A Torah Verse By Verse Commentary Of Paul's Epistles by Re'tzon Ha'El - HTML preview

Chapter 3

V1 Eschatos hemera translated last days is Greek for the last in a series, which in this case is the last of the period of what we refer to as time, a dimension in which Elohim lives out of. Undoubtedly, these last days spoken of, although of an indefinite period of time, greatly mirror the days that we live in. One would ordinarily believe that Paul was referring to somewhere in the distant future, yet he throws a curveball in verse 5, where he warns Timothy to turn away from the people of these last days so mentioned. It is therefore clear that we need to take into context the meaning of the expression the last days. In this case it without a doubt denotes the era in which Paul and Timothy lived. Regardless, every generation thereafter inclusive of ours has been bedevilled by the wicked, so mentioned in the succeeding verses, of which shall worsen and reach a crescendo by the time Messiah returns, as the book of Revelation expounds in greater detail.

V2-5 a catalogue of nefarious characteristics peculiar of the wicked in these last days is given and we shall carefully study each Greek word or phrase forthwith:

a. Philautos- loving one’s self, selfish. Love of thy neighbour is lacking in the churches of today. Social media and the treacherous allure of stardom has entrapped many a televangelist, who preach loving oneself first above all things-the false interpretation of ‘we are gods’ has further tarnished the faith.

b. Philarguros-love of money, avarice. The prosperity gospel has percolated almost every church, bringing much moral decay.

c. Alazon- empty pretenders, boasters. Following the above two characteristics, goes hand in hand with the braggarts in every corridor of society, of which has been embraced by the world and aired in reality television.

d. Huperephanos- haughtiness, despising others and treating them with contempt 

e. Blasphemos- slanderous speech not only against Elohim but against man. Railing, abusive, evil speech.

f. Apeithes goneus- contumacious or disobedient to parents.

g. Acharistos- ungracious

h. Anosios- impious, wicked, unholy

i. Astorgos- unloving, unsociable

j. Aspondos- implacable, cannot be persuaded to enter into a covenant

k. Diabolos- slanderers, false accusers

l. Akrates-intemperate, lacking self-control

m. Anemeros- savage, fierce

n. Aphilagathos- opposed to goodness and good men

o. Prodotes- a betrayer, traitor

p. Propetes- rash, reckless

q. Tuphoo- to blind with pride or conceit

r. Philedonos- loving pleasure over Elohim

s. Lastly having a semblance of eusebia/ piety yet arneomai/rejecting the power of autos/Him i.e. Elohim

We are admonished to steer clear of such wicked people.

V6 The scandalous affairs between congregants in the churches of today, headed predominantly by false preachers and teachers, is nothing new. The majority of churches of today unfortunately lack male leaders, and are filled with unmarried women, divorced women, or women whose husbands refuse to attend services with them. The unmarried women usually do not attend with their fathers, and the divorced and married who attend without husbands, add to the abundance of women in these churches who lack the protective covering of a man. They are easy pickings for lustful preachers, pastors, deacons and other male congregants, be they themselves married, divorced or single, who have multiple affairs with these women. A woman without the protective covering of a man is at a very great risk of accepting any wind of doctrine. Their desperation for male company is perfect ground for the demonic host of Satan to have their way with them, operating through wicked men with insatiable sexual appetites cf Jude 1:4; 1 Cor 11:3-10.

V7 The unprotected female mind is impulsive and acts readily on emotion. Such a mind laps up all manner of doctrine thrown its way. It is filled up with ever-increasing contradictory sensual knowledge, imparted upon it by the beguiling male false preacher, and this mind spirals into a web of deception, further retreating from truth with each errant doctrine voluntarily learned.

V8 Jannes meaning ‘he vexed’ and Jambres meaning ‘foamy healer’, were two Egyptian magicians who in the presence of Pharaoh imitated the miracles of Aaron in order to destroy his influence with the king cf Ex 7:10-12. Paul derived their names from the tradition of the Talmudists and the Rabbins. They were sorcerers using magic derived from Satan’s kingdom. It was with such diabolical power that these depraved teachers captivated the minds of the silly women laden with sins, leading to the destruction of both the perpetrator and the victim’s souls cf Rev 2:14-15,20-22. Paul describes them as kataphtheiro/depraved and adokimos/unapproved, hence confirming that they did not belong to the body of Messiah, but were flat out enemies of the faith from the devil’s camp.

V9. Time would soon reveal the folly of these men’s ways, whose depravity would not progress any further within the ecclesia. We are currently in a cycle on a grander scale than that of Paul’s day, where witchcraft has not only bewitched silly women laden with sin, but also inept, impotent men, who fail to take charge in the churches. Worse still the perpetrators of the beguiling false doctrines are no longer restricted to men, but also a horde of female preachers and pastors, of which is contrary to scripture, have besieged the pulpits, further corroding truth with demonic teachings.

Congregants have been led by pastors who have acquired magical powers from marine spirits such as Mami Wata, Jezebel, Leviathan, Absalom, Python. Kundalini spirits and other spirits of Eastern mysticism have brought charismania to the churches of today. Despite Paul’s prophecy that these would progress no further in Timothy’s era, Satan has upped the ante, ramping up the pollution of the godless churches of today with seemingly unending apostasy. However, a remnant has been promised to keep alive the great house of Elohim upon which Yeshua is the cornerstone and founded upon the apostles. 

V10 -11 Paul reminds Timothy that despite all of this chaos within the ecclesia, he (Paul) had conducted himself righteously through suffering, love, patience and great persecution in divers places. Yeshua had still rescued him regardless of what affliction he was put through. 

V12 Every Christian must etch this verse in their minds if they are to understand what they are getting themselves into. It is not supposed to be a cosy life, filled with material wealth and fame, but rather a life of persistent attacks from the kingdom of Satan, who hate each and every true believer with deadly intent. This stark reality was expressed by Yeshua Himself cf Jn 15:19; Matt 10:22,38-39.

V13 ‘Goes’ translated ‘seducers’ is Greek for wailers or enchanters, whose incantations are uttered in a howl. There are plenty such preachers present in our time in charismania who howl like animals, led by kundalini spirits of Eastern origin, amongst others. The majority unfortunately believe that they are sent by Elohim, yet are unaware that the seemingly benevolent angels guiding them, are from the pit of hell. In these days of ours, bereft of truth in the churches, we are to test every spirit lest we be deceived too cf 2 Cor 11:13-15; 1 Jn 4:1-3.

V14 -15 We must never err from scripture. It never changes, and the doctrinal teachings of Yeshua and the Torah itself are fully complementary to each other. Timothy had been taught by a righteous teacher, and brought up by a righteous mother and grandmother. Despite living in a world fraught with increasing evil especially within the church, Timothy was admonished not to waver from the oracles of Elohim. It is of interest to note that the only Holy Scriptures in the days of Timothy would have been the Old Testament/Tanakh, further proving that Torah was never abolished, as has been upheld by the very doctrines of devils which Paul so detested. The very writings of the Old Testament are what would make Timothy wise unto salvation through faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Yet strangely, contemporary Christianity denies any source of salvation from Old Testament writings, rendering them obsolete!

V16-17 This should be a well memorized mantra for any true believer in Messiah. The ‘all scripture’ being referred to was none other than the Old Testament as the New Testament was only added 2 centuries after Paul and Timothy had died. It is imperative that we take the Torah, the prophets and the songs seriously if we are to understand the gospel message that leads to salvation in Messiah cf Lk 24:27,44,45.