Jesus Describes Lovers Of Self In Last Days
Jesus' Description of Lovers of Self in the Last Days
Jesus' teachings often addressed the nature of love and self-love, particularly in the context of the end times. In John 13:1, Jesus is described as having "loved his own in the world, loved them to the end" [1]. This selfless love is contrasted with the self-love that characterizes the last days, as described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:2.
According to 2 Timothy 3:2, in the last days, "men shall be lovers of their own selves" [3, 4]. This self-love is not the virtuous self-love that is part of loving one's neighbors as oneself, but rather an excessive and selfish love that prioritizes one's own interests above all else [9]. The characteristics associated with this self-love include covetousness, pride, and a lack of natural affection [3].
The early Church Fathers interpreted this passage as a warning against the dangers of self-love. John Chrysostom, for example, saw the description of lovers of self as a commentary on the moral decay of society in the last days [3, 4]. Augustine also reflected on this passage, noting that those who are "lovers of their own selves" are characterized by a desire for personal gain and a lack of concern for the well-being of others [6].
The characteristics described in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 are not limited to a specific group or era, but rather are seen as a general description of the moral state of humanity in the last days. Adam Clarke notes that these characteristics have been present in various forms throughout history, and that both Catholics and Protestants have exhibited these traits at different times [5].
The contrast between selfless love and self-love is a recurring theme in the New Testament. Jesus' command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39) is seen as a fundamental principle of Christian ethics [2]. In contrast, the self-love described in 2 Timothy 3:2 is seen as a corruption of this principle, where individuals prioritize their own interests above the needs of others.
The biblical description of lovers of self in the last days serves as a warning to Christians to cultivate a selfless love, modeled on the example of Christ. As Jesus washed the disciples' feet, demonstrating his love for them "to the end" (John 13:1), so too are Christians called to demonstrate a similar selfless love for one another [1, 8].
The eschatological context of 2 Timothy 3:2-5 is also significant. The passage is often seen as a description of the moral and spiritual state of society in the last days, preceding the return of Christ. This interpretation is supported by other New Testament passages, such as 2 Peter 3:3, which describes the coming of "scoffers" who will ridicule the idea of Christ's return [7].
Sources
- John “John 13:1 (LEB) — Now before the feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, and having loved his own in the world, loved them to the end.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily VIII. 2 Timothy iii. 1–4 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” If any now takes offense at the existence of heretics, let him remember that it was so from the beginning, the devil a”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily VII. 2 Timothy iii. 1–7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For of this sort are they, which creep in”
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 3:2: For men shall be - The description in this and the following verses the Papists apply to the Protestants; the Protestants in their turn apply it to the Papists; Schoettgen to the Jews; and others to heretics in general. There have been both teachers and people in every age of the Church, and in every age of the world, to whom these words may be most legitimately applied. Both Catholics and Protestants have been lovers of their own selves, etc.; but it is probable that the apostle had some particular age in view, in which there should appear some very essential cor”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XXI. 12-19. (part 5): utterance of Christ, of whom the apostle complains that they seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ's.(3) For what else mean the words, "Lovest thou me? Feed my sheep," than if it were said, If thou lovest me, think not of feeding thyself, but feed my sheep as mine, and not as thine own; seek my glory in them, and not thine own; my dominion, and not thine; my gain, and not thine; lest thou be found in the fellowship of those who belong to the perilous times, lovers of their own selves, and all else that is ”
- 2 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Peter 3:3: Knowing this first - Considering this in an especial manner, that those prophets predicted the coming of false teachers: and their being now in the Church proved how clearly they were known to God, and showed the Christians at Pontus the necessity of having no intercourse or connection with them. There shall come - scoffers - Persons who shall endeavor to turn all religion into ridicule, as this is the most likely way to depreciate truth in the sight of the giddy multitude. The scoffers, having no solid argument to produce against revelation, endeavor to make a scar”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 13 (introduction): AT THE LAST SUPPER JESUS WASHES THE DISCIPLES' FEET--THE DISCOURSE ARISING THEREUPON. (John 13:1-20) when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father--On these beautiful euphemisms, see on Luk 9:31; Luk 9:51. having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end--The meaning is, that on the very edge of His last sufferings, when it might have been supposed that He would be absorbed in His own awful prospects, He was so far from forgetting "His own," who were to be left strug”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves,.... Not in a good sense, as men may be, and as such are who love their neighbours as themselves, and do that to others they would have done to themselves; and who take all prudent and lawful care to preserve the life and health of their bodies, and seek in a right way the salvation of their immortal souls: but in a bad sense, as such may be said to be, who only love themselves; their love to God, and Christ, and to the saints, being only in pretence, not in reality; and who do all they do in a religious way, from a princi”