2 Timothy 3:2 Meaning and Explanation
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul lists the traits that will mark people in these difficult times, beginning with self-love and pride.
What Does 2 Timothy 3:2 Mean?
Paul begins a long catalog of what corrupts these last days. At its head stands love of self, followed by greed, boasting, pride, irreverent speech, defiance of parents, ingratitude, and unholiness. The list reads like the slow unraveling of a soul turned inward.
Notice where it starts: with loving self above all. From that root, the other vices grow, for when the self becomes the center, gratitude, reverence, and honor toward others wither. This is a mirror held up to every age, including our own. For the reader, the catalog is not merely a description of others but a warning to guard one's own heart. The cure for a self-centered age is a Christ-centered life, where love is turned outward toward God and neighbor rather than curved inward upon oneself.
2 Timothy 3:2 in the Original Language
philautos (φίλαυτος), 'lovers of their own selves' -- self-loving, with the self set at the center where God belongs.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Timothy 3:2
What does 2 Timothy 3:2 mean?
Paul lists the traits that will mark people in these difficult times, beginning with self-love and pride.