2 Timothy 4:1-f
If false prophets are everywhere, is it not a matter of time before the people begin craving false teachings?
I Charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall judge the quick and dead at that his appearing, and in his kingdom,
Preach the word: be instant, in season, and out of season: improve, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine: but having their ears itching, shall after their own lusts get them an heap of teachers,
And shall turn their ears from the truth, and shall be given unto fables.
But watch thou in all things: suffer adversity: do the work of an Evangelist: cause thy ministry to be thoroughly liked of.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departing is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, and have finished my course: I have kept the faith.
For henceforth is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love that his appearing.
Make speed to come unto me at once:
For Demas hath forsaken me, and hath embraced this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica. Crescens is gone to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable unto me to minister.
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but specially the parchments.
Alexander the coppersmith hath done me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works.
Of whom be thou ware also: for he withstood our preaching sore.
At my first answering no man assisted me, but all forsook me: I pray God, that it may not be laid to their charge.
Notwithstanding the Lord assisted me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully believed, and that all the Gentiles should hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be praise for ever and ever, Amen.
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
Erastus abode at Corinth: Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.
Make speed to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy Spirit. Grace be with you, Amen.
¶ The second Epistle written from Rome unto Timothy, the first Bishop elected of the Church of Ephesus, when Paul was presented the second time before the Emperor Nero.
So, as the concluding words of this Epistle to St. Timothy, it’s made clear: St. Paul is writing to St. Timothy, his final instructions before being beheaded.
And just as we discussed a couple weeks ago, St. John knew and wanted the people to know that false teachers will appear, and are already present among us, now we see that St. Paul knew and wanted the pastor to know that the people will come to desire false teachings.
This is why I asked in our Beloved Community Chat, who is this “they?”
In order to really understand what’s being said in this passage, we must know to whom the pronouns refer…no?
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine: but having their ears itching, shall after their own lusts get them an heap of teachers,
Let’s be clear: St. Paul was talking to St. Timothy, directly. He was talking to clerics/pastors/preachers indirectly. He was speaking to the general faithful, tangentially and by inference.
So….who is this “they” of which St. Paul is warning St. Timothy?
Clearly, the faithful is “they.” The laity is “they.” “They” is the flock of those who claim to believe. “They” is the congregation.
St. Paul is warning St. Timothy that there will come a time when the congregation will not want “sound doctrine” or orthodoxy (i.e. the straight way). Rather he says, the flock will have their ears itching…
But what does that mean???
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