itching ears

Having itching ears ( κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν )

Or, being tickled in their hearing . Κνήθειν to tickle , N.T.o . o lxx. Κνηθόμενοι itching . Hesychius explains, " hearing for mere gratification." Clement of Alexandria describes certain teachers as " scratching and tickling, in no human way, the ears of those who eagerly desire to be scratched" (Strom. v.). Seneca says: " Some come to hear , not to learn , just as we go to the theater, for pleasure, to delight our ears with the speaking or the voice or the plays" ( Ep . 108). Ἁκοή , A.V. ears , in N.T. a report , as Mat 4:24; Mat 14:1; Mat 24:6 : in the plural, ears (never ear in singular), as Mar 7:35; Luk 7:1 : hearing , either the act , as Act 28:26; Rom 10:17, or the sense , 1Co 12:17, here, and 2Ti 4:4.

Wesley: 2Ti 4:3 - For they will heap up teachers

Therefore thou hast need of "all longsuffering." According to their own desires - Smooth as they can wish.

Wesley: 2Ti 4:3 - Having itching ears

Fond of novelty and variety, which the number of new teachers, as well as their empty, soft, or philosophical discourses, pleased. Such teachers, and such hearers, seldom are much concerned with what is strict or to the purpose.

Wesley: 2Ti 4:3 - Heap to themselves

Not enduring sound doctrine, they will reject the sound preachers, and gather together all that suit their own taste. Probably they send out one another as teachers, and so are never at a loss for numbers.

JFB: 2Ti 4:3 - they

Professing Christians.

JFB: 2Ti 4:3 - sound doctrine

Greek, "the sound (see on 1Ti 1:10) doctrine (didascalias)" or "teaching," namely, of the Gospel. Presently follows the concrete, "teachers."

JFB: 2Ti 4:3 - after their own lusts

Instead of regarding the will of God they dislike being interrupted in their lusts by true teachers.

JFB: 2Ti 4:3 - heap

One on another: an indiscriminate mass of false teachers. Variety delights itching ears. "He who despises sound teaching, leaves sound teachers; they seek instructors like themselves" [BENGEL]. It is the corruption of the people in the first instance, that creates priestcraft (Exo 32:1).

JFB: 2Ti 4:3 - to themselves

Such as will suit their depraved tastes; populus vult decipi, et decipiatur--"the people wish to be deceived, so let them be deceived." "Like priest, like people" (1Ki 12:31; Hos 4:9).

JFB: 2Ti 4:3 - itching

Like to hear teachers who give them mere pleasure (Act 17:19-21), and do not offend by truths grating to their ears. They, as it were, tickle with pleasure the levity of the multitude [CICERO], who come as to a theater to hear what will delight their ears, not to learn [SENECA, Epistles, 10.8] what will do them good. "Itch in the ear is as bad in any other part of the body, and perhaps worse" [SOUTH].

Clarke: 2Ti 4:3 - For the time will come

For the time will come - There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the practical truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of "deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me,"which Jesus Christ has left in his Church

Clarke: 2Ti 4:3 - But after their own lusts

But after their own lusts - For these they will follow, and hate those preachers and that doctrine by which they are opposed

Clarke: 2Ti 4:3 - Shall they heap to themselves teachers

Shall they heap to themselves teachers - They will add one teacher to another, run and gad about after all, to find out those who insist not on the necessity of bearing the cross, of being crucified to the world, and of having the mind that was in Jesus. In this disposition interested men often find their account; they set up for teachers, "and widen and strew with flowers the way, down to eternal ruin,"taking care to soothe the passions and flatter the vices of a trifling, superficial people

Clarke: 2Ti 4:3 - Having itching ears

Having itching ears - Endless curiosity, an insatiable desire of variety; and they get their ears tickled with the language and accent of the person, abandoning the good and faithful preacher for the fine speaker.

Calvin: 2Ti 4:3 - For there will be a time // When they will not endure sound doctrine // Shall heap up to themselves teachers

3.For there will be a time ¹⁹³ From the very depravity of men he shews how careful pastors ought to be; for soon shall the gospel be extinguished, and perish from the remembrance of men, if godly teachers do not labor with all their might to defend it. But he means that we must avail ourselves of the opportunity, while there is any reverence for Christ; as if one should say that, when a storm is at hand, we must not labor remissly, but must hasten with all diligence, because there will not afterwards be an equally fit season.

When they will not endure sound doctrine This means that they will not only dislike and despise, but will even hate, sound doctrine; and he calls it “sound (or healthful) doctrine,” with reference to the effect produced, because it actually instructs to godliness. In the next verse he pronounces the same doctrine to be truth, and contrasts it with fables, that is, useless imaginations, by which the simplicity of the gospel is corrupted.

First, let us learn from it, that the more extraordinary the eagerness of wicked men to despise the doctrine of Christ, the more zealous should godly ministers be to defend it, and the more strenuous should be their efforts to preserve it entire; and not only so, but also by their diligence to ward off the attacks of Satan. And if ever this ought to have been done, the great ingratitude of men has now rendered it more than necessary; for they who at first receive the gospel warmly, and make a show of some kind of uncommon zeal, afterwards contract dislike, which is by and by followed by loathing; others, from the very outset, either reject it furiously, or, contemptuously lending an ear, treat it with mockery; while others, not suffering the yoke to be laid on their neck, kick at it, and, through hatred of holy discipline, are altogether estranged from Christ and, what is worse, from being friends become open enemies. So far from this being a good reason why we should be discouraged and give way, we ought to fight against such monstrous ingratitude, and even to strive with greater earnestness than if all were gladly embracing Christ offered to them.

Secondly, having been told that men will thus despise and even reject the word of God, we ought not to stand amazed as if it were a new spectacle, when we see actually accomplished that which the Holy Spirit tells us will happen. And indeed, being by nature prone to vanity, it is no new or uncommon timing, if we lend an ear more willingly to fables than to truth.

Lastly, the doctrine of the gospel, being plain and mean in its aspect, is unsatisfactory partly to our pride, and partly to our curiosity. And how few are there who are endued with spiritual taste, so as to relish newness of life and all that relates to it! Yet Paul foretells some greater impiety of one particular age, against which he bids Timothy be early on his guard.

Shall heap up to themselves teachers It is proper to observe the expression, heap up, by which he means that the madness of men will be so great, that they will not be satisfied with a few deceivers, but will desire to have a vast multitude; for, as there is an unsatiable longing for those things which are unprofitable and destructive, so the world seeks, on all sides and without end, all the methods that it can contrive and imagine for destroying itself; and the devil has always at hand a sufficiently large number of such teachers as the world desires to have. There has always been a plentiful harvest of wicked men, as there is in the present day; and therefore Satan never has any lack of ministers to deceive men, as he never has any lack of the means of deceiving.

Indeed, this monstrous depravity, which almost constantly prevails among men, deserves that God, and his healthful doctrine, should be either rejected or despised by them, and that they should more gladly embrace falsehood. Accordingly, that false teachers frequently abound, and that they sometimes multiply like a nest of hornets, should be ascribed by us to the righteous vengeance of God. We deserve to be covered and choked by that kind of filth, seeing that the truth of God finds no place in us, or, if it has found entrance, is immediately driven from its possession; and since we are so much addicted to fabulous notions, that we never think that we have too great a multitude of deceivers. Thus what all abomination of Monks is there in Popery! If once godly pastor were to be supported, instead of ten Monks and as many priests, we should presently hear nothing else than complaints about the great expense. ¹⁹⁴

The disposition of the world is therefore such that, by “heaping up” with insatiable desire innumerable deceivers, it desires to banish all that belongs to God. Nor is there any other cause of so many errors than that men, of their own accord, choose to be deceived rather than to be properly instructed. And that is the reason why Paul adds the expression, itching ears. ¹⁹⁵ When he wishes to assign a cause for so great an evil, he makes use of an elegant metaphor, by which he means, that the world will have ears so refined, and so excessively desirous of novelty, that it will collect for itself various instructors, and will be incessantly carried away by new inventions. The only remedy for this vice is, that believers be instructed to adhere closely to the pure doctrine of the gospel.

TSK: 2Ti 4:3 - the time // they will // sound // but // having

the time : 2Ti 3:1-6; 1Ti 4:1-3

they will : 1Ki 22:8, 1Ki 22:18; 2Ch 16:9, 2Ch 16:10, 2Ch 24:20-22, 2Ch 25:15, 2Ch 25:16; Isa 28:12, Isa 33:9-11; Jer 6:16, Jer 6:17, Jer 18:18; Amo 7:10-17; Luk 20:19; Joh 8:45; Gal 4:16

sound : 1Ti 1:10

but : 2Ti 3:6; 1Ki 18:22; 2Ch 18:4, 2Ch 18:5; Jer 5:31, Jer 23:16, Jer 23:17, Jer 27:9, Jer 29:8; Mic 2:11; Luk 6:26; Joh 3:19-21; 2Pe 2:1-3

having : Exo 32:33; Act 17:21 *Gr: 1Co 2:1, 1Co 2:4

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Ti 4:3 - For the time will come // When they // will not endure sound doctrine // But after their own lusts // Having itching ears

For the time will come this time always was, (as appears by the writings of the prophets), but it will come more and more; as the world grows older, it will grow more mad.

When they very many that shall live in the world, yea, in the bosom of the church,

will not endure sound doctrine will not endure that preaching which hath any soundness in it, or is of any tendency, life, power, or efficacy, to recover their souls from the diseases of sin and lusts.

But after their own lusts but in favour of their own lusts, and to secure their satisfaction in them,

shall they heap to themselves teachers will be finding out teachers, not according to God’ s, but to their own hearts; and there will be plenty of them to be found, they shall heap them up, choosing them without any judgment, regarding nothing but whether they will not be smart upon their lusts.

Having itching ears for their ears itch, and they must have those that will scratch them. The disease of lust in their souls brings forth an itch in their ears, that they will have a mind to hear only such as will by scratching please them.

Haydock: 2Ti 4:3 - Having itching ears

Having itching ears; [3] i.e. the hearers have such ears, running after novelties and such doctrine as favours their passions. (Witham)

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

Prurientes auribus, Greek: knethomenoi; if it agreed with teachers, it should be Greek: knethomenous.

Gill: 2Ti 4:3 - For the time will come // when they will not endure sound doctrine // but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers // having itching ears

For the time will come,.... This is a reason of the solemn charge above given: the time referred to was future, when the apostle wrote, but quickly came on; and the characters of it have appeared more or less in all ages since; and in none more than in ours:

when they will not endure sound doctrine; the Gospel which contains the wholesome words of Christ, and is sound itself, having no corruption in it, and salutary in its effects to the souls of men; and yet such is the depravity of some men, both in principles and practice, that they cannot receive it, nor bear to hear it, turn their backs on it, express their indignation at it, and treat it not only with neglect, but with ridicule and contempt:

but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers; not being content with the ministry of one man only, or of a few, though of their own sort; but must follow many, and have heaps of them; which seems to express not only the number of false teachers which they accumulate to themselves, but the confused and indiscreet choice they make of them; and that after their own lusts; choosing to hear such as either indulge them in their sinful lusts and pleasures; or are agreeable to their private corrupt sentiments, in opposition to the generally received doctrine of faith. It is a blessing to have pastors and teachers after God's heart, and who preach according to the word of God; these feed men with knowledge and understanding, Jer 3:15 but it is a curse upon a people, when they are left to choose teachers after their hearts' lusts:

having itching ears; always desirous of new things, as the Athenians of old; or loving to have their ears scratched and tickled with smooth things; that are pleasing and agreeable to natural men, and carnal minds; as the purity of human nature, the power of man's free will, the excellency of his righteousness, and the merit of his works, and the like; see Isa 30:9. Now, this being the case, should not discourage, but rather animate the ministers of the Gospel to preach it; for should they desist, in all likelihood the Gospel would soon be gone.