Timothy is warned that he must face more and more difficult days ahead. The false teachers (refers to cults and those who deny the scripture as it is written) that were described in chapter 2 are to be confronted, but those who do not heed the teaching of scripture and rebuke are to be stopped or if they will not listen they are to be shunned and put away. i.e. opposition to the truth will become more and more evident as we near the end of this age. Humphrey’s sums it up as follows: "Do your best to win back those who are only in the first stage of opposition." "(See verse 2:25 "Those that are setting themselves contentiously"); there will be men ere long too far gone for this in evil living and false teaching: from these there is no help for it but to turn away."

As we near the end of this age there will arise more and more false cults and those who oppose the scripture and will try to influence evil ideas into the main stream fundamental Bible-believing churches and wherever they can. There will be a steady deterioration of moral and ethical values under the guise of freedom for all people and their religion or a new central religion. They will put forth their ideas as free speech and as an alternate to what is taught in the Bible as being acceptable and just as worthy as the doctrine of the Bible. These are to be challenged, but if they will not consider that what they believe directly contradicts God’s word or that they have no need of hearing and obeying God’s word, then turn form them as they have chosen their path and it leads to destruction. Jesus point of view on dealing with false teachers or leaders of cults is found in Matthew 15:14. "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Another good description of identifying false teachers and how to deal with them is found in I John chapters 3 & 4. Also the instruction given in II John verse 10 reads: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed."

Verse 2. "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy."

A. Lovers of their own selves - "Better, lovers of self. Aristotle’s description is : "It is not loving one’s self, but loving it unduly, just as the love of possessions." Love here is Phileo which is "to be fond of" and not Agape` which is God’s love for the betterment of man."

1. They will pretend to be godly when around other people, but their actions and decisions will only promote their own needs. All other problems and needs will be disregarded.

B. Covetous - "Better, lovers of money. From the Greek meaning, "fond of," and the Greek for "to be fond of money."

2. They will by work or dealings with others be continually looking to make money for themselves and not to be used for others. If they do sponsor money to others it will be to spread their theology as it’s primary importance and not to glorify Almighty God.

C. Boasters - "Or swaggers. The word is derived from the Greek for "a wandering or roaming." Primarily referring to a vagabond, a quack. From the empty boast of such concerning the cures and wonders they could perform, the word passed into a sense of boaster. The Greek always means false boasting."

3. They will promise to help or that they can do many things when needed, but at the actual hour to show up, they will not appear. If they actually do get involved in any project it is always to further their own beliefs and not just to help.

D. Proud - "Or haughty. From the Greek meaning "above" and the Greek meaning "to show one’s self. The picture in the word is that of a man with his head held above others. It is the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man."

4. with other people they will toot their own horn. Talk about their own accomplishments, and to debase all other people around themselves.

E. Blasphemers - "Better, railers. Not necessarily blasphemy against God. It is used of reviling, calumny, evil-speaking in general."

5. They will constantly run down other people and their names or reputations.

F. Disobedient to parents.

6. Refuse to honor their parents, especially when their parents do not believe as they do.

G. Unthankful - "Being unkind in relationships to others."

7. Treating others as though their needs were secondary and generally having a rude or impudent manner.

H. Unholy - "Unrighteous or having no reality of righteousness."

8. Not displaying the righteousness of Christ or of any true Christian, toward God. Always being irreverent in various ways.

These people that Timothy (or ourselves may face and challenge), may be involved in false religions or they may be found in fundamental congregations, but they will be known by their deeds (or fruits), because they will attend religious meetings, say all the correct things, and will be involved in any function that may be religious in nature or that affects the status of religion in the nation. But when their actions are evaluated they will be seen for what they are.

These evidences will become more and more prevalent as the age progresses. The sense of others and needs of all mankind will become less of a reality. Many may give money to those in need as a show that they are ready to help but it is a cover or mask for their inner thoughts. In fact they may say they are involved in good works as proof that they have Christian values. But according to Gnosticism (the basis for most cults), works lead to faith. But the Bible teaches faith in Jesus leads to good works, And that there are no good works outside of faith in Jesus only!

Verse 3. "Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good."

A. Without natural affection - "Not just lacking the natural affection as parents for children and husband for wife, but is lacking the fruit of the spirit (of agape` love) which dominates all types of love."

1. These have no natural love for family, friends, animals, or any thing that godly people would have a love for. They would tend to abuse those in their immediate circle and or pets. Also they would molest others when they think they will not be found out.

B. Truce-breakers - "Render implacable. From the Greek meaning "not," and from the Greek meaning "a treaty or truce. The meaning is, refusing to enter into treaty, irreconcilable. I.e. if you don’t agree with what they believe on all matters including religion they will not listen to you."

2. Cannot seem to find common ground to settle disputes on. Unable to release tensions.

C. False accusers - "From the Greek for "devil." Literally to slander or make to appear as less worthy."

3. They defame and use malicious language of others to show them to be lesser people, which they are not.

D. Incontinent - "Intemperate, without self-control."

4. These easily fly off the handle, rant, and rave at every situation, when things go wrong, or cause them to wait or not succeed at their own efforts.

E. Fierce - "Savage."

5. Means to be cruel and savage in response to anything or situation that confronts them.

F. Despisers of those that are good - "Haters of good."

6. To hate any event or happening where others receive something good or have a good or beneficial result. I.e. as others getting a better job, pay raise, etc.

We now see the list progresses to a more evil estate or life-style, without seemingly any notice of the consequences to self or others.

Verse 4. "Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."

A. Traitors - "Betrayers."

1. are people who will betray their closest friends in order to benefit themselves.

B. Heady - To be precipitate, reckless, headstrong in the pursuit of a bad end under the influence of passion. One who opens his lips and speaks hastily or thoughtlessly.

2. They act very hastily, being sure of themselves, but are actually being evil as they let their passions dictate their actions.

C. High-minded - "Be-settled or clouded with pride."

3. Their thoughts are continuously caught up in their own pride and close out all else the interferes with self.

D. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

4. They get more fulfillment out of earthly pleasures rather than desiring the grace, love, and goodness of Almighty God.

We see the progression deepens in a steep downward spiral.

Verse 5. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

A.A form - "Form (for the want of any other rendering), it the expression or embodiment of the essential and permanent being of that which is expressed. The meaning differs in different passages. In Romans 2:20 (form) is the truthful embodiment of knowledge and truth as contained in the law of God. Here, the mere outward semblance, as distinguished from the essential reality."

1. These described so far are not Christians who have fallen away from the faith. They only put up a false front of desiring to be in a class with true Christians.

B. Godliness - "Not godlikeness, but lacking reverence, respect, or piety toward God."

C. The power - "The practical virtue. From First Corinthians 4:20. The power from God that overcomes all resistance."

2. They by their choices, actions, and speech have shown that they do not have the power of the Holy Spirit within themselves.

D. Turn away - "To avoid or turn away."

3. These should be exposed for what they truly are (false Christians or not truly Christian) and remove them from the body of true Christians. This requires the aid of the true Christians in that congregation.

Verse. 6. "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts."

A. Of this sort - "Literally of these. The idea is from these evil doers seen as a group, which are mentioned in vv 2-5, they do the following."

B. Which creep - "Thrust themselves into. Used of a person clothing himself with a garment."

C. Lead captive - "To take as prisoners of war. But to do so by trickery or stealth. To take captive the minds."

D. Silly women - "A little women, and is used here contemptuously, the diminutive form of the word expressing the idea of contempt and given us the adjective "silly."

E. Laden - "Heaped up, heavily laden. Some render overwhelmed."

F. Led away - "The meaning is under the direction of."

G. Divers - "Variegated, of different tints. Lusts of every type of sin. Having a broad past of sin.

These who are false teachers of religion find it easy to be able to enter homes of women who have a past of various sins, who are weak in character, and by their subtly convert these women (with a sin laden conscience) to chose the path of false religion, which will satisfy or bring relief to their idea of needing to have a measure of spiritually and yet at the same time what is offered fails to deal with the sin question and the true way of salvation."

Verse 7. "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

A. Ever learning - "From anyone who will teach them. It is a graphic picture of a large class, by no means extinct, who are caught and led by the instructions of itinerant religious quacks."

B. Never able - "Because they have not the right motive, and because they apply to false teachers."

C. Knowledge - "A knowledge gained by experience."

These women desire to hear all that is presented to them, but because they do not know God’s truth and have never been redeemed, cannot come to the knowledge, by experience of knowing God and what it is to be forgiven and to experience the loss of the past and the brightness of the future.

Verse 8. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."

A. Jannes and Jambres - "According to tradition the names of the chiefs of the magicians who opposed Moses. See Exodus 7:11,22."

B. With stood - "To set one’s self against. This may refer rather to the degree of their hostility, than to the manner in which it was expressed. I.e. by magical arts. At the same time, it is possible that magic was practiced by the false teachers. They are styled imposters in verse 13. Also Ephesus (where Timothy was pastor) was the home of magic (see Acts 19:19)."

C. Of corrupt minds - "Better, corrupted in mind."

D. Reprobate - "Is rejected after having been tested for the purpose of approving, thus "disapproved."

As Jannes and Jambres used magical arts to withstand the truth of God, so to do the false teachers." False teachers try to show the words of God to be false as Jannes and Jambres refuted the warnings of God’s impending judgment by Moses words. They do this because their minds are corrupt because they would rather believe a lie than the truth of God. They are themselves reprobate and all who follow them are reprobate also.

What is to be done to confront this effort by all false religions and those who choose no religion or religious beliefs? The instructions given to Timothy (and to all who face any measure of false religions or their sponsors) is found in chapter 4 in versed 2-4.

Chapter 4, verse 2. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine."

A. Preach - "Not just today the words of truth, but to announce them with seriousness and authority as a herald of the king. Any work that came to the public from the king by his herald was to be acted upon at once. That being the meaning here."

B. The word - "Refers to the whole body of revealed truth."

C. Be instant - "Better, be ready. To stand by and always be ready to speak whenever needed."

D. In season - "Seasonable, convenient."

E. Out of season - "Timothy is not advised to disregard opportuneness, but to discharge his duty to those with whom he deals, whether it be welcome or not."

F. Reprove - 'Rather, convict of their errors."

G. G. Rebuke - "The word implies a sharp, severe rebuke, with, possibly, a suggestion in some cases of impending penalty. To charge on the pain of penalty for disobedience implies a menace. In this case of future judgment."

H. Exhort - "To encourage or urge to a correct decision. Tischendorf changes the order of the three imperatives, reading reprove, exhort, rebuke. In that case there is a climax: first convict of error, then exhort to forsake the error, finally threaten with the penalty of persistence in error."

I.With all longsuffering and doctrine - "Every possible exhibition of longsuffering, etc. Doctrine =‘s teaching. The combination is suggestive. Longsuffering is to be maintained against the temptation to anger presented by the obstinacy and perverseness of certain hearers; and such are to be met, not merely with rebuke, but also with sound and reasonable instruction in the truth. Men will not be won to the truth by scolding."

Timothy, and all true Christians, must be forward and strong and alert to be able to deal with any messenger of false religion when we meet them or hear of their efforts in today’s society. Every Christian must know of all the revealed truth of God’s word and proclaim it, with conviction and sincerity, when we see evil has presented itself as the truth or the best option for man. Christians should point out, doctrine, and show what sin is and explain that all (unconverted people to Christianity) are involved in sin continually, and that God must judge sin and punish those who do not chose His plan of salvation, (His son Jesus Christ as Lord and savior). God only spares those souls who have agreed with God’s assessment that all men are sinners and are worthy of death, and that Jesus came to earth to die and take our place and be the sacrifice for all sin. That Jesus came in the flesh as man, died on his behalf, rose form the dead and sits at God’s right hand as an intercessor. But one must confess to this and then seek God’s forgiveness and repent (with God’s help) to no longer live a life that is not pleasing to Him. I.e. that Jesus can be the only one able to be man’s savior and the only path to communication to Almighty God. Thus the ones confessing this experience the "birth from above" or "the new birth." This message must be made clear when confronting any worldly or evil message. Christians must never cease to speak out as there is an opportunity and reveal to all Godless people that sin must be judged and there is a place of torment for eternity for those who reject this truth. This must be done directly but with sincerity and gentleness (with no compromise). For we must be showing a willingness to help them find that path of forgiveness and correction.

Verse 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;

A. For - "The ground for the preceding exhortations in the future oppositions to sound teaching."

B. Endure - "To hold one’s self upright or firm against a person or thing."

C. Sound doctrine - "Or healthy 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."

D. Lusts - Cravings. "Those who set themselves against Pauling theology are dominated by their own private, personal cravings. These cravings consist of the desire for personal gratification."

E. Shall they heap to themselves teachers - "The word is ironical; shall invite teachers en masse. In periods of unsettled faith, skepticism, and mere curious speculation is 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. Bacon comments: "The master of superstition is the people, and in all superstition wise men follow fools."

F. Having itching ears - "Or, being tickled in their hearing." Senaca says: "Some come to hear, not to learn, just as we go to the theater, for pleasure, to delight our ears with the speaking of the voice or the plays."

The reason for such strong encouragement is because of what lies ahead as this age progresses to it’s end. As time passes many people including those who attend Christian preaching will not tolerate the basic truths of scripture but these people have come to a place where they only want to hear what pleases them and therefore seek out preachers who do so or encourage preachers who one proclaimed the truth to chose only things that they enjoy. Some of the modern speakers proclaim the divinity of mankind, and the relativity of truth, its rejection of the doctrine of total depravity, the sacrificial atonement, the resurrection, and the need of the new birth, catering only to the desires of the fallen.

Verse 4. "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

A. Turn away - "Carries the idea of averting. That is, those who follow these heretics, not only turn away their ears from the truth, but see to it that their ears are always in such a position that they will never come in contact with the truth. Turn here is in the passive voice and means the action is performed by the people themselves."

B. Shall be turned unto fables - "More correctly will turn aside. Turned here means acted upon by an outside force. (to wrench out of it’s proper place). Fables are tales made to make easy explanations for circumstances and are related to false teachings."

Once people reject the truth of correct doctrine, they purposely turn away from it and it’s power. They then open themselves up to any satanic form of error however slight that then perverts their understanding to the point that any religious subject of fiction sounds more reasonable and sane than the simplest true doctrine and teaching of scripture.

From this outline we see that if any form of false religion or the propaganda of people who reject God’s words will adopt the plans and principles of this world, which is controlled by Satan. They progress in the direction (by rejection of truth) towards evil until they cease to be interested in any form of God’s truth that could actually help them. Once this takes place they become filled up with sin and must be judged by God. The era or age in which this becomes so complete, where the majority of people of the earth are like what has just been described God’s judgment will come, and this age will end.

Some further insight on this subject is found in Genesis Chapter 15, where God makes some promises to Abram. The promises, and directions to it’s fulfillment are made in the sacrifices of some animals and when darkness settles upon the land and then a deep sleep settles over Abram. God tells Abram that his seed (those who will inherit the promised land) will first be afflicted 400 years (which takes place in Egypt). God then promises to bring them out of bondage with much substance. He tells Abram that he will die and join his ancestors in peace when he is very old. But in verse 16, when the promised seed of Abram have suffered through four generations (400 years) they will come to the promised land. The reason for the waiting is that the people who control Canaan land have not come to the place where sin has totally depraved them to where they will not listen or adhere to any of God’s words and will not respect God‘s promises to His own children. They will become so sold out to sin that they will only be fit for judgment and punishment which removes them from God giving the promised land here on earth to his own children of promise. The principle applies in the final age of this earth. When the people who control the affairs of the world become so sold out to sin and refuse to acknowledge God or His word and will not respect the affairs of God’s children of faith, the sin of this world will be full and judgment must come. God will reveal His wrath from heaven on all who have ceased to hear, or honor anything God has done for all mankind and the fact He has waited as long as possible to see as many lost souls saved as possible. Total rejection of Jesus will be so complete He will not be allowed to be honored openly anywhere in public.