2 Timothy 3:3-5 3unloving, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power; avoid people like this.
This list of the vices of those who are deceived and follow the wrong teachings in the last days continues in these verses. Timothy must watch out for people who exhibit these characteristics and avoid letting any of these qualities enter his life. Unloving is a lack of good feelings towards another person, which obviously would lead to a breakdown of relationships. Irreconcilable is friction in a relationship because someone is unwilling to make peace. Both of these terms can divide people and are manifestations of selfishness. Slandering is talking mean about someone that devalues that person’s worth. It especially shows up in malicious gossiping. A lack of self-control can lead a person to angry outbursts or giving into moral compromise. Brutal is being uncivilized like an animal or lacking politeness. These kind of people are not nice to be around. Paul likely coined the word not loving good to fit his list here. When a person turns to self, sin, and the ways of the world, soon that person will no longer love what is good but be blinded into accepting what is evil.
Treacherous is a form of betrayal, like Judas mentioned in Luke 6:16. Treachery is turning one’s back on the truth, one of the primary dangers of the false teachers in Ephesus. Reckless is being rash and not thinking about one’s actions; acting without thinking, which often ends up in pain and sorrow for someone. Conceited is being puffed up with self importance. No one likes to be around a conceited people who tend to see the world from their own perspective. The next two qualities in the list show opposite types of love. The first type of loving pleasure is all about self and gratifying the flesh. A modern term from this word is “hedonism.” The opposite is loving God requires changing one’s priorities. When we love God and are devoted to God, everything else in life finds its right place and priority.
The last quality shows the hypocrisy that results from being deceived by false teachings. Godliness (eusebieas) is an important quality of God’s people that Paul urges Timothy and the Ephesians to develop (1 Timothy 2:2; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 6:3, 6, 11). It is essentially living a life of pious devotion that shows up in holiness and love. The false teachers and those who follow them try to look holy on the outside, but they lack the true power of God to change their lives. They try to be religious by their own strength and understanding, but because they do this out of their own resources, they can never truly change. They only become more deceived by self. True power comes from the gospel and not human efforts to be religious.
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