2 Timothy 3:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul warns of those who keep an outward appearance of godliness while denying its real power, and tells Timothy to avoid them.
What Does 2 Timothy 3:5 Mean?
Paul names a subtle danger: people who maintain the outward shape of godliness while denying its inner power. The form is there, the appearance of devotion, but the living power that transforms is rejected. Timothy is told plainly to turn away from such people.
This is religion hollowed out, a shell without substance. It warns that godliness can be counterfeited, worn as a costume rather than lived as a reality. The power being denied is the power of God to change a life, and without it, religion becomes empty performance. For the reader, this is a call to authenticity. It is possible to look devout while resisting the very transformation God offers. The remedy is to welcome God's power, to let it genuinely reshape the heart, so that the form of godliness is filled with its true and living force.
2 Timothy 3:5 in the Original Language
morphosis (μόρφωσις), 'form' -- an outward shape or appearance, here a mere semblance without the inner reality.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Timothy 3:5
What does 2 Timothy 3:5 mean?
Paul warns of those who keep an outward appearance of godliness while denying its real power, and tells Timothy to avoid them.