Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth] The truth strips them of their vices, sacrifices their idols, darts its lightnings against their easily besetting sins, and absolutely requires a conformity to a crucified Christ; therefore they turn their ears away from it.
And shall be turned unto fables.] Believe any kind of stuff and nonsense; for, as one has justly observed, "Those who reject the truth are abandoned by the just judgment of God to credit the most degrading nonsense." This is remarkably the case with most deists; their creed often exhibits what is grossly absurd.
John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth , etc.] The solid truths of the Gospel, not being able to bear the hearing of them: and shall be turned unto fables ; things idle, trifling, useless, and, unprofitable; and which are no better than old wives
' fables; some respect may be had either to Jewish fables, or to the miraculous mythologies of the Gentiles, or of the Gnostics, and others: but in general, it includes everything that is vain, empty, and senseless; and this is to be considered as a just judgment upon them; that since they like not to retain the knowledge of the truth, but turn away their ears from it, God gives them up to a reprobate mind, a mind void of sense and judgment, to attend to things idle and fabulous.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - People will turn away from the truth, they will grow weary of the plai gospel of Christ, they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them. People do so when they will not endure that preaching which in searching, plain, and to the purpose. Those who love souls must be eve watchful, must venture and bear all the painful effects of their faithfulness, and take all opportunities of making known the pur gospel.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ απο 575 PREP μεν 3303 PRT της 3588 T-GSF αληθειας 225 N-GSF την 3588 T-ASF ακοην 189 N-ASF αποστρεψουσιν 654 5692 V-FAI-3P επι 1909 PREP δε 1161 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM μυθους 3454 N-APM εκτραπησονται 1624 5691 V-2FPI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Shall be turned unto fables (epi touv muqouv ektraphsontai). More correctly, will turn aside. The passive has a middle sense. For fables see on 1 Tim. i. 4.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:4 {Will turn away their ears} (ten akoen apostreyousin). Future active of old verb apostrefw. See #1Co 12:17 for this use of akoe. The people stopped their ears and rushed at Stephen in #Ac 7:57. {Will turn aside} (ektrapesontai). Second future passive of ektrepw. They prefer "myths" to "the truth" as some today turn away to "humanism,"bolshevism,"new thought" or any other fad that will give a new momentary thrill to their itching ears and morbid minds.
