Selfishness in last days; only a form of Godliness 1
They are seductive; never learning 6
But you know my doctrine; godliness brings persecution 10
Continue in what you know; all Scripture is inspired 14
Which version? below
| Text | Comments |
| .1
¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, .3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, .4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; .5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. |
3
- Natural affection It is natural for a man and a woman to have
affection for each other. See ro0126.,
ro0131.
Paul describes same-sex partners.
5 - Form of godliness mt2323. 5 - Power thereof The power to become more godlike may be seen in changes in character. In the last days (now) we find Christianity as either form and ceremony or as living as if sin doesn't matter once we have asked for forgiveness mal0315. See ez3331. |
| .6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
.7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. .8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. .9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 6 - This sort As described in previous verses. Those with only a form of godliness serve from corrupt motivation and derive support from those they can mentally seduce. 6 - Silly women Literally "little women." Many people give money to organizations that seem good only to find out that the promises were untrue. |
7
- Ever learning Not that they are becoming well educated but they
continue to listen to questionable religious teachers and are distracted
from the simple truth of the word.
8 - James and Jambres "traditional names of the Egyptian magicians who resisted Moses (Ex 7:11,22), derived from 'the unwritten teaching of the Jews.' In a point so immaterial as the names, where Scripture had not recorded them, Paul takes the names which general opinion had assigned the magicians [of Pharaoh]." (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary) 9 - Folly From anoia, meaning "lack of understanding." |
| .10
¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
.11 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. .12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. .13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. |
12
- All ... shall suffer Not just ministers. See also jn1518,
1pe0412.
13 - Evil men ... worse Certainly a characteristic of corrupt governments around the world today. |
 .14
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
.15 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. .16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: On translations, see below. .17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 16 - Inspiration Does this mean the writer was inspired or that the words were? Of course both are but some believe that the Holy Spirit dictated and the prophets wrote down the words. See lu0101 and compare ge0207 remembering that "inspire" may mean breathing in or into. 17 - Perfect From artios meaning "equipped" or "complete." |
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Which version?
The KJV (King James Version or AV, Authorized Version) is very good although a number of words are not correctly translated. Marginal notes help. The New King James (NKJV) is probably better. It tends to follow the KJV apparently because it is translated from the same basic Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic manuscripts that translators rely on. All modern language translations tend to draw from other sources than these basic manuscripts mentioned. Modern translations such as NIV, NEB, NJB, etc. Errors of the KJV are corrected. These are generally insignificant to the truth of the text. On the Bible Explained website, corrections are being noted as part of the "comments.". For the Greek and Hebrew words, Italics are used. Archaic words in the KJV can be confusing. Having said this, I would emphasize that the KJV presents the inspired truth and is able to make us wise for salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). Its errors do not tend to misrepresent the flow of the text. Here are typical examples: Jer. 10:17 and Acts 7:45. Other minor revisions based on the KJV are available including the MKJV, Modern King James Version. At least once the KJV is more accurate, considering the context, than the NKJV. Dan. 12:13 (last verse in the book) “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” The RSV agrees with the KJV but most others don't.
| "The King-James-Only
position is most prevalent within the fundamentalist and Independent
Baptist branch of the Baptist movement in Christianity. The rejection of
modern translations is based in part on the different original-language
texts which were used as source material for the different translations
of the Bible. In regards to the New Testament, most modern translations
are mainly translated from the Alexandrian manuscripts, primarily represented
by the Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus and some other 50-odd minority
texts. The King James Version originates from the Textus Receptus, otherwise
known as the Received Text, which is a representative of the Byzantine
text-type (but not identical with the "Majority Text" as that term is currently
used)." From Wikipedia Internet encyclopedia. Viewed July 9, 2006.
The New American Standard Bible 1977, probably more faithful to the original language, not following particular doctrines because they are popular in some churches. Questionable texts and translations are very few cosidering the size of the Bible. Criticism of the NKJV.
A defense of the KJV is presented by Pastor Clark. His desire for the pure
word is certainly commendable but I find it zeal without knowledge (Rom.
10:2).
May God bless His word and
our study,
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The NIV is a good translation in being easy to read and footnotes can help where there are questions. However, for many texts it interprets rather than translating. This means deliberately changing the meaning of the manuscript reading. One of these is 2 Cor. 5. The NIV has been revised a few times without a change in its name.
My personal Bible is the New American Standard Bible (NASB) It has been followed by the Updated NASB. The NASB includes a few questionable translations. It is important to check context and compare translations for any Bible. All point to Christ as the way of salvation.
May the Creator
God be strength and hope for us all
Ted