Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 33

Paul tells Timothy to be Aware of the Godless Times Part 3

2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; KJV

Paul again continues his description to Brother Timothy and we true believers today and of every era and generation of the type of times the last days will be and what type of things men and women will commonly, consistently, and coldly practice in those days without care, caution, or concern for other peoples rights or welfare at all, so he declares these words in this second (2nd) letter to Timothy next, "Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;" (2 Timothy 3:4) (KJV). The English word 'traitors' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word prodotēs meaning (in the sense of giving forward into another’s [the enemy’s] hands); a surrender: - betrayer, traitor. In other words, these are they that are betrayers of the truth of the Gospel and those who become they that pervert the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7) for gain or profit, unlike the Apostle Paul who never used the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as a way of lining his pockets.

This is what he declared with such angst, anxiety, and anxiousness to the Corinthian believers when he wrote these words to them in his second (2) letter, "I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children. So I will gladly give all that I have and all that I am. Will you love me less for loving you too much? You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Maybe that's because I was trying to catch you off guard and trick you. Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you? I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behaved the same way he did." (2 Corinthians 12:14-18) (Contemporary English Version).

The English word 'heady' is translated by the Greek word propetēs (used only one other place in the New Testament) it means (as used here) (figuratively precipitate): - heady, rash, that is, someone who does things with very great haste and without due deliberation. In other words, the heady man or woman does things often times on impulse, that is, a sudden desire done rashly and then often times yielding bad consequences. The English word 'highminded' is translated by the Greek word tuphoō meaning (figuratively) to inflate with self conceit: - high-minded, be lifted up with pride, be proud. In other words, the men and women that are highminded are proud people. In a bad sense, they consider themselves a cut above others and will take every occassion to make it known. They have a presumptuously arrogant opinion  of their own powers and endowments, that they feel wholeheartedly is due to their great drive and motivation to be the best. They have no inkling of humility and see themselves as superior, for this is the spiritual disease of the white nationalist, white surpremist, and every one with the notion that they are of a supreme or superior race of human beings, however, here is what our Lord Jesus Christ has to say to such people as these speaking through the Prophet Obadiah, "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD." (Obadiah 1:3-4) (KJV).

The English phrase 'lovers of pleasures' is translated by the Greek word philēdonos (used this one time only in the New Testament) which means fond of pleasure, that is, voluptuous: - lover of pleasure. The English phrase 'lovers of God' is translated by the Greek word philotheos (used also this one time only in the New Testament) which means fond of God, that is, pious: - lover of God. In other words, there will be some that will make sensual pleasure their pursuit above the pleasure of loving and honoring God the Father with their appetites and their physical tent, house, or body, which is in stark contrast to what the Apostle Paul urged the Roman believers and we true believers today and of every era and generation to do with these words, "Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him." (Romans 12:1-2) (Contemporay English Version). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, "That is, of sensual pleasures, or vain amusements. This has been, and is, the characteristic of a great part of the world, and has often distinguished even many who profess religion. Of a large portion of mankind it may be said that this is their characteristic, that they live for pleasure; they have no serious pursuits; they brook no restraints which interfere with their amusements, and they greatly prefer the pleasures to be found in the gay assembly, in the ball-room, or in the place of low dissipation, to the friendship of their Creator."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…