Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Paul tells Timothy the Church will face terrible diseases that demand uncommon fidelity and watchfulness from her pastors. When all goes well we grow careless; but necessity sharpens us. He prepares Timothy for arduous work ahead.
AI summary
Commenting on 2 Timothy 3:1-17
Timothy must not think it strange if there were in the church bad men; for the net of the gospel was to enclose both good fish and bad, Mat 13:47, Mat 13:48. Jesus Christ had foretold (Mt. 24) that there would come seducers, and therefore we must not be offended at it, nor think the worse of religion or the church for it.
Commenting on 2 Timothy 3:1-9
Without natural affection,.... To parents, or children, or wife; parents thrusting their children into religious houses, cloisters, &c. against their wills; children leaving their parents without their knowledge or consent; married bishops and priests being obliged to quit their wives, and declare their children spurious; with many other such unnatural actions.