2Tim 4:3

“For their Mother—that is, Leto—secretly stirred them up (whence also she is called Leto, according to the meaning of the Greek word, because she secretly stirred up men), without the knowledge of the Demiurge, to give forth profound and unspeakable mysteries to itching ears.”

“You can understand the desire of the prodigal son to be sated with pods in this way. When rational nature exists in irrationality, it simply desires. If it does not get more convincing reasons, then it accepts any reason at all. Since the pods taste sweet and make the body fat, they do not bind the bowels. They are the specious words of lovers of matter and the body, who say that pleasure is a good, "itching at their ears and running after myths."”

“Paul, in the second to Timothy: "There will be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine; but according to their own lusts will heap to themselves teachers itching in hearing, tickling their ears; and shall turn away their hearing indeed from the truth, but they shall be converted unto fables."”

“The apostle was cognizant of these sinful tendencies of the will, and besides his numerous admonitions to defend the faith and to preach the word, he said in his epistle to Timothy: "There will come a time when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves teachers according to their lusts, and they will turn away from hearing the truth and turn aside rather to fables." When they will no longer endure sound doctrine in their eagerness for godlessness, they will gather teachers together for these things which they desire. They will compile a doctrine that fits in with their desires, since they are no longer eager to be taught. They want to bring together teachers for that which they already desire in order that this large number of teachers whom they have sought and assembled may satisfy the doctrines of their own passionate desires.”

“For there are certain persons who have not only their ears and their tongues but even, as I now perceive, their hands too, itching for words. They delight in profane babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called, and strifes about words, which tend to no profit. Paul is the preacher and establisher of the "Word cut short." The teacher of the fishermen calls to question all that is excessive or superfluous in discourse.”

“"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." Before they grow stiffnecked, preoccupy them all. For this reason he says, "in season, out of season"; do everything, so as to have willing disciples. "But after their own lusts," he says, "shall they heap to themselves teachers." Nothing can be more expressive than these words. For by saying "they shall heap to themselves," he shows the indiscriminate multitude of the teachers, as also by their being elected by their disciples. "They shall heap to themselves teachers," he says, "having itching ears." Seeking for such as speak to gratify and delight their hearers. "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables." This he foretells, not as willing to throw him into despair, but to prepare him to bear it firmly, when it shall happen. As Christ also did in saying, "They will deliver you up, and they will scourge you, and bring you before the synagogues, for My name's sake." (Matt. x. 17.) And this blessed man elsewhere says, "For I know this, that after my departures shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts xx. 29.) But this he said that they might watch, and duly use the present opportunity.”

“All the most foolish heretics who want themselves to be called Christians try to color the impertinencies of their inventions. At this human sensibility especially shudders, with the occasion of the sentence of the Gospel where the Lord says, "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." These were the very things that at that time the disciples could not bear, and the Holy Spirit taught such things as an unclean spirit pales to teach and preach openly, by whatever impertinence he may be moved. These are the ones that the apostle foresees in the Holy Spirit and says, "For there will be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, itching to hear, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth but will be turned to fables."”

“That is to say, they delight in their ears.”

“So, warn them before they plunge into calamity. This is why he also said above: "in season and out of season"; while you still have the opportunity to persuade, do everything. The Apostle indicates by the expression "they will choose" a disorderly crowd of teachers, and also that they are chosen by the people, who will act not according to sound reason, but will choose those who will indulge their lusts and only say and do what is pleasing to them. Those who always want to hear what is pleasant, delightful, and flattering to the ear.”

“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).”

“For there will be a time when they will not endure sound teaching; but according to their own desires they will accumulate for themselves teachers, having their ears tickled; and they will turn away their hearing from the truth and turn aside to myths. Therefore, before they rush headlong, occupy them in the meantime while they obey you. For this reason, Paul says "in season and out of season," (2 Tim. 4:2) as long as they endure. For they must be accustomed to persuasion before they revolt. But observe the absurdity of the teachers, that the desires of the people serve as a pretext for them to protect themselves. having their ears tickled. That is, delighting in hearing things that excite desire, and always longing to hear things that please. and they will turn away their hearing from the truth. Paul foretells these things, not to cause sorrow, but teaching that it is necessary for the disciples, until they become obedient and reasonable, to be properly shaped and to be burdened, and so that when this comes to pass, they do not lose heart. "For I was prepared," he says, "and I was not disturbed." (Ps. 119:60) Do you see that they do not err as if unaware, but willingly? For they will turn away their hearing, he says, and be turned aside, so that the evil is voluntary.”