The Meaning of 2 Timothy 3:5 Explained

2 Timothy 3:5

KJV: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

YLT: having a form of piety, and its power having denied; and from these be turning away,

Darby: having a form of piety but denying the power of it: and from these turn away.

ASV: holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Having  a form  of godliness,  but  denying  the power  thereof:  from  such  turn away. 

What does 2 Timothy 3:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Finally these people would (19) make a pretense of being religious but deny the source of true spiritual power (i.e, God"s Word). This last characteristic makes clear that those individuals described in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 would even claim to be Christians (i.e, false teachers and their followers). Timothy was to avoid association with people who demonstrated these characteristics except, of course, for purposes of evangelism and instruction.
"Self-love is the basic shortcoming mentioned in the list of vices in 2 Timothy 3:2-5. This vice leads to action in 2 Timothy 3:6-9 that is deceitful, determined to dominate, stubborn, and rejected by God." [1]

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 3:5

A form of godliness [μορπωσιν ευσεβειας]
For μορπωσιν — morphōsin see note on Romans 2:20. The outward shape without the reality. [source]
Having denied [ηρνημενοι]
Perfect middle participle of αρνεομαι — arneomai (see note on Romans 2:11.). Power (δυναμιν — dunamin). See 1 Corinthians 4:20. See Romans 1:29-31 for similar description. Turn away Present middle (direct) imperative of αποτρεπω — apotrepō “turn thyself away from.” Old verb, only here in N.T. See 4 Maccabees 1:33. [source]
Power [δυναμιν]
See 1 Corinthians 4:20. See Romans 1:29-31 for similar description. [source]
Turn away [αποτρεπου]
Present middle (direct) imperative of αποτρεπω — apotrepō “turn thyself away from.” Old verb, only here in N.T. See 4 Maccabees 1:33. [source]
A form [μόρφωσιν]
Only here and Romans 2:20. Μορφὴ Form(for the want of any other rendering) is the expression or embodiment of the essential and permanent being of that which is expressed Μόρφωσις , lit. forming or shaping. Yet the meaning differs in different passages. In Romans 2:20, μόρφωσις isthe truthful embodiment of knowledge and truth as contained in the law of God. Here, the mere outward semblance, as distinguished from the essential reality. [source]
The power [τὴν δύναμιν]
The practical virtue. Comp. 1 Corinthians 4:20. It is impossible to overlook the influence of Romans 1:29-31in shaping this catalogue. [source]
Turn away [ἀποτρέπου]
N.T.oComp. παραιτοῦ avoid 2 Timothy 2:23; ἐκτρεπόμενος turningaway, 1 Timothy 6:20; and ἐκκλίνετε turnaway, Romans 16:17. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 3:5

Romans 2:20 Of babes [νηπιων]
Novitiates or proselytes to Judaism just as in Galatians 4:1. Paul used it of those not of legal age. The form (την μορπωσιν — tēn morphōsin). Rare word only in Theophrastus and Paul (here and 2 Timothy 3:5). Pallis regards it as a Stoical term for education. Lightfoot considers the μορπωσις — morphōsis as “the rough-sketch, the pencilling of the μορπη — morphē the outline or framework, and in 2 Timothy 3:5 “the outline without the substance.” This is Paul‘s picture of the Jew as he sees himself drawn with consummate skill and subtle irony. [source]
Romans 2:20 The form [την μορπωσιν]
Rare word only in Theophrastus and Paul (here and 2 Timothy 3:5). Pallis regards it as a Stoical term for education. Lightfoot considers the μορπωσις — morphōsis as “the rough-sketch, the pencilling of the μορπη — morphē the outline or framework, and in 2 Timothy 3:5 “the outline without the substance.” This is Paul‘s picture of the Jew as he sees himself drawn with consummate skill and subtle irony. [source]
1 Timothy 4:2 Having their conscience seared with a hot iron [ἐν ὑποκρίσει ψευδολόγων]
Better, branded in their own conscience. With a hot iron is superfluous. The verb N.T.oolxx, oClass. The metaphor is from the practice of branding slaves or criminals, the latter on the brow. These deceivers are not acting under delusion, but deliberately, and against their conscience. They wear the form of godliness, and contradict their profession by their crooked conduct (2 Timothy 3:5). The brand is not on their brow, but on their conscience. Comp. Titus 1:15; Titus 3:11. [source]
2 Timothy 1:7 Of power [δυνάμεως]
Found in all the Pauline Epistles except Philemon. In Pastorals only here, 2 Timothy 1:8, and 2 Timothy 3:5. Not used by our writer in the sense of working miracles, which it sometimes has in Paul. Here, the power to overcome all obstacles and to face all dangers. It is closely linked with the sense of παρρησία boldnessOf love ( ἀγάπης )See on Galatians 5:22. [source]
Revelation 3:1 That hath the seven Spirits of God [ο εχων τα επτα πνευματα του τεου]
For which picture of the Holy Spirit see Revelation 1:4.And the seven stars (και τους επτα αστερας — kai tous hepta asteras). As in Revelation 1:16, Revelation 1:20.A name that thou livest A name in contrast with reality. The οτι — hoti clause in apposition with ονομα — onoma thou art dead “The paradox of death under the name of life” (Swete). Not complete (a nucleus of life) death (Revelation 3:2), but rapidly dying. See the picture in James 2:17; 2 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:5. [source]
Revelation 3:1 A name that thou livest [ονομα οτι ζηις]
A name in contrast with reality. The οτι — hoti clause in apposition with ονομα — onoma thou art dead “The paradox of death under the name of life” (Swete). Not complete (a nucleus of life) death (Revelation 3:2), but rapidly dying. See the picture in James 2:17; 2 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:5. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 3:5 mean?

having a form of godliness - but the power of it denying And these turn away from
ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι καὶ τούτους ἀποτρέπου

μόρφωσιν  a  form 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μόρφωσις  
Sense: a forming, shaping.
εὐσεβείας  of  godliness 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: εὐσέβεια  
Sense: reverence, respect.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δύναμιν  the  power 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δύναμις  
Sense: strength power, ability.
αὐτῆς  of  it 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἠρνημένοι  denying 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρνέομαι  
Sense: to deny.
τούτους  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀποτρέπου  turn  away  from 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀποτρέπω  
Sense: to turn one’s self away from.