Chapter Three
2 Tim. 3:1. Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.
Since in those times there were many evil people, so that Timothy would not be troubled by this, the apostle first said to him: "in a great house" and so on, and now says that evil people will exist afterward as well. Even in the time of Moses there were Jannes and Jambres. Consequently, this phenomenon is not new and it will not continue only until your time. Therefore do not be indignant. The times will be perilous, that is, very bad. It is not the days that should be understood (for what are bad days?), but rather the bad deeds and people occurring in those days. So we too are accustomed to calling times bad and not bad, according to the character of the deeds that happen in those days, or according to the character of the people.
2 Tim. 3:2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves.
He immediately points out the cause of all evils as well: it is the concern not for the affairs of one's neighbor, but only for one's own. A self-loving person loves only himself, from which it follows that in reality he does not even love himself. For just as in the members of the body, harm inflicted on one spreads to the rest; or what happens in buildings, the same occurs in the Church: whoever despises his brother and cares only for himself, harms himself.
2 Tim. 3:2. Covetous.
Having pointed out the root, he enumerates in particular the offshoots from it, of which the first and greatest is the love of money. For just as from love comes every good, so from self-love, which is opposed to love, comes every evil. Love is broad and pours itself out everywhere; but self-love constrains its breadth and concentrates only on itself alone.
2 Tim. 3:2. Proud.
Over men they are exalted and tower above.
2 Tim. 3:2. Arrogant, evil-speakers.
When evil grows, it reaches even to rebellion against God. For if someone is vainglorious before people, he will then attribute to himself every perfection as well, and not to the grace of God; then he becomes already a blasphemer.
2 Tim. 3:2. Disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable.
This is fair: for whoever blasphemes God, how will he honor his parents? Whoever does not honor his parents will be ungrateful to other people as well. Such a person is also unrighteous, because he sets aside holiness and duty, and he is also unfriendly. For whom else will a person love who has rejected his own benefactor! "And implacable," they are not reconciled with anyone, even with their own benefactor.
2 Tim. 3:3. Slanderers.
That is, those who slander everyone. A person who is not conscious of anything good in himself slanders everyone, inventing and finding in this, it would seem, a certain consolation for himself.
2 Tim. 3:3. Without self-control.
And in the tongue, and in the belly, and in everything else.
2 Tim. 3:3. Fierce.
You see what self-love and love of money make people? Beasts instead of men.
2 Tim. 3:3. Not lovers of good.
Enemies of every good thing.
2 Tim. 3:4. Traitors.
Betrayers of friendship.
2 Tim. 3:4. Reckless.
That is, unsteady, inconstant.