Paul begins by telling Timothy it is certain that in the last days perilous times will come (v1). The word ‘perilous’ denotes troubles, difficulties and stressful situations. It is a word used for dangerous wild animals or the raging sea, as one commentator concluded, not war, not famine or diseases, nor any of the other calamities or ills that befall the body, but the wicked and depraved ways of men.
Looking at our world today, we are indeed in perilous times if the commentator is correct, hardly a day goes by without someone being murdered, people are afraid to walk the streets, there seems to be very little case of security, whether at home or outside, even on our phones or social media. Wicked people seem to go worse; scammers are trying to get what is ours, knife crime is on the increase, even among children, and the danger of being shot at random or even in a gathering in school or in church. Even if it does go wider in its meaning, we are certainly witnessing wars, which largely start as a result of evil people. Diseases spreading to areas where they were unknown, but again, is that because people can travel far more than they did, and maybe pick up diseases more easily? Many writers seem to think it is more spiritual wickedness. I don’t know for sure, but whatever it is, times are certainly perilous, and to use a phrase which is used about people who are in terror when considering the Lord’s second coming, ‘Men’s hearts failing them for fear’.
The phrase ‘the last days’ requires careful consideration. It is said to be a broad term which began at the birth of the church in Acts 2 but is especially relevant to the days leading up to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. However, none of us know when that will be, so, it could be any time. Those of us who are believers look for His soon return.
Verses 2-5 go into more detail of what things will be like in the last days, “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
Lovers of self is certainly a characteristic of today’s society. We are encouraged to do it as necessary to exist in the day in which we live. Paul in Romans 12:3 says the opposite, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” We are to be realistic and to see ourselves as we really are through faith and the grace of God. He said elsewhere that he was what he was by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Love of self is the basic sin from which others flow, says one commentator. We see this in much of the terrible things which happen in our world. They think more of themselves than others, and virtually nothing about God. Good reason why this comes first on the list.
Love of money comes a close second. Paul spoke about this in his first letter. I’m not going to repeat what I said there. Save to say that it is certainly true of today, and there are many money-making schemes which attract people today. One word of caution should be the stories of those who have won fortunes and regretted it afterwards.
I stress again that it is not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of it. Sadly, the Prosperity Gospel, so called, has done untold harm to the Christian message, encouraging susceptible people to long for money and possessions.
We shall see after all these, Timothy is urged to turn away from them.
Boasters, proud. These characteristics are prevalent today; they are nothing new but seem to occur increasingly. Once again, the source is self importance it is all about me and my.
Blasphemers. This is showing a disrespect for God and religion. This is certainly around today. People use the name of God and Jesus Christ increasingly as expletives. Once upon a time it was rarely heard on tv and radio, but it is now. A few years ago, I contacted BBC and ITV about it, using it in productions of Agatha Christie’s books which did not contain that language. I simply got a reply saying that they tried to be factual and not discriminate against one particular belief.
Disobedient to parents. In the last few decades, the degeneration in respect for authority has been marked, particularly respect for parents. Sadly, there has been reports of parents abusing children which doesn’t help the situation, but parents should be respected and obeyed whatever, may I say, whether they deserve it or not. One of the Ten Commandments is ‘Honour your father and mother…’ and there is no qualification. Sadly, many children are totally out of control. School teachers struggle to control children, and they tell me that it stems from home where parents hold no authority.
According to Coalition for Marriage website, every working day, 255 new children’s cases arrive at England’s family courts – yet another huge year-on-year increase. In February 2026 alone 5103 children entered a system already buckling under the weight of broken adult relationships.
Men will be unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving. All these are basically ingratitude and self-centredness and can be attributed to the disintegration of family life and love. The KJV translates loving as ‘without natural affection’, which means without family love.
The Bible says that we must be thankful people and holy people. Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica says that in everything we should give thanks. Peter in his letters say that we should be holy as God is holy. Jesus said that men will know that you are my disciples by the way we love one another, and we should forgive as we have been forgiven. Thus, the lack of these characteristics show that we have departed from the truth.
Slanderers. ‘Slander is the act of making false, spoken statements that damage a person’s reputation. It is a form of oral defamation communicated to a third party, rather than in permanent (libel) form. Common examples include spreading false, malicious rumours, such as falsely accusing another to harm their career.’
Today in the media, politics and daily life, it has become big business to tell untrue lies and spread rumours against others. People don’t feel bad about telling lies so long as they get what they want, even to the extent of innocent people being punished for something they never did.
Stephen Olford, the preacher of yesteryear, told the story of man who was dying, and another came to visit him. The visitor had years before spread malicious rumours about the dying man. The visitor asked if there was anything he could do, and the dying man asked him to take his pillow and cut it open and let the feathers fly out the window, then he asked him to go and collect them all. That’s impossible, he said. The message was clear that when you spread untruths around it is virtually impossible to correct them, however much we may be sorry.
Over the years we have seen miscarriages of justice, largely through people not telling the truth. I knew a person who was accused by a young lady. This led to his reputation being scarred, losing his job etc. nearly twenty years later the lady confessed to making a false accusation against the person. It was good that she did, but almost impossible to rectify. She may have received forgiveness, but the person’s character had been ruined. In some cases, compensation can be obtained but it doesn’t alter what the consequences were.
One of the Ten Commandments is not to bear false witness. It is certainly against God’s will and character, and slander is plainly against God.
Without self control. It is evident in most walks of life that people lack self control. Addictions abound where people cannot say no to things that they should say no to – sex, drugs, alcohol, food, work, shopping, possessions, the love of money. Self control is a gift of the Spirit so, the lack of it is godless.
Brutal. Cruelty and brutality have always been with us, but perhaps not more than today. There were instances in the Old Testament of or bible which were quite brutal – chopping heads off, hammering a tent peg through a man’s temple and stabbing a fat man and the blade came out at his back and into the ground etc. The powers that be tell us that we are far advanced than the primitive people in the past, but the evidence does not bear that out. We hear of brutal murders of people, victims of all ages, even small babies, including thousands of abortions many of which are even classed as legal. Governments are even considering, some have already made it into law, assisted dying or assisted suicide.
Despisers of good. I suppose some of the things in the previous group fall into this one – abortion, euthanasia and assisted dying/suicide. Once upon a time life was sacred and people were encouraged and praised for doing good. Now such people are frowned upon and even considered to be foolish. Good people, particularly those who are successful, are targeted because their success serves as a direct reminder of others’ missed opportunities or inaction. Sometimes, extreme kindness is viewed with suspicion. People may assume that a “too nice” person has a hidden agenda, is acting in their own self-interest. Good people are often despised due to a mix of jealousy, insecurity, and social dynamics that make others feel threatened or uncomfortable by their presence.
Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God: All these have one thing in common and that is self (the number one in this list). To please ourselves, to do what comes naturally, look after number one, is the common idea today. I, me, my are the usual traits. I answer to no-one, I make my own rules.
We often think of traitors as those who commit treason against the monarch or state, an offence which carries life imprisonment (until 1998 the death penalty), but it is much wider than that, it can apply to betraying a friend, and how many of us could be guilty of that. All these things are to be seen today and Paul says, they will be prevalent in the last days. Do we love self and our pleasure rather than loving God?
Having a form of godliness but denying its power. This is commonly referred to as talking the talk but not walking the walk. Appearing on the surface to be spiritual but anything but on the inside. We must be totally biblical in our beliefs; we cannot pick and choose. Jesus had much to say about the Pharisees, who, on the outside were whitewashed but inside were tombs. Sadly, and dangerously, there are those who preach in our churches but do not put into practice what they preach. We cannot appear to be godly, but unless we really are in-dwelt by the Spirit of God, we are powerless, except to lead people astray.
What a catalogue of sins! Paul urges Timothy, ‘from such turn away’. Paul’s message is still the same to us. Note that the message is turn away from those things, but also, to turn away from the people who do them. Those people will influence us, they were present in Paul’s day and undoubtedly, they are more prevalent today and have increased in power. There are dangerous people and dangerous times.
“For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (v6,7)
These dangers are in the world, but these words, bring it closer to home. It’s in the home. Those who creep into households, very scary!
Don’t forget that local churches were held in houses. We have seen some of these dangers creeping into our churches and we must be very wary. This describes false teachers or manipulative individuals infiltrating homes to deceive and gain control over vulnerable people.
In the book of Jude v4 there is mention of those certain men who have crept in unawares. They were marked out for condemnation for their ungodly ways who turn the grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and Lord Jesus Christ.
There are those who are gullible who are easily taken in by these clever false teachers. The translation says ‘gullible women’ but I think it can refer to anyone who is loaded down with sins, who will believe anything put over in a smart package, men or women.
Paul refers to women because in those days women spent far more time in the home than men. Men were expected to go out to work whereas today in days of so-called equality it is different.
Paul says that these are made captives by this non-biblical teaching and behaviour. Therefore, we need to examine if we are made captive by it. The grace of God brings liberty, the truth shall make you free, not free to do anything we want, but free to enjoy the presence of God and obey Him. There is enough in God’s word to make us free rather than being held captive by sin, or those things which are being spread by these false teachers. We can be led astray by various lusts, which appeal to our desires for wealth, status, and even sex and romance. These can never satisfy fully.
Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth: there is a desire by many to learn more and more today. Sadly, it is often the rubbish which people want to know which will never lead to the knowledge of the truth. Most of the learning is about self, but those who do seem to want to hear spiritual things are often just hearers only and not doers. We need to read, mark and learn God’s word and spend time studying it and seeking to put it into practice.
“Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.” (v8,9)
Paul gives Timothy two examples of the people who he has just been talking about in verses 2-7 and that long list of things he must turn away from. He mentions Jannes and Jambres who resisted Moses. Who were they? It is thought that they were the magicians in Egypt in Exodus 7 and 8 who performed their magic when Moses appeared before Pharaoh when asking for release of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. They are not named in Exodus, but it is thought that they were able to work miracles by the power of a darkness, not the power of God. Moses threw down his rod, and it became a serpent, and these two did the same. Likewise turning water into blood, the plague of frogs, but when it came to gnats they couldn’t. Imagine being stumped by gnats! This showed that their powers were limited. The evil power had limits whereas God’s power is limitless.
One might wonder why these is mentioned in this context, it is clear that the ability to perform miracles and people to receive them as authentic and will become prevalent in the end times. (See Revelation 13 and 2 Thessalonians 2). They resisted Moses as in the last days men will resist the truth.
Some will be taken in by these things without considering that they are demonic instead of from God. The Bible says that demonic powers will come masquerading as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:15). However, they will be put to shame and will progress no further. Satan’s is limited, but God’s power is not. He is in control. We must not be taken in by these things, but trust in God who is our only hope.
Paul is confident that Timothy is firm in his faith, carefully followed his doctrine, manner of life and purpose. He had carefully followed in Paul’s steps and Paul had no doubts about Timothy that he would not be swayed by the others. He even goes further to say that Timothy had carefully followed his faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions and afflictions. (v8-12). I’m not sure if he meant supported him or even suffered the same things as Paul. He certainly was imprisoned at some point
He mentioned Antioch, Iconium and Lystra where he suffered persecutions. Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas were thrown out of the city for preaching the gospel (Acts 13:50). Iconium, where an attempt was made to stone Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:5). Lystra, where they actually did stone Paul and leave him for dead (Acts 14:19), and the brothers gathered around him, and he and Barnabas departed next day to Derbe. Luke the writer of Acts is present for much of the time, as are others, including Timothy who came from Lystra. Timothy followed Paul’s way of life and even suffered the persecutions with him. He was totally committed.
He makes an amazing statement – “And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” Remember, Paul is writing this from a prison cell, and yet, he can say that the Lord delivered him. He was confident that He could and even if not, he was prepared to follow the Lord and serve Him by preaching the gospel in it all.
In Philippians 1:27-30 Paul writes,
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”
Note that he says that suffering for Christ is a gift. You will probably say it is one we could do without. This letter was also written from prison. Thus, he adds here to Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Christians are still being persecuted today. In some countries very severely. In this country, perhaps not so, but there is still persecution. Christians are told not to pray in certain places in public in this country, even silently, whereas people of other religions are permitted. We must take our stand and willing to be rejected for the sake of Christ, to be true followers of His.
Paul assures Timothy that evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse. They are deceiving and being deceived (v13) Evil men are plain to see, but imposters might be more difficult because they are the ones who are infiltrating God’s people, even the church. Those who look good on the outside, speak well, but they are frauds. Paul says that they are deceived themselves, but worse still, are deceiving others. Much harm is done by those who have been sincerely deceived, doing wrong things out of good motives. All motives must be measured by the truth, and the truth is in God’s word, and we must pray for discernment because these imposters can be so plausible.
You must continue in the things you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them. How vital the teachers are. It is one thing to learn and be assured of the teaching, but also those who teach it. They must be utterly reliable. Timothy had been taught the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother. Paul was assured that their teaching was sound, and, of course, Timothy had also been taught by himself.
How important it is for parents and grandparents to teach their children the Word of God. From childhood he had known the Scriptures. Children are never too young to hear, know and learn the Word of God. It is always relevant. And why is that? (They) “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (v15)
The things which he had learned were all centred on God’s Word and don’t forget that he only had the Old Testament, very little if any of our New Testament. We have the same Holy Scriptures and are blessed to have the words of Jesus and all the New Testament teachings. We have no excuse, but we must be careful not to add anything to it or take anything away from it or misinterpret anything.
The things in the Scriptures are of great value. Wisdom far greater than the wisdom of this world or any of us. It is not that Bible knowledge saves us. It is the Bible and our faith through which we trust in Christ. The Bible makes aware of our sin and then gives us the good news that there is remedy through the Lord Jesus Christ and shows us the way to Him through the cross.
How is the Scripture wise? Verses 16,17 give us the clear answer – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
It is wise above all because it is inspired by God. It is considered that Paul was not only referring to the Old Testament by using the word ‘All’, but also the sayings of Jesus as witnessed by those who heard Him, and also the words given to the apostles by God. They were also God-breathed and therefore, inspired, as Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth, and as Paul said in Ephesians 2:20 as doctrine based on the Apostles and Prophets. Both Paul and Peter referred to their words as scripture (see 1 Timothy 5:18, 2 Peter 3:15,16)
Critics have said that anyone could speak or write a book and say that it is inspired by God. The difference is that the Bible has been tested and proven. Many have tried to disprove it and destroy it but have failed. It is still and probably even more, the best seller and the book that transforms lives.
No other book has proved to be true and reliable. The prophecies which have been fulfilled are phenomenal. Stoner has calculated that the probability of any one man fulfilling eight of these prophecies is 1:10 to the power 17; that silver dollars would cover the state of Texas two feet deep. If you consider 48 prophecies the odds become 10 to the power 157. For instance, I understand that there are over three hundred prophecies regarding the Messiah in the Old Testament which Jesus fulfilled exactly. (His birth in Bethlehem, fleeing to Egypt, his death, resurrection etc.).
In 1 Peter 1:10-12 he says, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into.”
2 Peter 1:16-21 he says, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Many accept the bible in principle, but do not practice it. Even some religious leaders don’t. Those who want same sex unions in churches for example. In 2005 it was reported that Roman Catholic Bishops issued a document saying that the Bible should not be taken literally and it is not infallible, and yet they say that the Pope is infallible.
Scholars say that ‘all’ means all. All Scripture is inspired, God-breathed, and it is true. It is also profitable. For it to be profitable it must be understandable. When God speaks through the Bible we can understand. He leaves us in no doubt. There would be no point in if we couldn’t understand.
It is profitable, firstly for doctrine. Doctrine is the truth about God, man, the world.
For reproof and correction. God’s word has the authority to correct and reprove us, and when we are shown to be wrong, we have no alternative but to accept it.
For instruction in righteousness. God’s word tells us how to live and how to live in righteousness. This is God’s righteousness not legal righteousness.
It is profitable because the Bible makes you complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. One has said that the Bible leads me into everything I need, therefore, I will be complete as a Christian and thoroughly equipped for every good work. The Bible says that we should be doers and not hearers only. Prayer, Bible reading, worship, evangelism and good works are essential for the Christian life. We must let God speak to us and he will transform us.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
I said earlier that we need to be able to understand it, but it goes further than that by imparting a spiritual work that goes beyond our understanding, beyond our intellect. God can do more than we think or imagine. He only can give us eternal life, cleanse us from sin. He does a spiritual work which is totally beyond us.
