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 urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 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. 4They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 5But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

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

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 3:1You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
• 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
• 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
• 2 Chronicles 16:9The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”
• 2 Chronicles 24:20Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”
• 2 Chronicles 25:15This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”
• Isaiah 28:12God has told his people, “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen.
• Isaiah 33:9The land of Israel wilts in mourning. Lebanon withers with shame. The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness. Bashan and Carmel have been plundered.
• Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
• Jeremiah 18:18Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”
• Amos 7:10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam, king of Israel: “Amos is hatching a plot against you right here on your very doorstep! What he is saying is intolerable.
• Luke 20:19The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
• John 8:45So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!
• Galatians 4:16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
• 1 Timothy 1:10The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching
• 2 Timothy 3:6They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.

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