English Standard Version
2 Timothy 3:5
5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
- New International Version (NIV)having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
- New King James Version (NKJV)having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
- New Living Translation (NLT)They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Context of 2 Timothy 3:5
3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
Read all of 2 Timothy 32 Timothy 3:5 word by word
ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας, τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι. καὶ τούτους ἀποτρέπου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- a formμόρφωσιςmorphōsis · formG3446
- of godlinessεὐσέβειαeusebeia · pietyG2150
- butδέde · thenG1161
- denyingἀρνέομαιarneomai · to denyG720
- the powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- thereofαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- fromἀποτρέπωapotrepō · to avoidG665
- suchοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
Cross-references for 2 Timothy 3:5
- Isaiah 29:13And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
- Isaiah 48:1Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.
- Isaiah 58:1"Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Ezekiel 33:30"As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, 'Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.'
- Matthew 7:15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
- Matthew 23:27"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.
- Romans 2:20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
- 1 Timothy 5:8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- 2 Timothy 2:16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
- Romans 16:17I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
- Ephesians 4:14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
- 1 Timothy 6:5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
- 2 John 1:10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
Commentaries on 2 Timothy 3:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Having a form of godliness - The original word signifies a draught, sketch, or summary, and will apply well to those who have all their religion in their creed, confession of faith, catechism, bodies of divinity, etc., while destitute of the life of God in their souls; and are not only destitute of this life, but deny that such life or power is here to be experienced or known. They have religion in their creed, but none in their hearts. And perhaps to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Having a form of godliness - That is, they profess religion, or are in connection with the church. This shows that the apostle referred to some great corruption in the church; and there can be little doubt that he had his eye on the same great apostasy to which he refers in 2 John 1:10-11; see the notes at 2 Corinthians 6:17.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5such as these: These people rejected good teaching. They denied the power that could make them live as God desires (3:2–4; see 1 Timothy 1:5–11; Colossians 2:16–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. form--outward semblance. godliness--piety. denying--rather as Greek, "having denied," that is, renounced. the power--the living, regenerating, sanctifying influence of it. turn away--implying that some of such characters, forerunners of the last days, were already in the Church.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Timothy 3:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Timothy 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries