New Testament Commentary - 2 Timothy 3

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 3 Paul describes apostasy and perilous times of the last days—The scriptures guide man to salvation.
1 THIS know also, that in the ^alast days perilous ^btimes shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, ^acovetous, boasters, ^bproud, blasphemers, ^cdisobedient to parents, ^dunthankful, unholy, 3 Without ^anatural ^baffection, ^ctrucebreakers, ^dfalse accusers, ^eincontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 ^aTraitors, ^bheady, ^chighminded, lovers of ^dpleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a ^aform of godliness, but ^bdenying the power thereof^a: from such turn away.	5^a denying the power thereof As stated at the end of verse 19 of Joseph Smith History concerning the Lord's spoken message to Joseph Smith, the Lord had pointed out to Joseph that they of the Christian churches of his day, among other things, did 'deny the very power thereof', or that power by which God works by, in and through man, from the power of the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, to such priesthood power of man to so act in the name of God, to the very miracles and visitations which were then going to be a part of the restoration of the kingdom and church of God, of Jesus Christ upon the earth in the last days. This is as is also warned of and spoken of in the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 28:5, Jacob 6:8, 3 Nephi 29:6 and Moroni 10:7.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly ^awomen laden with sins, led away with divers ^blusts, 7 Ever ^alearning, and never able to come to the ^bknowledge of the ^atruth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres^a withstood Moses, so do these also ^aresist the truth: men of ^bcorrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their ^afolly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.	8^a Jannes and Jambres It has been supposed that Jannes and Jambres were chief among the magicians of Pharoah and Egypt who withstood the miracles of Moses and Aaron before Pharoah, persuading him not to heed the acts of warning given by the powers of God by way of Moses before Egypt (Exodus 7:10=12 etc.).
10 But thou hast ^afully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what ^apersecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live ^agodly in Christ Jesus shall ^bsuffer ^cpersecution. 13 But evil men and ^aseducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But ^acontinue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a ^achild thou hast known the holy ^bscriptures, which are able to make thee ^cwise unto ^dsalvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 ^aAll ^bscripture is given by ^cinspiration of God, and is ^dprofitable for ^edoctrine, for ^freproof, for correction, for ^ginstruction in ^hrighteousness: 17 That the man of God may be ^aperfect, throughly furnished unto all ^bgood works.