3:1 - 1 Tim 4:1 - here, we have the phrase “last days” grievous times - kairos - shall come. The phrase is similar to that in Heb 1:2. In this case, we are already in last days, so were Paul and Timothy. The last days are those days between Jesus’ first coming and his second coming.
Paul predicts that things will get worst as these days continue. The list of specific sins and vices is presented (see Rom 1:29–31).
(1) self-centered and narcissistic (Gr. philautoi) - looking at themselves, having their own benefits in mind;
(2) lovers of money (philargyroi, cf. 1 Tim. 3:3, 8),
(3) boastful of their own importance (alazones) (James 4:16; 1 John 2:16), and
(4) proud, arrogant in attitude (hyperephanoi) (Luke 1:51; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5.
They would be (5) abusive toward others (blasphemoi) - like Paul before 1 Tim 1:13,
(6) unresponsive to parental discipline,
(7) ungrateful, unthankful, unappreciative (acharistoi),
and (8) impure, unholy (anosioi).
3:3 - Furthermore, they would be (9) heartless, callous, hateful (astorgoi),
(10) unforgiving (aspondoi) and consequently irreconcilable,
and (11) slanderous of others (diaboloi), speaking with malicious gossip.
They would be (12) lacking in self-control, especially self-restraint (akrateis),
(13) brutal, brutish, uncivilized (anemeroi),
and (14) antagonistic toward whatever is good (aphilagathoi).
3:4 - They would also be (15) disposed toward betrayal, treacherous (prodotai) (Mk 13:9),
and (16) headstrong, reckless, (propeteis).
They would be (17) conceited (tetyphomenoi), puffed up with pride, wrapped in a mist of self-delusion, and
(18) devoted to personal pleasure (philedonoi) rather than to God (philotheoi).
This “vice list” is quite similar to the one in Romans 1:29–31.
Paul wrote this list of 18 characteristics in a somewhat chiastic arrangement. His list begins and ends with two groups of two words expressing a misdirection of love. Then come two groups with three terms each that focus on pride and hostility toward others. Then come two groups, five words followed by three words, all of which begin with a in the Greek text that negate some good quality that God’s common grace affords. These eight words—the first one is in a two-word phrase—depict people who are devoid of the most basic characteristics of human life. The center of the chiasm is the word diaboloi, meaning slanderers, devilish people (cf. 2:26; 1 Tim. 3:11; Titus 2:3).[72]
3:5 - Finally these people would (19) make a pretense of being religious but deny the source of true spiritual power (i.e., God’s Word). This last characteristic makes clear that those individuals described in verses 2–4 would even claim to be Christians (i.e., false teachers and their followers). Timothy was to avoid association with people who demonstrated these characteristics except, of course, for purposes of evangelism and instruction.
“Self-love is the basic shortcoming mentioned in the list of vices in 3:2–5. This vice leads to action in vv. 6–9 that is deceitful, determined to dominate, stubborn, and rejected by God.”[73]
3:6–9
The false teachers seem to act like the serpent from Gen 3:1, entering the houses were women are (alone? Without their husbands?), seducing them (like Eve was seduced) and taking them into ‘slavery’ (aihmalotidzein) of false teaching.
Apparently, these women are heaped with sins and moved by lust, unable to learn the truth despite learning it.
Paul compares the false teachers to those magicians who opposed Moses during his confrontation with Pharaoh (Ex 7:11.18). Paul names them based on Jewish tradition and it seems that the root for their names is to oppose.
There seems to be a famous magician of the antiquity. But, they were not a much for Moses. Some tradition has it that they converted to Judaism, and that they left Egypt at the Exodus to accompany Moses and the Israelites; however, they perished on the way, either at the Red Sea, or the destruction of the Golden Calf, or at the slaughter of Korah and his followers. And so, this can also happen to the false teachers.
3:10–17
Paul’s doctrine and the manner of lifestyle stands in opposition to those false teachers. Timothy follows Paul’s example.
The fact that God had delivered Paul from all his persecutions would have encouraged Timothy to continue following the apostle’s example.
“The Lord ever rescues his people, frequently from death, sometimes by means of death. Either way, nothing ever separates them from his love (Rom. 8:38, 39).”
In 3:12 we have an interesting rule of Christianity. Those who closely follow Christ cannot hope of avoiding persecution.
“With his or her commitment to follow Christ faithfully the Christian sets the course of his or her life directly opposite to the course of the world system. Confrontation and conflict become inevitable (cf. Matt. 10:22–23; Luke 21:12; John 15:20; Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 3:4).“
On the other hand, the evil people will continue deceiving themselves and others.
“Jewish parents were expected to teach their children the Law from the age of five onwards”, thus Timothy having such a piou grandmother and mother knew Scriptures from early age (2 Tim 1:5).
3:15 - it is a beautiful testimony to the power of the Scriptures leading to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. But, this statement gets even more powerful in 3:16–17, thus encouraging all of us to read the Bible.
For Paul and Timothy “the Scriptures” referred to the Old Testament. But, at that moment it also begins to refer to the message of the Gospel, thus “all scripture”. After all Paul was preaching the fulfillment of all God’s promises in Jesus Christ.
The Scriptures need to be approached with faith. Thus, it is not just like any other books, but inspired by God.
Then, the Scriptures brings plenty of benefits. It can us to teach others in the way of righteousness and at the same time increase our own personal piety - perfection, thus allowing us to do the good works that God has planned for us since the foundation of the world.