3:2

For men will be: Or “For people will be.” The Greek word here rendered “men” often refers to humanity in general, both men and women. Paul goes on to list some 20 different traits that people would exhibit “in the last days,” a time far in the future from his day. (2Ti 3:1 and study note) However, Paul does not imply that people in his own time were free from such negative qualities. On the contrary, he urges Timothy to “turn away” from such people, so these traits posed a threat at that time as well. (See study note on 2Ti 3:5; compare Mr 7:21, 22.) Here, though, Paul foretells an era when humankind as a whole would be dominated by these wicked characteristics.

lovers of money: See study note on 1Ti 6:10.

boastful, haughty: A boastful person brags about​—and often exaggerates​—his abilities, qualities, and wealth. A haughty person thinks that he is better than others. Though these qualities are similar, “boastful” primarily refers to prideful speech, whereas “haughty” primarily refers to prideful thoughts and feelings.

blasphemers: Or “people who speak abusively.” Paul uses a Greek word (blaʹsphe·mos) that refers to those whose speech is “blasphemous, slanderous, defamatory, insulting.” During “the last days,” a great many people would direct such speech against both God and humans.​—2Ti 3:1.

disobedient to parents: Centuries before the Christian era, the Mosaic Law directed children to honor their parents. (Ex 20:12; Mt 15:4) Children in the Christian congregation were likewise taught to obey and honor their parents. (Eph 6:1, 2) Even ancient Greeks and Romans, who did not worship Jehovah, widely held that it was wrong and unnatural for children to rebel against their parents. (Ro 2:14, 15) In ancient Greece, if a man struck his parents, he would lose his civil rights; under Roman law, striking one’s father was as serious as murder. Yet, Paul here foretells a time of widespread disobedience to parents. That would be, as one reference work says, “the sign of a supremely decadent civilization.”

unthankful: Some may feel entitled to everything they have received from their parents, from other humans, even from God. (Lu 6:35) Such an attitude basically stems from selfishness.

disloyal: Or “lacking loyal love.” (See also 1Ti 1:9, ftn.) The Greek word here used can convey the idea of being disloyal to people and to God. The term is broad in meaning and can include the idea of being “unholy; irreverent.” The word may thus refer to having no respect for what is holy or, as one lexicon puts it, “regarding nothing as sacred.” A disloyal person does not care about being faithful or fulfilling his duties toward his fellow man and even toward God.