2 Timothy 3:1

This chapter has a vivid description of the great apostasy (2 Timothy 3:1-9), signs of which were already present, an appeal to Paul's own inspiring and inspired example (2 Timothy 3:10-15), and one of the most impressive paragraphs in all the Bible with reference to the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

For more extensive discussion of the apostasy, the man of sin, and antichrist, see excursus at end of 2 Thessalonians 2.

But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. See 2 Timothy 3:1.

Know this ... "Be keeping this in mind."[1]

In the last days ... It is a mistake to identify this period as restricted to times immediately prior to the Second Advent; because, as the passage itself shows, examples of the grievous times were plentiful at the time Paul wrote. Wesley said, "This means the times of the gospel dispensation."[2] As Spain pointed out, "The word here is the same as in Acts 2:17 where Peter refers to the Christian age or the age of the church on earth."[3] "The days of the Messiah are often alluded to by the Hebrew prophets as `the last days' (Isaiah 2:2; Hosea 3:5; Micah 4:1)."[4]

Grievous times ... Although perhaps a better rendition than "perilous times," as in KJV, scholars seem to be agreed that the word actually means "hard times"[5] or times of stress.

[1] Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies from the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1973), p. 143.

[2] John Wesley, Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1972), in loco.

[3] Carl Spain, Commentary on 1,2Timothy and Titus (Austin, Texas: R.B. Sweet, 1970), p. 138.

[4] H. D. M. Spence, Ellicott's Commentary on the Holy Bible, Vol. VIII (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), p. 232.

[5] Kenneth S. Wuest, op. cit., p. 143.