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  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
    • 3 For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome* teaching,+ but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.*+

  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
    • 3 ἔσται Will be γὰρ for καιρὸς appointed time ὅτε when τῆς of the ὑγιαινούσης (one) being healthful διδασκαλίας teaching οὐκ not ἀνέξονται, they will hold selves up, ἀλλὰ but κατὰ according to τὰς the ἰδίας own ἐπιθυμίας desires ἑαυτοῖς to themselves ἐπισωρεύσουσιν they will heap upon διδασκάλους teachers κνηθόμενοι being tickled τὴν the ἀκοήν, hearing,

  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
    • 3 For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching,+ but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled;+

  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    The Bible in Living English
    • 3* For there will be a time when they will not stand sound teaching, but to suit their own desires will pile up teachers for themselves as they get their ears tickled,

  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    American Standard Version
    • 3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;

  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    The Emphasized Bible
    • 3 For there will be a season—When the healthful teaching they will not endure, But according to their own covetings will unto themselves heap up teachers Because they have an itching ear,

  • 2 Timothy 4:3
    King James Version
    • 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

  • 2 Timothy
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2025
    • 4:3 w12 3/15 16; w05 7/1 5-6

  • 2 Timothy
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985
    • 4:3 w84 3/15 26; w84 12/15 16-19; g81 3/22 7-8; g79 4/22 3; is 171; w67 380; g65 10/8 22; w63 657; w62 380; g61 10/8 8; w60 40, 228; w58 38; w56 741; w52 294; w49 378; w48 133; w44 309

  • 2 Timothy
    Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses—2019 Edition
    • 4:3

      The Watchtower,

      3/15/2012, pp. 15-16

      7/1/2005, pp. 5-6

  • 2 Timothy Study Notes—Chapter 4
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
    • 4:3

      wholesome: Or “healthful; beneficial.”​—See study note on 1Ti 6:3.

      to have their ears tickled: Or “to tell them what they want to hear.” In this vivid metaphor, Paul uses a Greek verb that can mean “to tickle; to scratch” but also “to feel an itching.” It occurs only here in the Christian Greek Scriptures. The word picture apparently conveys the idea of people who feel a yearning​—which some translations liken to an itch​—to hear what satisfies their selfish desires rather than what would help them to stay healthy in the faith. So they select teachers who tickle their ears, so to speak, by telling them what they want to hear. Because of the foretold apostasy, there would be an abundance of such self-serving disciples and false teachers; so Timothy’s work is urgent.​—See study note on 1Ti 4:1.

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