This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
All Commentaries on 2 Timothy 3:1 Go To 2 Timothy 3
John Chrysostom
AD 407
He had said in the former Epistle, that the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith 1 Timothy 4:1-2; and elsewhere in this Epistle he foretells that something of this kind will afterwards happen; and here again he does the same thing: This know, that in the last days perilous times shall come. And this he pronounces not only from the future, but from the past; As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses. And again from reasoning; In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver. But why does he do this? In order that Timothy may not be troubled, nor any one of us, when there are evil men. If there were such in the time of Moses, and will be hereafter, it is no wonder that there are such in our times.
In the last days perilous times shall come, he says, that is, exceeding bad times. How shall times be perilous? He says it not blaming the days, nor the times, but the men of those times. For thus it is customary with us to speak of good times or evil times, from the events that happen in them, caused by men. Immediately he sets down the root and fountain, whence these and all other evils spring, that is, overweeningness. He that is seized with this passion is careless even of his own interests. For when a man overlooks the concerns of his neighbor, and is careless of them, how should he regard his own? For as he that looks to his neighbor's affairs will in them order his own to advantage, so he that looks down upon his neighbor's concerns will neglect his own. For if we are members one of another, the welfare of our neighbor is not his concern only, but that of the whole body, and the injury of our neighbor is not confined to him, but distracts with pains all else as well. If we are a building, whatever part is weakened, it affects the whole, while that which is solid gives strength and support to the rest. So also in the Church, if you have slighted your neighbor, you have injured yourself. How? In that one of your own members has suffered no small hurt. And if he, who does not impart of his possessions, goes into Hell, much more will he be condemned, who sees a neighbor suffering severer evils, and does not stretch out his hand, since in this case the loss is more grievous.
