2 Tim. 3:4. Puffed up.
Filled with arrogance.
2 Tim. 3:4. More lovers of pleasure than lovers of God.
Otherwise it cannot be but so: for where there is love of worldly pleasures, there is no place for the desire of divine things.
2 Tim. 3:5. Having a form of godliness, but denying its power.
That is, they accept only the form of piety and pretend, but by their deeds they reject it. Note that the power of piety, and as it were its sinews, is in deeds. Therefore it is rightly said that it is dead without works. The word "form" in another place (Rom. 2:20) the apostle uses in a good sense. The teacher has the form of knowledge, that is, he builds and forms knowledge in the students.
2 Tim. 3:5. Keep away from such people.
If such people will exist in the last times, then how does he say: "from such turn away"? Most likely, even then there were some such people: although not to a greater degree, there still were; therefore the apostle speaks as if to say: such people will be found even now, turn away from them—this will be good. Therefore he also adds: "of this sort are those who creep into houses." Or Paul calls "the last days" the days that will follow immediately after his death, while Timothy will still remain alive. Or, what is closer to the truth, as St. John Chrysostom judges, through Timothy the apostle exhorts everyone to turn away from such people.
2 Tim. 3:6. To these belong those who creep into houses.
By the word "creep in" he indicates their shamelessness and craftiness.
2 Tim. 3:6. And they deceive women.
He did not say: they deceive, but: they take captive, they make use of them as slave women. For such is the one who is beguiled. Note that to give oneself over to beguilement is characteristic of women. Consequently, even a man who is beguiled may be called by this name.
2 Tim. 3:6. Drowning in sins.
This signifies both the multitude, and the disorder, and the mixture of sins. They deceive not simply women—for nature ought not to be condemned—but silly women laden with a multitude of sins. For whoever recognizes nothing good in himself is more readily inclined toward false doctrines, consoling himself with the thought that he will not be subjected to punishment for his deeds.
2 Tim. 3:6. Led by various lusts.
That is, by greed, love of glory, passion for luxury, for fine clothes. He also points to shameful desires. Notice: "led away," as if speaking of irrational creatures.
2 Tim. 3:7. Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
They may be worthy of indulgence? By no means; on the contrary, they are all the more undeserving of it. Since they were mired in sins and lusts, their reason also became dulled, so that their inability to know the truth is not a natural deficiency, but a consequence of the wrong direction of their will.
2 Tim. 3:8. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth.
These were the sorcerers of the time of Moses. How did Paul learn their names, when Scripture does not speak of this? Their names were taken from unwritten tradition, or probably Paul learned of them from the Holy Spirit.
2 Tim. 3:8. People corrupted in mind, ignorant in faith.
When someone has corrupted his mind with passions, then he becomes unskilled in the faith. "The fool has said: there is no God" (Ps. 52:2). Why? Because they have become corrupt and have become abominable in their iniquities. Therefore, for the acceptance of the faith, an uncorrupted mind is needed. So let us be attentive to ourselves, lest we be corrupted by passions and lest the corruption of faith find a place in us.
2 Tim. 3:9. But they shall not advance much further.
How then does the apostle say in another place: "they will increase unto more ungodliness" (2 Tim. 2:16)? There he affirms that heretics, having begun to introduce novelties and errors, do not stop, but constantly invent newer ones. Here, however, he affirms that they will not deceive or carry away many, although at first they may seem to lead some astray, but they themselves will soon be exposed. Therefore he adds the following.
2 Tim. 3:9. For their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.