Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 3:2

"For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," — 2 Timothy 3:2 (ASV)

For men shall be lovers of their own selves.—Hofmann and others have attempted to portion out these vices into groups.

But any such effort seems artificial.

A certain connection seems to exist to some extent; but when pressed to preserve the groups, a strained meaning has to be given to some of the terms.

It seems, therefore, best simply to understand the catalogue as representing the various more prominent vices that appeared on the surface of Christian society and threatened the very existence of the Church, even in those early times when Timothy ruled over the congregations of Christians at Ephesus.

Hofmann, however, divides the catalogue contained in 2 Timothy 3:2–4 into three groups, consisting of five, six, and seven terms, respectively.

Lovers of their own selves.—Selfishness fittingly stands at the head of the dreary list. It is the true root of all sin.

Covetous.—More accurately rendered, lovers of money. This “love of money” has been aptly termed “the daughter of selfishness.”

Boasters.—These are those who arrogate to themselves honour that does not fairly belong to them.

Proud.—These are those who contemptuously look down on others beneath them, either in social position or wealth, or perhaps in natural gifts.

The Latin, ostentatio, represents the vice that affects the first of these classes—“the boasters”; and superbia, that which affects the second class—“the proud.”

Blasphemers.—The two vices just mentioned refer to a man’s conduct toward his brother man; this alludes to his behaviour toward his God. The pride with which he looks down on his fellows develops into insolence in thought, if not in word, toward his God: and this is termed blasphemy.

Disobedient to parents.—The blasphemer of the Father who is in heaven is only too likely to train up little ones who, in their turn, will display disobedience to and disrespect for their earthly parents.

The home life of the man who chooses not to know God in his heart will too easily reflect his evil thoughts and senseless pride.

Unthankful.—Or, ungrateful. The children who begin life with disobedience to their parents, with rare exceptions, are ungrateful to all others who may show them kindness in their life journey.

Unholy.—Unholy through their lack of inward purity. (See 1 Timothy 1:9.)