Fathers

2 Timothy 3

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This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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What the Fathers say

2 Timothy 3:9

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

How then does the apostle say in another place: "they will increase unto more ungodliness" (2 Tim. 2:16)? There he affirms that heretics, having begun to introduce novelties and errors, do not stop, but constantly invent newer ones. Here, however, he affirms that they will not deceive or carry away many, although at first they may seem to lead some astray, but they themselves will soon be exposed. Therefore he adds the following. If you do not believe, learn from what happened to those sorcerers. …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

So the heretics discuss not to find the truth, but with a dogged determination to gain the victory one way or another, that they may gather, as the prophet says, what they have not brought forth. For those whom they lead astray are Christians already born of the gospel, whom the Christian profession of the heretics misleads. Thus they make riches not with judgment, but with inconsiderate haste. …

Reply To Faustus The Manichaean 13.12 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, but they shall proceed no farther, he shows how they are restrained: first, he shows that they must be hindered; second, how to hinder them, at for their folly. In regard to the first it should be noted that the desire to hurt is present in a man of himself; but the power to hurt comes from God's permission. And God does not permit the wicked to inflict as much harm as they would like, but he sets a limit: hitherto you shall come, and shall go no further; and here you shall break your swelling waves (Job 38:11). …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗