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Selected Verse: 2 Timothy 3:3 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
2Ti 3:3	King James	Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
truce-breakers--rather as the Greek is translated in Rom 1:31, "implacable." false accusers--slanderers (Ti1 3:11; Tit 2:3). incontinent, fierce--at once both soft and hard: incontinently indulging themselves, and inhuman to others. despisers, &c.--"no lovers of good" [ALFORD]; the opposite of "a lover of good" (Tit 1:8).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

truce-breakers--rather as the Greek is translated in Rom 1:31, "implacable."

false accusers--slanderers (Ti1 3:11; Tit 2:3).

incontinent, fierce--at once both soft and hard: incontinently indulging themselves, and inhuman to others.

despisers, &c.--"no lovers of good" [ALFORD]; the opposite of "a lover of good" (Tit 1:8).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Without natural affection - see the notes at Rom 1:31. Trucebreakers - The same word in Rom 1:31, is rendered "implacable;" see the notes at that verse. It properly means "without treaty;" that is, those who are averse to any treaty or compact. It may thus refer to those who are unwilling to enter into any agreement; that is, either those who are unwilling to be reconciled to others when there is a variance - implacable; or those who disregard treaties or agreements. In either case, this marks a very corrupt condition of society. Nothing would be more indicative of the lowest state of degradation, than that in which all compacts and agreements were utterly disregarded. False accusers - Margin, "makebates." The word "makebate" means one who excites contentions and quarrels. Webster. The Greek here is διάβολοι diaboloi - "devils" - the primitive meaning of which is, "calumniator, slanderer, accuser;" compare the notes at Ti1 3:11, where the word is rendered "slanderers." Incontinent - Co1 7:5. Literally, "without strength;" that is, without strength to resist the solicitations of passion, or who readily yield to it. Fierce - The Greek word used here - ἀνήμερος anēmeros - does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means "ungentle, harsh, severe," and is the opposite of gentleness and mildness. Religion produces gentleness; the want of it makes men rough, harsh, cruel; compare the notes at Ti2 2:24. Despisers of those that are good - In Tit 1:8, it is said of a bishop that he must be "a lover of good men." This, in every condition of life, is a virtue, and hence, the opposite of it is here set down as one of the characteristics of that evil age of which the apostle speaks.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Without natural affection - see the notes at Rom 1:31.

Trucebreakers - The same word in Rom 1:31, is rendered "implacable;" see the notes at that verse. It properly means "without treaty;" that is, those who are averse to any treaty or compact. It may thus refer to those who are unwilling to enter into any agreement; that is, either those who are unwilling to be reconciled to others when there is a variance - implacable; or those who disregard treaties or agreements. In either case, this marks a very corrupt condition of society. Nothing would be more indicative of the lowest state of degradation, than that in which all compacts and agreements were utterly disregarded.

False accusers - Margin, "makebates." The word "makebate" means one who excites contentions and quarrels. Webster. The Greek here is διάβολοι diaboloi - "devils" - the primitive meaning of which is, "calumniator, slanderer, accuser;" compare the notes at Ti1 3:11, where the word is rendered "slanderers."

Incontinent - Co1 7:5. Literally, "without strength;" that is, without strength to resist the solicitations of passion, or who readily yield to it.

Fierce - The Greek word used here - ἀνήμερος anēmeros - does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means "ungentle, harsh, severe," and is the opposite of gentleness and mildness. Religion produces gentleness; the want of it makes men rough, harsh, cruel; compare the notes at Ti2 2:24.

Despisers of those that are good - In Tit 1:8, it is said of a bishop that he must be "a lover of good men." This, in every condition of life, is a virtue, and hence, the opposite of it is here set down as one of the characteristics of that evil age of which the apostle speaks.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Without natural affection (ἄστοργοι) Only here and Rom 1:31. olxx. See on ἀγάπη love, Gal 5:22, under στέργειν to love with a natural affection. Truce-breakers (ἄσπονδοι) N.T.o. olxx. Rend. implacable. From ἀ not, and σπονδαί a treaty or truce. The meaning is, refusing to enter into treaty, irreconcilable. Incontinent (ἀκρατεῖς) Or intemperate, without self-control. N.T.o. Once in lxx, Pro 27:20. Ἁκρασία incontinence, Mat 23:25; Co1 7:5; 1 Macc. 6:26; Ps. of Sol. 4:3. Fierce (ἀνήμεροι) Or savage. N.T.o. olxx. Comp. ἀνελεήμονες merciless, Rom 1:31. Despisers of those that are good (ἀφιλάγαθοι) Better, haters of good. N.T.o. olxx, oClass. Comp. the opposite, φιλάγαθον lover of good, Tit 1:8.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Without natural affection (ἄστοργοι)

Only here and Rom 1:31. olxx. See on ἀγάπη love, Gal 5:22, under στέργειν to love with a natural affection.

Truce-breakers (ἄσπονδοι)

N.T.o. olxx. Rend. implacable. From ἀ not, and σπονδαί a treaty or truce. The meaning is, refusing to enter into treaty, irreconcilable.

Incontinent (ἀκρατεῖς)

Or intemperate, without self-control. N.T.o. Once in lxx, Pro 27:20. Ἁκρασία incontinence, Mat 23:25; Co1 7:5; 1 Macc. 6:26; Ps. of Sol. 4:3.

Fierce (ἀνήμεροι)

Or savage. N.T.o. olxx. Comp. ἀνελεήμονες merciless, Rom 1:31.

Despisers of those that are good (ἀφιλάγαθοι)

Better, haters of good. N.T.o. olxx, oClass. Comp. the opposite, φιλάγαθον lover of good, Tit 1:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Without natural affection - To their own children. Intemperate, fierce - Both too soft, and too hard.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Without natural affection - To their own children. Intemperate, fierce - Both too soft, and too hard.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Without natural affection - Αστοργοι· Without that affection which parents bear to their young, and which the young bear to their parents. An affection which is common to every class of animals; consequently, men without it are worse than brutes. Truce-breakers - Ασπονδοι· From α, negative, and σπονδη, a libation, because in making treaties libations both of blood and wine were poured out. The word means those who are bound by no promise, held by no engagement, obliged by no oath; persons who readily promise any thing, because they never intend to perform. False accusers - Διαβολοι· Devils; but properly enough rendered false accusers, for this is a principal work of the devil. Slanderers; striving ever to ruin the characters of others. Incontinent - Ακρατεις· From α, negative, and κρατος, power. Those who, having sinned away their power of self-government, want strength to govern their appetites; especially those who are slaves to uncleanness. Fierce - Ανημεροι· From α, negative, and ἡμερος, mild or gentle. Wild, impetuous, whatever is contrary to pliability and gentleness. Despisers of those that are good - Αφιλαγαθοι· Not lovers of good men. Here is a remarkable advantage of the Greek over the English tongue, one word of the former expressing five or six of the latter. Those who do not love the good must be radically bad themselves.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Without natural affection - Αστοργοι· Without that affection which parents bear to their young, and which the young bear to their parents. An affection which is common to every class of animals; consequently, men without it are worse than brutes.

Truce-breakers - Ασπονδοι· From α, negative, and σπονδη, a libation, because in making treaties libations both of blood and wine were poured out. The word means those who are bound by no promise, held by no engagement, obliged by no oath; persons who readily promise any thing, because they never intend to perform.

False accusers - Διαβολοι· Devils; but properly enough rendered false accusers, for this is a principal work of the devil. Slanderers; striving ever to ruin the characters of others.

Incontinent - Ακρατεις· From α, negative, and κρατος, power. Those who, having sinned away their power of self-government, want strength to govern their appetites; especially those who are slaves to uncleanness.

Fierce - Ανημεροι· From α, negative, and ἡμερος, mild or gentle. Wild, impetuous, whatever is contrary to pliability and gentleness.

Despisers of those that are good - Αφιλαγαθοι· Not lovers of good men. Here is a remarkable advantage of the Greek over the English tongue, one word of the former expressing five or six of the latter. Those who do not love the good must be radically bad themselves.

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