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| Last afternoon |
2 Timothy 3: 3-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
King James Version (KJV)
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Bible Hub 2 Timothy 3: 5
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Cited
a form
μόρφωσιν
'Strong's Concordance
morphósis: a forming, a form
Original Word: μόρφωσις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: morphósis
Phonetic Spelling: (mor'-fo-sis)'
'Definition: a forming, a form Usage: form, outline, semblance.
2 Timothy 3:5 N-AFS (Noun-Accusative, Feminine, Singular)
GRK: ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας τὴν
NAS: holding to a form of godliness,
KJV: Having a form of godliness, but'
of godliness
εὐσεβείας
Bible Hub
Cited
'Strong's Concordance
eusebeia: piety
Original Word: εὐσέβεια, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: eusebeia
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-seb'-i-ah)
Definition: piety
Usage: piety (towards God), godliness, devotion, godliness.'
'2 Timothy 3:5 N-GFS (Noun-Genitive, Feminine, Singular)
GRK: ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας τὴν δὲ
NAS: to a form of godliness, although they have denied
KJV: a form of godliness, but'
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Greek scholar Bauer writes under his entry for μόρφωσις, εως, ἡ from 2 Timothy 3: 5 μόρφωσιν (my add) it is those 'who hold to the outward form of religion'. (528). Further in regards to the 2 Timothy 3: 5 entry, Bauer documents, εὐσεβείας. piety, godliness as these people 'have the outward form of religion=be religious only in appearance.' (326).
Alan G. Nute from his Timothy commentaries comments that this is where religious life consists in externals only... (1488). In other words, these persons are not regenerated (Titus 3, John 3) through the Holy Spirit of God and do not actually partake in the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, God the Son.
Therefore these people show an outward form of religion, piety and godliness, in a human sense. They also demonstrate some beliefs and characteristics of a legitimate biblical Christianity but deny the power of God, because they do not truly believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and the gospel work, in a relational, trusting sense for salvation.
As long as I can remember, through God and not myself or my works, whatsoever, I have had an intrinsic belief in the Lord. One of our bible study/home group leaders has stated that I have the 'gift of faith'. True enough, by God's choice, and by grace through faith (Ephesians, Romans). I have also reasoned that Christianity is a religion academically, in a sense, and true religion, through my formal education.
Simultaneously, intrinsically, I have had doubts concerning certain persons, churches and organizations, claiming forms of biblical Christianity. But, of course, God is the only ultimate judge of persons, churches and organizations.
Here I shall appeal to Matthew 7...
Matthew 7: 21-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
True and genuine biblical religion, in a regenerated person, and Christian churches and organizations, can be demonstrated by an acceptance of the supernatural power of God and a significant, at least, nature, desire and will to accept biblical doctrines and biblical theology, in context, in truth and love. In other words, a legitimate biblical worldview is embraced over any other contrasting and competing, worldview.
To avoid such people, in my view, is to not embrace those within false religion and false Christianity in Church fellowship. To turn away from these religious falsehoods. It is not an instruction to ignore all people with different views on religion and Christianity. Love and respect should be shown to those in other religions, in witness as neighbours (Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10).
Bible Hub
Strong's Concordance
apotrepó: to turn away
Original Word: ἀποτρέπω
2 Timothy 3:5 V-PMM-2S (Verb, Present Imperative Middle, Second Person Singular)
GRK: καὶ τούτους ἀποτρέπου
NAS: its power; Avoid such men as these.
KJV: from such turn away.
BAUER, WALTER. (1979)
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
NUTE, ALAN G. (1986) in '2 Timothy',
The International Bible Commentary, F.F. Bruce, General Editor, Grand Rapids, Zondervan/Marshall Pickering.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
