The Meaning of 2 Timothy 3:2 Explained

2 Timothy 3:2

KJV: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

YLT: for men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, evil-speakers, to parents disobedient, unthankful, unkind,

Darby: for men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, evil speakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, profane,

ASV: For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  men  shall be  lovers of their own selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud,  blasphemers,  disobedient  to parents,  unthankful,  unholy, 

What does 2 Timothy 3:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

People would be (1) self-centered and narcissistic (Gr. philautoi), (2) lovers of money (philargyroi, cf. 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:8), (3) boastful of their own importance (alazones), and (4) proud, arrogant in attitude (hyperephanoi). They would be (5) abusive toward others (blasphemoi), (6) unresponsive to parental discipline, (7) ungrateful, unthankful, unappreciative (acharistoi), and (8) impure, unholy (anosioi).

Context Summary

2 Timothy 3:1-9 - A Dark Picture Of Evil Men
The last days of the present age are to be black and sorrowful. Sinful rejection of Christ will come to a head. We must not be misled by the wide-spread profession of the forms of religion; this may co-exist with the rankest apostasy. When women are conscious of sins against God, society, and themselves, they are very liable to the seduction of false teachers, who promise peace and condone impurity.
Tares and wheat grow together unto the harvest. The devil has always set himself to counterfeit God's handiwork: the Holy City by Babylon; the Son of man by the man of sin; blessedness by the worldling's giddy merriment. Thus the Egyptian conjurers repeated the miracles of Moses by resorting to sleight of hand. So there is a pure gospel and a specious mimicry of it. Wait for the inevitable unfoldings of God's purpose. Time will show what is true and what is false. In the meantime, examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Timothy 3

1  Paul advises Timothy of the difficult times to come;
6  describes the enemies of the truth;
10  explains unto him his own example;
16  and commends the holy Scriptures;

Greek Commentary for 2 Timothy 3:2

Lovers of self [πιλαυτοι]
Old compound adjective (πιλοσ αυτος — philosπιλαργυροι — autos), here only in N.T. [source]
Lovers of money [αλαζονες]
Old compound adjective, in N.T. only here and Luke 16:14. See note on 1 Timothy 6:10. Boastful (υπερηπανοι — alazones). Old word for empty pretender, in N.T. only here and Romans 1:30. Haughty See also Romans 1:30 for this old word. Railers (γονευσιν απειτεις — blasphēmoi). See note on 1 Timothy 1:13. Disobedient to parents See note on Romans 1:30. Unthankful (ανοσιοι — acharistoi). Old word, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:35. Unholy See note on 1 Timothy 1:9. Without natural affection (astorgoi). See note on Romans 1:31. [source]
Boastful [υπερηπανοι]
Old word for empty pretender, in N.T. only here and Romans 1:30. [source]
Haughty [βλασπημοι]
See also Romans 1:30 for this old word. Railers (γονευσιν απειτεις — blasphēmoi). See note on 1 Timothy 1:13. Disobedient to parents See note on Romans 1:30. Unthankful (ανοσιοι — acharistoi). Old word, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:35. Unholy See note on 1 Timothy 1:9. Without natural affection (astorgoi). See note on Romans 1:31. [source]
Railers [γονευσιν απειτεις]
See note on 1 Timothy 1:13. [source]
Disobedient to parents [αχαριστοι]
See note on Romans 1:30. Unthankful (ανοσιοι — acharistoi). Old word, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:35. Unholy See note on 1 Timothy 1:9. Without natural affection (astorgoi). See note on Romans 1:31. [source]
Unthankful [ανοσιοι]
Old word, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:35. [source]
Unholy [αστοργοι]
See note on 1 Timothy 1:9. Without natural affection (astorgoi). See note on Romans 1:31. [source]
Without natural affection [astorgoi)]
See note on Romans 1:31. [source]
Lovers of their own selves [φίλαυτοι]
Better, lovers of self. N.T.olxx. Aristotle, De Repub. ii. 5, says: “It is not loving one's self, but loving it unduly, just as the love of possessions.” [source]
Covetous [φιλάργυροι]
Better, lovers of money. Only here and Luke 16:14. For the noun φιλαργυρία loveof money, see on 1 Timothy 6:10. Love of money and covetousness are not synonymous. Covetous is πλεονέκτης ; see 1 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:6. See on Romans 1:29. [source]
Boasters [ἀλαζόνες]
Or swaggerers. Only here and Romans 1:30. See on ἀλαζονείαις boastings James 4:16. [source]
Proud [ὑπερήφανοι]
Or haughty. See on ὑπερηφανία pride Mark 7:22. [source]
Blasphemers [βλάσφημοι]
See on 1 Timothy 1:13. Better, railers. See also on, βλασφημία blasphemy Mark 7:22. [source]
Unthankful [ἀχάριστοι]
Only here and Luke 6:35. [source]
Unholy [ἀνόσιοι]
Only here and 1 Timothy 1:9(note). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 3:2

Luke 16:14 Covetous [φιλάργυροι]
Rev. renders literally, according to the composition of the word, lover, of money. Only here and 2 Timothy 3:2. Compare the kindred noun, 1 Timothy 6:10. The usual word for covetous is πλεονέκτης (1 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:10). [source]
Luke 16:14 Who were lovers of money [πιλαργυροι υπαρχοντες]
Literally, being lovers of money. Πιλαργυροι — Philarguroi is an old word, but in the N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 3:2. It is from πιλος — philos and αργυρος — arguros Imperfect active, were listening (all the while Jesus was talking to the disciples (Luke 16:1-13). [source]
Romans 1:29 Covetousness [πλεονεξίᾳ]
Lit., the desire of having more. It is to be distinguished from φιλαργυρία , rendered love of money, 1 Timothy 6:10, and its kindred adjective φιλάργυρος , which A.V. renders covetous Luke 16:14; 2 Timothy 3:2; properly changed by Rev. into lovers of money. The distinction is expressed by covetousness and avarice. The one is the desire of getting, the other of keeping. Covetousness has a wider and deeper sense, as designating the sinful desire which goes out after things of time and sense of every form and kind. Hence it is defined by Paul (Colossians 3:5) as idolatry, the worship of another object than God, and is so often associated with fleshly sins, as 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:3, Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5. Lightfoot says: “Impurity and covetousness may be said to divide between them nearly the whole domain of selfishness and vice.” Socrates quotes an anonymous author who compares the region of the desires in the wicked to a vessel full of holes, and says that, of all the souls in Hades, these uninitiated or leaky persons are the most miserable, and that they carry water to a vessel which is full of holes in a similarly holey colander. The colander is the soul of the ignorant (Plato, “Gorgias,” 493). Compare, also, the description of covetousness and avarice by Chaucer, “Romaunt of the Rose,” 183-246.“CovetiseThat eggeth folk in many a guise To take and yeve (give) right nought again,-DIVIDER-
And great treasoures up to laine (lay). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
… .. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
And that is she that maketh treachours,-DIVIDER-
And she maketh false pleadours. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
… .. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Full crooked were her hondes (hands) two,-DIVIDER-
For Covetise is ever woode (violent)-DIVIDER-
To grippen other folkes goode.”“AvariceFull foul in painting was that vice. … .. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
She was like thing for hunger dead,-DIVIDER-
That lad (led) her life onely by bread. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
… .. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
This Avarice had in her hand-DIVIDER-
A purse that honge by a band,-DIVIDER-
And that she hid and bond so strong,-DIVIDER-
Men must abide wonder long,-DIVIDER-
Out of the purse er (ere) there come aught,-DIVIDER-
For that ne commeth in her thought,-DIVIDER-
It was not certaine her ententThat fro that purse a peny went.” [source]

Romans 1:30 Whisperers [πσιτυριστας]
Old word from πσιτυριζω — psithurizō to speak into the ear, to speak secretly, an onomatopoetic word like πσιτυρισμος — psithurismos (2 Corinthians 12:20) and only here in N.T. Backbiters (καταλαλους — katalalous). Found nowhere else except in Hermas, compound like καταλαλεω — katalaleō to talk back (James 4:11), and καταλαλια — katalalia talking back (2 Corinthians 12:20), talkers back whether secretly or openly. Hateful to God Old word from τεος — theos and στυγεω — stugeō All the ancient examples take it in the passive sense and so probably here. So στυγητος — stugētos (Titus 3:13). Vulgate has deo odibiles. Insolent (υβριστας — hubristas). Old word for agent from υβριζω — hubrizō to give insult to, here alone in N.T. save 1 Timothy 1:13. Haughty From υπερ — huper and παινομαι — phainomai to appear above others, arrogant in thought and conduct, “stuck up.” Boastful (αλαζονας — alazonas). From αλη — alē wandering. Empty pretenders, swaggerers, braggarts. Inventors of evil things Inventors of new forms of vice as Nero was. Tacitus (Ann. IV. ii) describes Sejanus as facinorum omnium repertor and Virgil (Aen. ii. 163) scelerum inventor. Disobedient to parents (γονευσιν απειτεις — goneusin apeitheis). Cf. 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:2. An ancient and a modern trait. [source]
Romans 1:30 Hateful to God [τεοστυγεις]
Old word from τεος — theos and στυγεω — stugeō All the ancient examples take it in the passive sense and so probably here. So στυγητος — stugētos (Titus 3:13). Vulgate has deo odibiles. Insolent (υβριστας — hubristas). Old word for agent from υβριζω — hubrizō to give insult to, here alone in N.T. save 1 Timothy 1:13. Haughty From υπερ — huper and παινομαι — phainomai to appear above others, arrogant in thought and conduct, “stuck up.” Boastful (αλαζονας — alazonas). From αλη — alē wandering. Empty pretenders, swaggerers, braggarts. Inventors of evil things Inventors of new forms of vice as Nero was. Tacitus (Ann. IV. ii) describes Sejanus as facinorum omnium repertor and Virgil (Aen. ii. 163) scelerum inventor. Disobedient to parents (γονευσιν απειτεις — goneusin apeitheis). Cf. 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:2. An ancient and a modern trait. [source]
Romans 1:30 Haughty [υπερηπανους]
From υπερ — huper and παινομαι — phainomai to appear above others, arrogant in thought and conduct, “stuck up.” Boastful (αλαζονας — alazonas). From αλη — alē wandering. Empty pretenders, swaggerers, braggarts. Inventors of evil things Inventors of new forms of vice as Nero was. Tacitus (Ann. IV. ii) describes Sejanus as facinorum omnium repertor and Virgil (Aen. ii. 163) scelerum inventor. Disobedient to parents (γονευσιν απειτεις — goneusin apeitheis). Cf. 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:2. An ancient and a modern trait. [source]
Romans 1:30 Inventors of evil things [επευρετας κακων]
Inventors of new forms of vice as Nero was. Tacitus (Ann. IV. ii) describes Sejanus as facinorum omnium repertor and Virgil (Aen. ii. 163) scelerum inventor. Disobedient to parents (γονευσιν απειτεις — goneusin apeitheis). Cf. 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:2. An ancient and a modern trait. [source]
Romans 1:30 Disobedient to parents [γονευσιν απειτεις]
Cf. 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:2. An ancient and a modern trait. [source]
1 Timothy 5:4 Their parents [τοῖς προγόνοις]
N.T.oParents is too limited. The word comprehends mothers and grandmothers and living ancestors generally. The word for parents is γονεῖς , see 2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 1:30; 2 Corinthians 12:14; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20. Πρόγονοι for living ancestors is contrary to usage. One instance is cited from Plato, Laws, xi. 932. The word is probably selected to correspond in form with ἔκγονα childrenGood and acceptable ( καλὸν καὶ ἀποδεκτὸν )Omit καλὸν καὶ goodand. Ἁπόδεκτος acceptableonly here and 1 Timothy 2:3. See note. [source]
1 Timothy 3:3 Not covetous [ἀφιλάργυρον]
Only here and Hebrews 13:5. olxx, oClass. Φιλάργυρος money-loving Luke 16:14; 2 Timothy 3:2. Rend. not a money-lover. The word for covetous is πλεονέκτης. For the distinction see on Romans 1:29. This admonition is cited by some writers in support of the view that the original ἐπίσκοπος was simply a financial officer. It is assumed that it was prompted by the special temptations which attached to the financial function. Admitting that the episcopal function may have included the financial interests of the church, it could not have been confined to these. It can hardly be supposed that, in associations distinctively moral and religious, one who bore the title of overseer should have been concerned only with the material side of church life. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Timothy 1:14 Was exceeding abundant [ὑπερεπλεόνασεν]
Or abounded exceedingly. N.T.oolxx. oClass. Paul is fond of compounds with ὑπὲρ , which, with a few exceptions, are found only in his writings. In the pastorals there are only three. See 1 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:2. [source]
1 Timothy 1:9 Unruly [ανυποτακτοις]
Dative (like all these words) of the late verbal In N.T. only here, Titus 1:6, Titus 1:10; Hebrews 2:8. Ungodly (ασεβεσι — asebesi). See Romans 4:5; Romans 5:6. Sinners See Romans 3:7. Unholy (ανοσιοις — anosiois). Common word (α — a privative and οσιος — hosios In N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 3:2. Profane Old word from βαινω — bainō to go, and βηλος — bēlos threshold. See Hebrews 12:16. Murderers of fathers (πατρολωιαις — patrolōiais). Late form for common Attic πατραλωιαις — patralōiais (from πατηρ — patēr father, and αλοιαω — aloiaō to smite) only here in N.T. Murderers of mothers Late form Attic μητραλωιαις — mētralōiais Only here in N.T. Manslayers (ανδραπονοις — andraphonois). Old compound (ανηρ — anēr man, πονος — phonos murder). Only here in N.T. [source]
1 Timothy 1:9 Sinners [αμαρτωλοις]
See Romans 3:7. Unholy (ανοσιοις — anosiois). Common word (α — a privative and οσιος — hosios In N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 3:2. Profane Old word from βαινω — bainō to go, and βηλος — bēlos threshold. See Hebrews 12:16. Murderers of fathers (πατρολωιαις — patrolōiais). Late form for common Attic πατραλωιαις — patralōiais (from πατηρ — patēr father, and αλοιαω — aloiaō to smite) only here in N.T. Murderers of mothers Late form Attic μητραλωιαις — mētralōiais Only here in N.T. Manslayers (ανδραπονοις — andraphonois). Old compound (ανηρ — anēr man, πονος — phonos murder). Only here in N.T. [source]
1 Timothy 1:9 Unholy [ανοσιοις]
Common word (α — a privative and οσιος — hosios In N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 3:2. [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 False swearers [επιορκοις]
Old word Perjurers. Only here in N.T. For similar lists, see note on 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9.; Galatians 5:19.; Romans 1:28.; Romans 13:13; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Timothy 3:2. The sound doctrine (αντικειται — tēi hugiainousēi didaskaliāi). Dative case after υγιαινω — antikeitai for which verb see Galatians 5:17 for the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. “The healthful (hugiainō old word for being well, as Luke 5:31; 3 John 1:2, in figurative sense in N.T. only in the Pastorals) teaching.” See Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:3. [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 Men-stealers [ανδραποδισταις]
Old word from ανδραποδιζω — andrapodizō (from ανηρ — anēr man, πους — pous foot, to catch by the foot), to enslave. So enslavers, whether kidnappers (men-stealers) of free men or stealers of the slaves of other men. So slave-dealers. By the use of this word Paul deals a blow at the slave-trade (cf. Philemon). Liars (πσευσταις — pseustais). Old word, see Romans 3:4. False swearers Old word Perjurers. Only here in N.T. For similar lists, see note on 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9.; Galatians 5:19.; Romans 1:28.; Romans 13:13; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Timothy 3:2. The sound doctrine (αντικειται — tēi hugiainousēi didaskaliāi). Dative case after υγιαινω — antikeitai for which verb see Galatians 5:17 for the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. “The healthful (hugiainō old word for being well, as Luke 5:31; 3 John 1:2, in figurative sense in N.T. only in the Pastorals) teaching.” See Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:3. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 3:2 mean?

Will be for - men lovers of self lovers of money boastful proud abusive to parents disobedient ungrateful unholy
ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι φίλαυτοι φιλάργυροι ἀλαζόνες ὑπερήφανοι βλάσφημοι γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς ἀχάριστοι ἀνόσιοι

ἔσονται  Will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἄνθρωποι  men 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
φίλαυτοι  lovers  of  self 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φίλαυτος  
Sense: loving one’s self.
φιλάργυροι  lovers  of  money 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φιλάργυρος  
Sense: loving money, avarice.
ἀλαζόνες  boastful 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλαζών  
Sense: an empty pretender, a boaster.
ὑπερήφανοι  proud 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑπερήφανος 
Sense: showing one’s self above others, overtopping, conspicuous above others, pre-eminent.
βλάσφημοι  abusive 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: βλάσφημος  
Sense: speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive.
γονεῦσιν  to  parents 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: γονεύς  
Sense: fathers, parent, the parents.
ἀπειθεῖς  disobedient 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπειθής  
Sense: impersuasible, not compliant, disobedient, contumacious.
ἀχάριστοι  ungrateful 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀχάριστος  
Sense: ungracious.
ἀνόσιοι  unholy 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνόσιος  
Sense: unholy, impious, wicked.