Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Timothy 4:3

τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας. The rec. text has τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τὰς ἰδίας, following KL.

3. ἔσται γὰρ καιρὸς κ.τ.λ., for the time will come &c.; there is need of zeal and instant labour, for the time will come when men will not listen to the truth. Work therefore while it is day.

ὅτε τῆς ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας οὐκ�, when they will not endure the wholesome doctrine, when there will be a general impatience of the dogmas of the Christian revelation. For ‘the wholesome doctrine’ see note on 1 Timothy 1:10.

ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυίας, but after their own arbitrary lusts, ἰδίας expresses the caprice with which the men of the future will catch at new theories.

ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισωρεύσουσιν διδασκάλους, will heap to themselves teachers, sc. rejecting the teaching of the Church through her ministers. Again the idea of personal caprice is suggested by ἑαυτοῖς. ἐπισωρεύειν, from ἐπὶ, σωρός a mound (cp. 2 Timothy 3:6), is to heap together, and is (perhaps) used in an ironical sense. It is ἄπ. λεγ. in the Greek Bible, but is found in Plutarch and other good writers.

κνηθόμενοι τὴν�, having itching ears, the admirable rendering of the English versions, ultimately derived from Wiclif; τὴν� is the accus. of nearer definition, κνήθεν (not found elsewhere in the Greek Bible) is ‘to scratch,’ and in the passive ‘to be scratched, or tickled.’ The phrase ironically describes those persons (to be found in every age and country) who desire to hear (note that it is not said of the teachers) what is new and piquant, rather than what is true.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Timothy 4:3

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