When you hear the term eschatology, this is the verse that comes to mind for many, if they are familiar with that Greek term. The Epistles use it, primarily, of the last days, and the troubles on the earth, as Paul does here. The Gospels tend to prefer to use this word as an indication of the termination point in time or events not related to the end of existence as we know it.
What is of interest is what he adds the idea of the ferocity of people during those Last Days. (Perilous times) What he addresses next is not that he describes the world before judgment, but those who would be imposters infiltrating the church. They have a "form of godliness" (v.5) but they are not genuine believers. (v.7)
Paul takes this occasion to alert Timothy to who and what they are, so as to safeguard the flock he has been entrusted to lead. I am convinced that Paul figured this would be a letter between he and Timothy and that others may read it or have Timothy share the content with others. No doubt, for me anyway, that he could not imagine his words would still be being read 2000 years later.
Though the Roman Empire of the first century differs from our Western world today, there are definite similarities between their days and the landscape of the modern church in the West. This only makes sense in that we are closer to the closing events than they were.
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