English Standard Version
2 Timothy 4:3
3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2 Timothy 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- New International Version (NIV)For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
- New Living Translation (NLT)For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Context of 2 Timothy 4:3
1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Read all of 2 Timothy 42 Timothy 4:3 word by word
ἔσται γὰρ καιρὸς ὅτε τῆς ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας οὐκ ἀνέξονται, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισωρεύσουσιν διδασκάλους κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- the timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
- will comeεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- they willἀνέχωanechomai · to endureG430
- notοὐou · noG3756
- soundὑγιαίνωhugiainō · be healthyG5198
- doctrineδιδασκαλίαdidaskalia · teachingG1319
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- afterκατάkata · according toG2596
- their ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- lustsἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
- shall they heapἐπισωρεύωepisōreuō · to accumulateG2002
- to themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- teachersδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
- having itchingκνήθωknēthō · to itchG2833
- earsἀκοήakoē · hearingG189
Cross-references for 2 Timothy 4:3
- 2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
- 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
- 1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."
- 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars."
- 2 Chronicles 24:20Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, 'Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.'"
- 2 Chronicles 25:15Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?"
- Isaiah 28:12to whom he has said, "This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose"; yet they would not hear.
- Isaiah 33:9The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.
- Jeremiah 6:16Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'
- Jeremiah 18:18Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words."
- Amos 7:10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.
- Luke 20:19The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
- John 8:45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
- Galatians 4:16Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
- 1 Timothy 1:10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
- 2 Timothy 3:6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
Commentaries on 2 Timothy 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For the time will come - There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the practical truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of "deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me," which Jesus Christ has left in his Church. But after their own lusts - For these they will follow, and hate those preachers and that doctrine by which…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For the time will come - Probably referring to the time mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1, following. When they will not endure sound doctrine - Greek, “healthful doctrine;” i. e., doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or to salvation. At that time they would seek a kind of instruction more conformable to their wishes and feelings. But after their own lusts - They will seek such kind of preaching as will accord with their carnal desires; or such as…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8Timothy's ministry truly existed in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus. Paul commanded him to work, expecting the return of Jesus to judge and establish his kingdom (see 1 Timothy 5:21; 6:13–14). Christ’s appearing will bring: spiritual cleaning (2 Timothy 2:19), accountability (3:8–9), salvation, declaration of righteousness, and reward (4:8, 18). See also 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 4:4–5; 2 Corinthians 5:10.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. they--professing Christians. sound doctrine--Greek, "the sound (see on 1Ti 1:10) doctrine (didascalias)" or "teaching," namely, of the Gospel. Presently follows the concrete, "teachers." after their own lusts--Instead of regarding the will of God they dislike being interrupted in their lusts by true teachers. heap--one on another: an indiscriminate mass of false teachers. Variety delights itching ears. "He who despises sound teaching, leaves sound…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Timothy 4:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Timothy 4
- 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
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