2 Timotius 3:1-6

Ministry in the Last Days

3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult ¹  times will come. 3:2 For people ²  will be lovers of themselves, ³  lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. 3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance ⁴  of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. ⁵  3:6 For some of these insinuate themselves ⁶  into households and captivate weak women ⁷  who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.

2 Timotius 3:1

Ministry in the Last Days

3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult ⁸  times will come.

Titus 1:1-3

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, ⁹  a slave ¹⁰  of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith ¹¹  of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. ¹²  1:3 But now in his own time ¹³  he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.

[3:1]  ¹ tn Or perhaps, “dangerous,” “fierce.”

[3:2]  ² tn Grk “men”; but here ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) is generic, referring to both men and women.

[3:2]  ³ tn Or “self-centered.” The first two traits in 2 Tim 3:2 and the last two in 3:4 are Greek words beginning with the root “lovers of,” and so bracket the list at beginning and end.

[3:5]  ⁴ tn Or “form.”

[3:5]  sn Outward appearance. Paul’s contrast with power in 3:5b shows that he regards this “form” to be outward, one of appearance rather than reality (cf. 1 Cor 4:19-20; 1 Thess 1:5).

[3:5]  ⁵ tn Grk “and avoid these,” with the word “people” implied.

[3:6]  ⁶ tn Grk “For from these are those who sneak.”

[3:6]  ⁷ tn Or “silly women.”

[3:1]  ⁸ tn Or perhaps, “dangerous,” “fierce.”

[1:1]  ⁹ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[1:1]  ¹⁰ tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

[1:1]  sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”

[1:1]  ¹¹ tn Grk “for the faith,” possibly, “in accordance with the faith.”

[1:2]  ¹² tn Grk “before eternal ages.”

[1:3]  ¹³ tn The Greek text emphasizes the contrast between vv. 2b and 3a: God promised this long ago but now has revealed it in his own time.