2 Timothy 3:1-9

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,  always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.  But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

2 Timothy 3:1-9

In the last chapter, there was a charge to patiently endure evil in hopes that God would grant repentance.  This was all under the backdrop of being a worker approved by God who departs from iniquity.  In contrast to correcting opponents with gentleness in hopes that God would save them, Paul gives Timothy a warning about people.  Specifically, people will become quite sinful.  They will become lovers of self and lovers of money to name a few.  Paul also mentions that they will be "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God".  We are to be lovers of God; but unfortunately, pleasure will become their love.

What I find scary is that they will have "the appearance of godliness".  People who have become lovers of things that are not God will somehow have the appearance of godliness.  However, though they have the appearance of godliness, they will deny its power.  I know that a lot of professing Christians will point to the denial of the power of the Holy Spirit when some don't embrace certain outward manifestations.  I don't think that Paul is talking about that here.  In fact, if you were to side with NLT or AMP, we see their bent.

holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith].

2 Timothy 3:5a (AMP)

They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.

2 Timothy 3:5a (NLT)

The appearance of godliness seems to be an outward religious behavior.  However, the rejection of power is referring to power to make one godly.  I suppose the power in living a life for God is one that will make you more and more set apart.  However, though these people live with all the typical religiosity, their unchanged lives show that they really do not believe in the power of God in their own lives.  You can do all sorts of things in the church or in your life that looks very Christian.  Maybe you go to church or maybe you tithe or go on retreats or missions trips or even speak in tongues or heal people.  However, though you may appear to be godly, your unchanged life may show that you actually deny the power of God.

In any case, I didn't go about this in the correct order and perhaps jumped in too far.  This is all spoken to with regards to difficulty in the last days.  Why would there be difficulty in the last days?  It is because people will become lovers of things other than God.  So, Paul warns Timothy to avoid these people.  These people are dangerous.

Well, if people are to be like that, and we know that all people are sinful and not lovers of God, who are we to not avoid?  It seems like Paul is referring to everyone then?  I think that Paul is referring to people seemingly of the truth but actually not of it and deceiving others.  This is because they will have the appearance of godliness.

On the flip side, Paul uses Jannes and Jambres as an example and they certainly would not fit into the category of one within the body.  These men I believe are the magicians who contended with Moses and Aaron (according to Wikipedia).  However, their example is used to describe their opposition to the truth, not necessarily who they are.

In any case, these people are sneaky.  They "creep into households and capture weak women".  They certainly are here today and this is happening all the time.  Unfortunately, they are sneaky as Paul describes.  There is a ray of hope, since Paul tells us in verse 9 that "they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men".  Eventually, they will be found out, as Jannes and Jambres were shown to be false.  We should still beware of these people and avoid them.

One interesting thing to note is about these women who are being captured.  These women are described as "burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth".

First of all, they are burdened with sins.  We should feel broken about our sin, but we should also recognize that there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ.  This "burdened about sin" is probably describing an unhealthy and incorrect view with regards to ones own sins.

Not only are they burdened about sin, but they are also led astray by various passions.  If sin is a burden, it probably doesn't help that they continue in sin by being led astray by various passions.  Though not specific, I'd think it is sin because of being "led astray".

Lastly, I find it most interesting that they are "always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth".  I always find it interesting seeing people going to different conferences or workshops or seminars about things of God, but I feel as if they don't really get the gospel.  They don't get it and their lives don't show change.  Instead, they learn one thing after another, but whatever they learn is either not beneficial or just doesn't stick.  This is an example of what Paul is describing here.  Sure, they are being captured by these evil men, but they too must be on guard themselves and beware of such attacks.  It is a dangerous thing to be in such a position that one is "always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth".