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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
We are in this “time!” Paul started chapter three of this book telling of a time when the following will occur. People will:
1. ... love themselves ✅
2. ... love money ✅
3. ... become proud ✅
4. ... become arrogant ✅.
5-20. ... become abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swolllen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of Godliness ✅ ✅ ✅ etc.
We are in this “time!” The reason for the long list in chapter 3, is the turning away from the truth as stated in chapter 4. When we turn from sound teaching we turn to ungodliness. Sound teaching of truth is the brakes that prevent society from crumbling. When people reject truth this list begins to unfold. It has happened in every nation that crumbled. You can look at this list and say, “Wow! That is exactly what is happening today.” You would be correct. But, this is also what happened to every nation that is no longer in existence. They are not because they rejected truth. God’s truth is used by the Spirit of God to hold back the wickedness in this world. When we refuse to recognize God’s truth we turn to useless myths that stir up the mind but do not turn the heart to God. This has been true of any generation and any nation. The only resolution is to continue to speak truth. When truth is shut down we will turn to other ways of behavior that are rejected by God. This is the point of Paul telling young Pastor Timothy in the very next verse to:
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
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