Day 348

(H) Book of 2 Timothy ~ cont.
3. Description of apostasy - 2 Timothy 3:1-13
4. Defense of a good soldier - 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 4:1-8
5. Closing instructions - 2 Timothy 4:9-22
(I) Martyrdom of Peter and Paul - A.D. June 29, 67-68

XVIII The Writings of John - A.D. 67 - C 100
A. Temple at Jerusalem destroyed by Titus (7th plundering) - A.D. 70
B. Gospel of John written - A.D. 95 (R) C A.D. 35 (K)
C. Book of 1 John - A.D. 95 (R) C A.D. 41 (K)
1. Love and obedience to the father
a. What to do with sin - 1 John 1:1-10
b. Obedience - 1 John 2:1-14
c. Worldliness and unbelief - 1 John 2:15-28
d. Love - 1 John 2:29; 3:1-24

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;  (2 Timothy 3:1-4)

perilous - G5467 - chalepos - khal-ep-os' - Perhaps from G5465 through the idea of reducing the strength; difficult, that is, dangerous, or (by implication) furious.

1. lovers of their own selves - G5367 -philautos - fil'-ow-tos - From G5384 and G846; fond of self, that is, selfish.
2. covetous - G5366 - philarguros - fil-ar'-goo-ros - From G5384 and G696; fond of silver (money), that is, avaricious.
3. boasters - G213 - alazōn - al-ad-zone' - From ἄλη alē (vagrancy); braggart.
4. proud - G5244 - huperēphanos - hoop-er-ay'-fan-os - From G5228 and G5316; appearing above others (conspicuous), that is, (figuratively) haughty.
5. blasphemers - G989 - blasphēmos - blas'-fay-mos - From a derivative of G984 and G5345; scurrilous, that is, calumnious (against man), or (specifically) impious (against God).
6. disobedient - G545 - apeithēs - ap-i-thace' - From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3982; unpersuadable, that is, contumacious.
7. parents - G1118 - goneus - gon-yooce' - From the base of G1096; a parent.
8. unthankful - G884 - acharistos - ach-ar'-is-tos - From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G5483; thankless, that is, ungrateful.
9. unholy - G462 - anosios - an-os'-ee-os - From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3741; wicked.
10. w/out natural affection - G794 - astorgos - as'-tor-gos - From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of στέργω stergō (to cherish affectionately); hard hearted towards kindred.
11. trucebreakers - G786 - aspondos - as'-pon-dos - From G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G4689; literally without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), that is, (by implication) truceless.
12. false accusers - G1228 - diabolos - dee-ab'-ol-os - From G1225; a traducer; specifically Satan (compare [H7854]).
13. incontinent - G193 - akratēs - ak-rat'-ace - From G1 (as a negative particle) and G2904; powerless, that is, without self control.
14. fierce - G434 - anēmeros - an-ay'-mer-os -From G1 (as a negative particle) and ἥμερος hēmeros (lame); savage.
15. despisers of those that are good - G865 - aphilagathos - af-il-ag'-ath-os - From G1 (as a negative particle) and G5358; hostile to virtue.
16. traitors - G4273 - prodotēs - prod-ot'-ace - From G4272 (in the sense of giving forward into another’s [the enemy’s] hands); a surrender.
17. heady - G4312 - propetēs - prop-et-ace' - From a compound of G4253 and G4098; falling forward, that is, headlong (figuratively precipitate).
18. highminded - G5187 - tuphoō - toof-o'-o - From a derivative of G5188; to envelop with smoke, that is, (figuratively) to inflate with self conceit.
19. lovers of pleasures - G5369 - philēdonos - fil-ay'-don-os - From G5384 and G2237; fond of pleasure, that is, voluptuous.

lovers of God - G5377 - philotheos - fil-oth'-eh-os - From G5384 and G2316; fond of God, that is, pious.

I kept perilous and lovers of God out of the list for a reason.  The word perilous is not describing the types of people, but the times in which they live.  With the phrase 'lovers of God' it really was not a description so much as a comparison to the lovers of pleasures MORE than lovers of God.  They love pleasure more than they love God.

Nothing like a few extra words to find a definition for/about.  :-)  The one that initially caught my attention was the traducer, I went back to see if I had copy and pasted correctly.  NOTE:   Definitions which reference the Greek (or Hebrew) are taken from the Strong's concordance within the E-Sword program.  Other definitions are taken from dictionary.com.

avaricious–adjective - characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.

scurrilous–adjective - grossly or obscenely abusive.

contumacious–adjective - stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.

traducer –verb (used with object)- to speak maliciously and falsely of; slander; defame: to traduce someone's character.


hard hearted towards kindred - this implies a lack of concern.  Maternal care comes to mind when I think of this and how in a siege against Israel the mother's were eating their young. Is this applicable in our day? Mothers hating the fruit of their womb, murdering their young that they might feast upon their lusts, enjoy the sinfulness of pleasure for a season without the responsibility of a baby?  Woe to that nation which allows such a travesty of injustice against the innocent.  Even the King in Israel rent his clothes when he learned of the treachery, how much more does the Bride (priests, peculiar people, saints, children of God) abhor that which is evil?

hostile to virtue - What is virtue?  (Quick, abbreviated definition) moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.  Reflecting that this is a definition of the phrase despisers of those that are good. My understanding, virtue: anything holy, morally upright, wholesome.  I see this in our generation.  I know, each generation observes the same wickedness and laments the depravity.

Ruminating upon that phrase: lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. This year in sharing my journey through the Bible has been a major delight and encouragement. I have grown so much in my faith, my deepening love for my Savior, my Redeemer. What 'pleasures' in my life am I so firmly attached to that they crowd out my love for God? I realize the list above is for the unregenerate, but it behooves us to examine ourselves and see what dross needs to be removed. :-)

The definition of traducer reminds me of this verse:

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Amen, even so come Lord Jesus.

Day 335

P. Paul's trip home completing his third journey (winter) - Acts 20:4-38; 21:1-26
Q. Arrest and Trials of Paul
1. Paul before the Jews at Jerusalem - Acts 21:27-40; 22:1-30; 23:1-22

My attention was caught on 20:4 where the writer notates the companions:

Berea ~ Sopater (of a safe father);
Thessalonica ~ Aristarchus (best ruling) and Secundus (second);
Derbe ~ Gaius (lord, an earthly man);
Asia ~ Tychicus (fortuitous or fortunate) and Trophimus (nutritive); and...

...Timotheus (dear to God).

Most of these definitions were pulled from E-Sword, however I did use the site Bible Study Tools, Hitchcocks Bible Names Dictionary as well.

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we above seven days.  (Acts 20:6)

I made a notation:  Marking time by feasts?  The Jews and Gentile converts would have been aware and instructed in the feasts.  They would have readily been able to determine the month and day that this event occurred.  If they were not still keeping the feasts, why mention them?  They knew that Jesus was the fulfillment for the 3 spring and 1 summer feast.  Is it possible that they continued to keep the feasts as a remembrance?

For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible to be at Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost.  (Acts 20:16)

Another reference to time by the feasts.  And Paul's desire to be in Jerusalem for the day of...in essence keeping the feast?  Gill, Henry and Poole all state that Paul's intention (?) was to avail himself of the opportunity to witness to a great number of people (Jews and Gentile converts) which would have been in Jerusalem for the feast.

I would like to note that if this was Paul's intention to preach to a greater number of people and/or a combination of that and a desire to keep a feast which Jesus had fulfilled, in no way sets a precedent for Christians to take a pagan holiday, white wash it and try to use it to evangelize the lost.

Note, the feasts were a foretelling of what the Messiah would do, did and will do (the fall feasts do not appear to have been fulfilled).  Not borrowing from the pagan nations around them, which was strictly prohibited and caused Israel to suffer much because they continued to incorporate pagan practices into the worship of the holy God.

I put a question mark by their interpretation of Paul's intentions.  If there theory is correct then we are under no obligation to explore further.  However, if Paul and/or the other apostles were continuing to keep the feasts as remembrance that opens up a whole new area of consideration.

I am, at this juncture, not for or against keeping the feasts.  I can see both sides and am thus fence sitting.  :-)  I can see where people could get caught up in 'doing' the feasts and become legalistic about it, especially since Jesus fulfilled 4 of them.  I can also see how if one did participate it would be an awesome opportunity to explain their purpose and how Jesus fulfilled them.  Which brings these verses to mind:

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.