2 Timothy / Question
Paul says a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching in 2 Timothy 4:3. He describes them gathering teachers to suit their own passions and having “itching ears.” He adds that they will turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths in 2 Timothy 4:4.
In 2 Timothy 4:3–5, Paul explains why Timothy must keep a steady public ministry even when it becomes unpopular. A time is coming when people will reject healthy teaching and instead gather teachers who tell them what they already want to hear. This shift is described as turning away from truth toward made-up stories. These verses follow a strong charge to proclaim the message persistently and to correct, warn, and encourage with patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:1–2). Verses 3–4 give the reason: audiences will increasingly resist what is good for them and prefer what pleases them.
Paul gives a reason for Timothy’s steady ministry: many hearers will increasingly reject “sound doctrine” (healthy, reliable teaching) and instead choose messages that match what they already want.
A common mistake is to turn the wording into a slogan. The better reading keeps the phrase tied to the passage, the speaker, and the problem the book is addressing.
Start with 2 Timothy 4:3, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
3For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;