1. ToDro 8s y/wtfxe, but know this) The apostle's statement is quite distinct, 1 Tim. iv. 1. — sv l<r^ara/$ tips pang, in the last days) which had at that time begun to be, ver. 5, at the end. A similar expression is found at 2 Pet. iii. 3 ; Jude ver. 18. — evarq- covrai) shall come unexpectedly. The future, in respect of pro phecies that had gone before. — x«/po/ ^/aXg-ro/, perilous times) when it will be difficult to discover what should be done.
2. "Etovrai 01 avQpuiroi, men shall be) Such shall be of higher rank and of greater number in the Church than ever formerly : ver. 5. They shall be worse even than those who had abused the light of nature alone, Rom. i. 29, etc. : where we explain many things in the notes, which are here repeated. — <p/Xat>ro/, lovers of their own selves) The first root of evil. — piXdpyvpoiy lovers of money) The second root. — yovevav aKtiQsTg, disobedient to parents) The character of the times is to be gathered even especially from the manners of the young. — a^dpiffroi, ungrateful) The obliga tion of a grateful mind is next to that of filial duty.
3. 'Axpars?$9 avfaspoi, incontinent, fierce) at once both soft (yielding as to self-indulgence) and hard. — ap/Xa^a^o/, haters of those that are good) Its contrary is a lover of good, Tit. i. 7, note 3.
4. UpoKsreTs) rash, those who are headstrong [Engl. Vers. heady'] in acting, etc. — rervpuftsvoi, [high-minded^ puffed up) 1 Tim. vi. 4, note ; as if a person should be so suffocated with smoke (rupw), that he has no longer power over his mind. Such is the condition to which pride brings men. — <piXj)8ovoi, lovers of pleasure) An epithet of the Epicureans. Pleasure destroys the love and sense of God. Such are our Epicureans.
5. Mopputiv) the outward appearance, not without some inter nal rudiment of godliness. — a^or PSKOV) Tpsxsrai is said of one who, when he is forced, flees : a^cr^era/, of one who ava^upsTj withdraws, and spontaneously shuns any one. — Eustath.
6. 'E% rovruv, of these) See the preceding verse, these (such).