1. Now (62). Better but, since there is a contrast with the preceding confession of the norm of faith.
Expressly (pnras). N.T.°. °LXX. In express words.
In the latter times (év torépors xatpois). The phrase only here. For xaipés particular season or juncture, see on Matt. xii. 1; Actsi.7. Not the same as év éoydrais. judpais in the last days, 2 Tim. iii. 1, which denotes the period closing the present aeon, and immediately preceding the parousia; while this signifies merely a time that is future to the writer. There:
244 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu IV.
is not the intense sense of the nearness of Christ’s coming which characterises Paul. The writer does not think of his present as “the latter days.”
Some (tives). Not, as ch. i. 8, the heretical teachers, but those whom they mislead.
Shall depart from the faith (amocrncovta: Tis riaTews ). The phrase only here. The verb in Paul only 2 Cor. xii. 8. Quite frequent in Luke and Acts. The kindred noun azroc- tacla (Acts xxi. 21; 2 Th. ii. 3) is almost literally tran- scribed in our apostasy.
Seducing (aAavos). Primarily, wandering, roving. ‘O mrdvos a vagabond, hence deceiver or seducer. See 2 J. 7, and comp. o 7Aavev the deceiver, used of Satan, Apoe. xii. 9 ; xx. 10; 70 wvedua Ths wAdvns the spirit of error, 1 J. iv. 6. Once in Paul, 2 Cor. vi. 8, and in LXX, Job xix. 4; Jer. xxiii. 82. Evil spirits animating the false teachers are meant.
Doctrines of devils (Sidackariats Satpoviav). Better, teachings of demons. Comp. Jas. iii. 15. AcdacKnanria teach- ing often in Pastorals. A few times in Paul. See on 1 Tim. i. 10. Aatudmov demon only here in Pastorals. Very fre- quent in Luke: in Paul only 1 Cor. x. 20, 21. Teachings proceeding from or inspired by demons. The working of these evil spirits is here specially concerned with striking at the true teaching which underlies godliness. It is impossible to say what particular form of false teaching is alluded to.
2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy (év broxpice yrevdordyov). Wrong. Rend., through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies. ‘Trroxplots hypocrisy once in Paul, Gal. ii. 138, see note. See also on Matt. xxiii. 18. The phrase év broxpice: only here. Wevdordyos speaking lies, N. T.°. °LXX. Rare in Class.
Having their conscience seared with a hot iron (xexave Tnplacpévev THY idlav cuvetdnow). Better, branded in their
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own conscience. With a hot tron is superfluous. The verb N. T.°% °LXX, °Class. 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 Tim. iii. 5). The brand is not on their brow, but on their conscience. Comp. Tit. i. 15; iii. 11.
3. Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats (kodudvtav yapelv, aréyecOar Bpopdrov). KoaAvev, properly to hinder or check. ’AméyerOat to hold one’s self off. In Paul, 1 Th. iv. 3; v. 22; Philem. 15. Com- manding is not expressed, but is implied in forbidding. “ Bidding not to marry and (bidding) to abstain from meats.” The ascetic tendencies indicated by these prohibitions devel- oped earlier than these Epistles among the Essenes, an ascetic Jewish brotherhood on the shores of the Dead Sea, who repud- iated marriage except as a necessity for preserving the race, and allowed it only under protest and under stringent regu- lations. They also abstained strictly from wine and animal food. This sect was in existence in the lifetime of our Lord. Strong traces of its influence appear in the heresy assailed in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. The Christian body received large accessions from it after the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.). The prohibitions above named were imposed by the later Gnosticism of the second century.