Thomas Aquinas — on 2Tim 4:3 (Commentary on 2 Timothy)

“Then when he says, "there shall be a time," he shows why this admonition is necessary. But there is a threefold need for the abovementioned advice: first, on the part of the hearers; second, on Timothy's part, at "but be vigilant"; third, on the part of the Apostle, at "for I am even now ready" (2 Tim 4:6). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he describes the need; second, he explains the statement, at "and will indeed turn." The first need arises from the perversity of those who hear, for they desire to hear not what is useful, but what is new. He says, therefore, in regard to the first: be instant, when they refuse to listen to sound doctrine. "For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine," when their teachers are wicked: "I know that after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29); hence he says, "they will not endure," i.e., your doctrine will be hateful to them, namely, Christ's doctrine: "all my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them" (Prov 8:8). Another perversity is that they wish to hear strange and harmful things: "O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet things which are hurtful to them, and the unwise hate knowledge?" (Prov 1:22). He says, therefore: "but they will heap to themselves teachers," i.e., they will multiply teachers unto themselves. Against this it is said: "be you not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment" (Jas 3:1). And there is a heaping up when unbecoming and unsatisfactory things are multiplied. Furthermore, there is more of a heaping up if they accept four who are unworthy, than if they accept a hundred who are good, because "the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world" (Wis 6:26); "speak unto us pleasant things" (Isa 30:10). And this is according to their desires, because one wishes to hear one, and another, and another; consequently, they search for different teachers. And he says, "teachers having itching ears," namely, their hearers. For an itch is present in the feet, when one cannot stay put; but it is present in the ears, when a person wishes to hear only unusual and curious and sometimes harmful news: "now all the Athenians, and strangers that were there, employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing" (Acts 17:21). In this way heretical doctrines were spawned: "stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant" (Prov 9:17).”