2 Timothy 4:3

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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,
• 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;

Context of 2 Timothy 4:3

1I solemnly exhort 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; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 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

• timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
• will comeεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• they will not tolerateἀνέχωanechomai · to endureG430
• soundὑγιαίνωhugiainō · be healthyG5198
• doctrineδιδασκαλίαdidaskalia · teachingG1319
• to have their earsἀκοήakoē · hearingG189
• tickledκνήθωknēthō · to itchG2833
• they will accumulateἐπισωρεύωepisōreuō · to accumulateG2002
• for themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• teachersδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• their ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• desiresἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939

Cross-references for 2 Timothy 4:3

• 2 Timothy 3:1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
• 1 Timothy 4:1But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
• 1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say so.”
• 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars.”
• 2 Chronicles 24:20Then the Spirit of God covered Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest like clothing; and he stood above the people and said to them, “This is what God has said, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, He has also abandoned you.’”
• 2 Chronicles 25:15So the anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not saved their own people from your hand?”
• Isaiah 28:12He who said to them, “This is the place of quiet, give rest to the weary,” And, “This is the resting place,” but they would not listen.
• Isaiah 33:9The land mourns and wastes away, Lebanon is shamed and withers; Sharon is like a desert plain, And Bashan and Carmel lose their foliage.
• Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find a resting place for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
• Jeremiah 18:18Then they said, “Come and let’s devise plans against Jeremiah. Certainly the Law is not going to be lost by the priest, nor advice by the wise, nor the divine word by the prophet! Come, and let’s strike at him with our tongue, and let’s pay no attention to any of his words.”
• Amos 7:10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words.
• Luke 20:19The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them.
• John 8:45But because I say the truth, you do not believe Me.
• Galatians 4:16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
• 1 Timothy 1:10for the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
• 2 Timothy 3:6For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

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

• Apostasy
• Doctrines
• Lust
• Minister, Christian
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Departure
• Fight
• Greet
• Itch
• Ministry
• Quick
• Revelation of Christ
• Ware
• Doctrine
• Ear

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