2 Timothy 4:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine. Before they become disobedient, warn them all. Therefore he said, "both in season and out of season." In everything act so that those who hear you may be taught willingly. "But according to their own desires," he says, "they will choose teachers for themselves." Nothing could be more expressive than this word "choose." It indicates a disorderly crowd of teachers, who will themselves be ordained by their disciples. "They will choose teachers for themselves," he says, "who flatter their ears," seeking out men who speak for their pleasure and flatter their hearing.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." Therefore warn them before they are cast down into misfortune. This is why he said above, "in season and out of season." While you still have opportunity to persuade, do everything. "But according to their own desires they will heap up teachers for themselves." By the expression "they will choose," the Apostle indicates a disorderly multitude of teachers. He also shows that they are chosen by the people, who will act not according to sound reason, but will choose those who indulge their passions and say and do only what pleases them. "Having itching ears." That is, they always wish to hear what is pleasant, sweet, and flattering to the ear.

There truly are people whose ears and tongues itch at our discourses, and even, as I see, their hands. They delight in worthless empty talk, in contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge (1 Tim 6:20), and in disputes about words that lead nowhere (1 Tim 6:4). For Paul, the preacher and introducer of the shortened word (Rom 9:28), the teacher and disciple of fishermen, gives this name to everything superfluous and affected in speech.

For the time will come when many of the supposed wise men will not hold the sound doctrine of these words. Instead, according to their own desires and under the supposed cover of the Scriptures, they will heap up eloquent teachers for themselves, who flatter their hearing.

The Apostle said "itching," that is, being delighted in their hearing, because the tickling of the ear produces a certain pleasure. Such are fabulous lessons, which contain pleasantness rather than benefit.

Those experienced in matters of words, and in knowing their precise meaning, say rightly and are not praised for this in vain. They say that each thing should be given the name proper to it.

This name manifests, with respect to some property of another thing signified, a property of the thing named, however it may be called.

They rightly say that those who itch in hearing and tongue are those who wish to say and hear something new (Acts 17:21). They always rejoice in novelties and, to speak in the words of Scripture, move the ancient boundary that their fathers set up (cf. Prov 22:28).

They delight in what is new and strange. They rise against what is customary, long familiar, and unchanging, as though it were faded, contemptible, and worth nothing.

"For the time will come when they will not listen to sound doctrine." Not all, but some of the flock. "But according to their own desires they will choose teachers for themselves." "Teachers according to their own desires" means those who will teach them what is pleasant and agreeable to them. By the word "they will choose," or "heap up," he indicated a disorderly multitude of teachers. Some will choose one for themselves, others another, and some will appoint their own. "Having itching ears." They feel a pleasant tickling in their ears when they hear speeches about what pleases them. They find delight in teaching directed toward pleasure rather than benefit.

Knowing these vicious desires, the Apostle Paul, among many instructions concerning preaching and the confession of faith, writes to Timothy: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. According to their own desires they will choose teachers for themselves, who will flatter their ears. They will turn their hearing away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

For when, because of their inclination toward impiety, those of whom the Apostle speaks become disobedient to sound doctrine, then they will gather teachers for themselves to carry out their own desires.

"They will not listen to sound doctrine." The necessity of persistence in preaching is explained by the importance of sound, that is, true doctrine. Yet the Apostle sorrowfully observes that the time will soon come when people will not wish to hear true doctrine at all. They will even choose for themselves teachers who flatter their hearing, or rather, their passions.

The Apostle foretells the coming of an order in which the choice of teachers will be self-willed: "they will choose teachers for themselves." It will be guided not by the directions of superiors, apostles, or bishops, but only by the personal desires of those choosing: "according to their own desires." Having "turned their hearing away from the truth" (v. 4), they will proceed in appointing teachers without a proper consecration and ordination received in succession from the apostles. Such precisely is the choice of an instructor in sects that have separated from the Church and from her priesthood, which has its origin from the apostles.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires they will choose teachers for themselves, having itching ears," that is, being accustomed always to hear only what pleasantly tickles the ear. "They will turn their hearing away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Tim 4:3-4).

Contemporary pastors must take this apostolic instruction into account with respect to youth and innocent childhood.

If we do not hasten to enlighten their minds with the light of gospel truth and train them in virtue from their youth, it will already be too late afterward to undertake this.

By these words the Apostle urges haste in teaching the truth, so that they may love it, become attached to it, and by the force of this love and attachment remain forever faithful to it. Thus they will turn their hearing away from every alien doctrine.

"Before they cast from their neck the yoke of obedience to the truth, take possession of them all. While there are still among your flock those who must be taught, persuaded, and subjected to the truth, use every effort to attain this.

For this purpose it was said above: be urgent in season and out of season" (Chrysostom, Theodoret). "Accustom them to submission to the truth before they fall away from it" (Oecumenius).