2 Timothy 4 4

2 Timothy 4:4 kjv

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:4 nkjv

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:4 niv

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2 Timothy 4:4 esv

and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

2 Timothy 4:4 nlt

They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

2 Timothy 4 verses

2 Timothy 4 4 Meaning

2 Timothy 4:4 warns of a dangerous spiritual trajectory in which individuals, fueled by their desire for pleasant doctrines rather than challenging truths, will deliberately reject the authoritative and life-giving message of God. Instead of holding to the Word of God, they will consciously divert their attention to embrace fabricated narratives, false teachings, or human-devised philosophies that lack divine origin and spiritual benefit. This is a willful turning away from God's truth towards deceptive fables.

2 Timothy 4 4 Context

This verse is part of Paul's concluding admonitions to Timothy in his second letter, widely believed to be his final epistle before his death. The broader context of 2 Timothy 3:1-9 paints a grim picture of the "last days," characterized by spiritual degradation, false teachers, and widespread ungodliness. Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word faithfully, knowing that a time will come when people will reject sound doctrine (2 Tim 4:1-3). Verse 4 directly explains how this rejection manifests: people actively turn away from truth because it might not suit their "itching ears" (2 Tim 4:3), and they prefer soothing fables or human-centric philosophies. Historically, the early church contended with various forms of deceptive teachings, including Judaizing myths, Gnostic speculations, and other syncretistic ideas that blurred the lines of Christian truth. Paul's warning serves as a prophetic caution against the inherent human propensity to reject difficult truth in favor of comforting falsehoods, a challenge present in every age.

2 Timothy 4 4 Word analysis

• and: (καὶ - kai) A simple conjunction linking this verse to the preceding one (2 Tim 4:3), indicating a consequence or further explanation of why people will not endure sound doctrine. It emphasizes that turning ears away from truth is followed by turning to myths.
• will turn away: (ἀποστρέψουσιν - apostrepsousin) This is from the Greek verb ἀποστρέφω (apostrephō), meaning "to turn away," "to avert," "to return." Used in the future tense, it indicates a definite action that will happen. The active voice here signifies a deliberate, conscious decision by individuals to refuse to engage with the truth.
• their ears: (τὴν ἀκοὴν - tēn akoēn) From ἀκοή (akoē), meaning "hearing," "the organ of hearing (ear)," or "a report/thing heard." In this context, it refers to the physical ear, symbolizing the capacity or willingness to listen and receive instruction. "Turning their ears away" illustrates a conscious closing off from divine revelation, indicating a refusal to hear what God has revealed.
• from the truth: (ἀπὸ μὲν τῆς ἀληθείας - apo men tēs alētheias)
  • from: (ἀπὸ - apo) Signifies separation or withdrawal from a source.
  • the truth: (τῆς ἀληθείας - tēs alētheias) From ἀλήθεια (alētheia), meaning "truth," "reality," "what is real and genuinely exists," particularly God's revealed truth (His Word, His nature, the Gospel of Christ). It stands in stark contrast to human error, deception, and the myths mentioned later. This is divine, unchanging truth.
• and turn aside: (ἐπὶ δὲ τοὺς μύθους ἐκτραπήσονται - epi de tous mythous ektrapēsontai)
  • and: (δὲ - de) Here functioning as a conjunction implying a transition or contrast, "but" or "and indeed."
  • turn aside: (ἐκτραπήσονται - ektrapēsontai) From ἐκτρέπω (ektrepō), meaning "to turn off/aside," "to diverge," "to deviate from a path." The passive voice can imply that they are turned aside (misled) but also has a reflexive/middle sense, implying that they turn themselves aside. It suggests a swerving away from the straight path of truth onto a wrong one, implying deception but also a readiness to be deceived.
• to myths: (τοὺς μύθους - tous mythous) From μύθος (mythos), meaning "a myth," "fable," "a fictitious narrative." In Pauline epistles, these are not harmless stories but are contrasted directly with Christian truth. They refer to human fabrications, unbiblical legends, empty speculations, and misleading teachings often disguised as profound spiritual insight but lacking divine authority or practical spiritual benefit (as seen in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; Tit 1:14). These are doctrines invented by men, which appeal to superficial desires rather than nourishing spiritual life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "will turn away their ears from the truth": This phrase describes an intentional act of spiritual deafness. It is a willful rejection of God's divine revelation. They are not merely distracted but actively choosing not to listen to, or acknowledge, the objective reality and authoritative doctrine revealed by God. This choice suggests a desire to avoid the implications or demands of the truth.
• "and turn aside to myths": This completes the trajectory. The vacuum left by rejecting truth is filled with falsehood. The turning away from truth naturally leads to turning to error. This turning "aside" or "astray" highlights a departure from the right path (of faith and sound doctrine) into speculative, empty, and potentially damaging teachings. "Myths" encompass any humanly invented religious ideas or narratives that do not originate from or align with God's inspired Word.

2 Timothy 4 4 Bonus section

• The progression warned against here is a direct result of the "itching ears" mentioned in 2 Tim 4:3. People's desire for what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear leads them to gravitate towards teachings that satisfy their cravings for novelty, comfort, or entertainment. This self-serving desire makes them susceptible to deceivers who will provide such "myths."
• Paul often connected "myths" with other undesirable spiritual conditions or actions in his other letters. For example, 1 Tim 1:4 links myths to "endless genealogies" that promote speculation rather than faith, and Tit 1:14 connects them to "Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth," showing a clear association with doctrines that hinder godliness and stem from a rejection of truth. This highlights that "myths" are not mere benign stories but destructive forms of ungodly teaching.
• This verse can be understood as prophetic, speaking to conditions in the "last days" which characterize the entirety of the New Covenant era until Christ's return, a period marked by ongoing spiritual warfare against truth. Therefore, its warning is perennial and relevant for all generations of believers.

2 Timothy 4 4 Commentary

2 Timothy 4:4 vividly describes a consequence of spiritual declension warned about in the previous verse: when people no longer endure sound doctrine, they inevitably seek out alternatives. This verse outlines a two-step process: first, an active rejection of the truth ("turn their ears away"), followed by an active pursuit of falsehood ("turn aside to myths"). The "ears" symbolize not just hearing, but understanding and obeying; turning them away means a refusal to receive and be shaped by God's authoritative Word. The "myths" represent doctrines and narratives not founded on divine revelation, often appealing because they validate desires, entertain, or provide a comforting message that does not challenge one's lifestyle or preconceived notions, unlike the truth which sanctifies and corrects. This serves as a timeless warning for the Church and individual believers to vigilantly guard against adopting beliefs that are pleasing but unfounded, emphasizing the non-negotiable importance of holding fast to revealed truth.