2 Timothy 3:2

For men shall be lovers of their own selves -The article is generic; the men who shall live in those times," Alford. Self-lovers, money-lovers; the first pair of adjectives in the description go naturally together; the first of the words occurs only here in N.T., the second only in Luke 16:14, -the Pharisees also who were lovers of money." The first and an almost exact synonym of the second occur together in Ar. Pol. ii. v. where Plato's question is being discussed whether there ought to be private property or not. -It is clear then that the better plan is for the property to be held separately while the produce is common. Besides even for the pleasure of the thing it makes an unspeakable difference to regard a piece of property as one's own. Indeed it is probably no mere chance that makes each of us hold himself first in his regard. It is human nature. But being a self-lover is rightly blamed. By this is not meant loving oneself, but doing so too much; just as we speak of the man who is a money-lover, since all love what belongs to them. But to support and succour friends or guests or comrades is a very delightful thing and this requires our having property of our own. The "community" idea robs us of the virtue of generosity in the use of property." See note on 1 Timothy 6:10.

boasters, proud, blasphemers R.V. better, boastful, haughty, railers. Theophrastus (Charactersc. 23) describes (-boastfulness" to be -an endeavour to pass for a man of greater consequence than one really is." In the next chapter he describes -haughtiness" to be -a contempt for every one but a man's self." The climax is (1) a spirit of vain glory in themselves, (2) an overweening treatment of others, (3) actual abuse and reviling of others. The first word describes a man who sins against truth, the second a man who sins against love, the third a man who sins against both. Cf. Romans 1:30; 1 John 2:16 (and Westcott's note); Trench, Syn. § 29. For this general meaning of -railers" rather than -blasphemers," cf. 1 Timothy 6:4 -envy, strife, railings."

disobedient to parents Or, in one word, unfilial; this with -unthankful, unholy," makes another triad: breakers of the fifth commandment go on to be breakers of the tenth; and thus throwing aside the second table go on to throw aside also the first, -unfilial, unthankful, unholy." The word for -unthankful" occurs elsewhere only Luke 6:35 in the Sermon on the Mount. For -unholy" see notes on 1 Timothy 1:9.