2 Timothy 3:4

Traitors,.... To their princes and sovereigns, whose deaths they have contrived and compassed, and whom they have assassinated and murdered; and have been betrayers of the secrets of persons, which

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Traitors (Luke 6:16; Luke 21:16) - like Judas. Heady , [ propeteis (G4312)] - precipitate in action and passion.

Traitors; prodotai signifies the betraying of any trust, or a falsehood to any person to whom we are obliged. It is in Scripture applied to Judas, , and to the Jews that crucified Christ, . The verb whence it derives is by authors applied to persons, places, and causes: it signifies that in the latter times there should be a general falsehood amongst men; see ; falsehood towards their superiors, their relation, profession, &c. Heady; rash, inconsiderate. High-minded; blown up as bladders with an opinion of their own deserts. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; voluptuous men, not using what God hath given them with a moderate satisfaction and delight in them, but contrary to God’ s commandments, and thereby showing that they have more love for the gratification of their sensitive appetite than the pleasing of God.

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Ver. 4. Heady] Head long and head strong, rash and inconsiderate, Qui non vident προσσωκαιοπισσω, that look not well about them, but make desperate adventures. The Greek word προπετεις signifieth such as fly before they are fledged. Lovers of pleasure] Not considering that the pleasure passeth, but the pain that attends it is perpetual, φιληδονοι. (Chrysost.) Momentaneum est quod delectat, aeternum quod cruciat. Let not men take pleasure in pleasure. It was not simply a sin in Esau to go a hunting; but yet the more he used it, the more profane he waxed, and came at length to contemn his birthright. Who are void of the Spirit but sensual ones? Judges 1:18-19. Who say to God, Depart from us, but those that dance? Job 21:10-11. Better be preserved in brine than rot in honey. These pleasure mongers are at last as the worst of all. Such a one was Catullus, who wished all his body were nose, that he might spend all his time in sweet smells. Such was Philoxenus, who likewise wished that his neck were as long as a crane’ s, that he might take more delight in meats and drinks. Such was Boccas the poet, who said that he was born por l’ amore delle donne, for the love of women. But in the kingdom of pleasure virtue cannot consist. These voluptuaries (as one saith of them) are, Magis solliciti de mero quam de vero: Magisque amantes mundi delicias quam Christi divitias: as those recusant guests; the worst of all whom, and least excusable, was that epicure, who had married a wife, and therefore could not come.

(4) Traitors.—Or, betrayers, probably, as it has been suggested, of their Christian brethren. (Comp. Luke 6:16, where this epithet is used of Judas Iscariot, “which also was the traitor;” and also Acts 7:52, where Stephen, in his Sanhedrin speech, uses this term “betrayers” of the Jews, “of whom—the Just One—ye have been now the betrayers.” In these days of Timothy, and for many a long year, to inform against the believers in Jesus of Nazareth, to give information of their places of meeting in times of persecution, was often a profitable’ though a despicable work. Heady.—Better rendered, headstrong in words, or thoughts, or actions. Highminded.—Better translated, blinded by pride. (See 1 Timothy 3:6.) Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.—Men who would make any sacrifice to procure a fleeting pleasure, and who would give nothing up in order to do honour to the eternal but invisible God. Need the ministers of the Lord tarry for the last period preceding the return of Messiah for judgment—when a still more awful iniquity shall reign—for examples of these short-sighted mortals? The sorrowful catalogue began with “love of self,” that unhappy vice which excludes all love for others; it closes with that “love of pleasure” which shuts out all love of God.

Verse 4. Traitors] προδοται. From προ, before, and διδωμι, to deliver up. Those who deliver up to an enemy the person who has put his life in their hands; such as the Scots of 1648, who delivered up into the hands of his enemies their unfortunate countryman and king, Charles the First; a stain which no lapse of ages can wipe out. Heady] προπετεις. From προ, forwards, and πιπτω, to fall; headstrong, precipitate, rash, inconsiderate. High-minded] τετυφωμενοι. From τοφος, smoke; the frivolously aspiring; those who are full of themselves, and empty of all good. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God] This is nervously and beautifully expressed in the Greek, φιληδονοιμαλλονηφιλοθεοι lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; i.e. pleasure, sensual gratification, is their god; and this they love and serve; God they do not.

4. traitors, heady, highminded] The last triad again descending, false and forward and full of conceit, the spirit of one who ‘with a light heart’ (1) betrays old friends, and (2) rushes headlong on new faiths, and (3) remains to the end impenetrably wrapped in clouds of self-esteem. The second word only occurs Acts 19:36, ‘to do nothing rash’; the third has been explained 1 Timothy 6:4; cf. 1 Timothy 3:6; a purely ‘pastoral’ phrase in N.T., though thoroughly classical. Note the weight and force of the perfect participle closing the list of epithets. Cf. 2 Timothy 2:25. The A.V. ‘highminded’ has entirely changed its meaning, as Romans 11:20 shews, ‘be not highminded, but fear.’ Cf. Lightfoot, Revision of N. T. p. 175; and see note on 1 Timothy 6:17.lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God] Both compounds only occurring here, like the similar compounds ‘self-lovers’ and ‘money-lovers’ with which the passage opens. The word for ‘pleasures’ is always in a bad sense in N.T., Luke 8:14 ‘choked with … pleasures of this life.’ So James 4:1; James 4:3; 2 Peter 2:13.

Traitors - This word is used in the New Testament only here and in Luke 6:16; Acts 7:52. It means any one who betrays - whether it be a friend or his country.

4. Traitors—Ready to sacrifice a friend for self-interest. Heady— Headstrong, impetuous, rushing heedless in their own course. Highminded—Puffed up and swelling with self-conceit.