2 Timothy 3:6

3:1-9 Even in gospel times there would be perilous times; on account of persecution from without, still more on account of corruptions within. Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man. When children are disobedient to their parents, that makes the times perilous. Men are unholy and without the fear of God, because unthankful for the mercies of God. We abuse God's gifts, if we make them the food and fuel of our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents are without natural affection to children. And when men have no rule over their own spirits, but despise that which is good and to be honoured. God is to be loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity against him, prefers any thing before him, especially carnal pleasure. A form of godliness is very different from the power; from such as are found to be hypocrites, real Christians must withdraw. Such persons have been found within the outward church, in every place, and at all times. There ever have been artful men, who, by pretences and flatteries, creep into the favour and confidence of those who are too easy of belief, ignorant, and fanciful. All must be ever learning to know the Lord; but these follow every new notion, yet never seek the truth as it is in Jesus.

Like the Egyptian magicians, these were men of corrupt minds, prejudiced against the truth, and found to be quite without faith. Yet though the spirit of error may be let loose for a time, Satan can deceive the nations and the churches no further, and no longer, than God will permit.

2 Timothy 3:6-7 . For, &c. — As if he had said, There is need to watch against such, because there are some of them already in the church; for of this sort are those artful deceivers who creep into houses — Insinuate themselves into families, and, having the appearance of godliness, lead captive silly women — Gain such influence over women of low rank and mean understandings as to obtain the direction of their consciences and purses; women who, whatever pretences they may make to sanctity, are laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts — Or desires, which these seducers know how to flatter, so as to make such persons their own property. “This, with the two subsequent verses, is thought by some a prophetical description of the practices of the Romish monks and friars in the dark ages, who, by hypocritical pretensions to extraordinary sanctity, and by auricular confession and other wicked arts, deluded and corrupted their female votaries. But practices similar to those began very early in the church, and, by a gradual progress, were at length, under the Romish hierarchy, formed into a regular system of deceit. We may therefore suppose, that as in the prophecies which foretel the political state of the world, so in those concerning the apostacy, in which its religious state is represented the general course of things through a succession of ages is foretold, rather than the state of things in any particular age.

This will be allowed, when it is considered that not the rise only, but the progress and downfall of the apostacy is foretold in these prophecies. So that their subject being a series of things which were to happen throughout a long course of years, and which were gradually to produce a widely-extended and confirmed state of corruption in the church, there is no reason for limiting their fulfilment to any particular period.” — Macknight. Ever learning — Pretending to hear with great eagerness, and, it may be, charmed with every appearance of fervour and novelty in their teachers, but, being tossed about with every wind of doctrine, they are never able to come to the experimental and practical knowledge of the truth — As it is in Jesus, or to attain any fixed and steady principles of religion.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses; who do not only privily enter in at the doors of houses, but pierce into the secrets of them, making it their business to pry into all families, and lead captive silly women, and take their advantages upon women, (the weaker sex), and not the wisest of them, but gunaikaria, the diminutive word, is used to vilify; the little despicable women, of no judgment in sound religion, whom they by their tongues and pleasing errors make their captives. Laden with sins; nor do they deal with the most pious and honest women, but such as are laden with the guilt of much sin; led away with divers lusts; and who, being possessed of divers sinful inclinations, not only lusts of the flesh, but any other, such as pride, &c., are easily led away; lust always smoothing the way for such errors as will be principles to justify it against the reflections of conscience. Their vices, rather than sex, made them easily seduced.

2 Timothy 3:6 . Ἐκ τούτων , of these ) See the preceding verse, these ( such ). The expression is clearly demonstrative.— οἱ ἐνδύνοντες , they who creep in ) privately.— γυναικάρια ) silly women , who are presently described as like those (in 2 Timothy 3:5 ).— ἐπιθυμίαις ποικίλαις , with various or divers lusts ) of the mind and of the flesh: 2 Timothy 4:3 . Even this variety is a source of delight.

Of this sort (ἐκ τούτων) Lit. of these. The formula often in Paul. Which creep (οἱ ἐνδύνοντες) N.T.o. Thrust themselves into. Comp. Jde 1:4, παρεισεδύησαν crept in privily (see note); 2 Peter 2:1 (note), παρεισάξουσιν shall privily bring in; and Galatians 2:4, παρεισάκτους brought in by stealth. Lead captive (αἰχμαλωτίζοντες) Only here in Pastorals. See on captives, Luke 4:18; and see on 2 Corinthians 10:5. Silly women (γυναικάρια) N.T.o. olxx. Silly is expressed by the contemptuous diminutive. Comp. Vulg. mulierculas. Laden (σεσωρευμένα) Only here and Romans 12:20, citation. In lxx, see Judith 15:11, of loading a wagon with the property of Holofernes. It implies heaped up; heavily laden. Led away (ἀγόμενα) Away is superfluous. It is only an inference. The meaning is under the direction of. Comp. Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18. Divers (ποικίλαις) In Pastorals only here and Titus 3:3. Lit. variegated, of different tints. See on manifold wisdom, Ephesians 3:10.

6. of this sort—Greek, "of these," such as were described (2Ti 3:5). creep into—stealthily. laden with sins—(Isa 1:4); applying to the "silly women" whose consciences are burdened with sins, and so are a ready prey to the false teachers who promise ease of conscience if they will follow them. A bad conscience leads easily to shipwreck of faith (1Ti 1:19). divers lusts—not only animal lusts, but passion for change in doctrine and manner of teaching; the running after fashionable men and fashionable tenets, drawing them in the most opposite directions [Alford].

2 Timothy 3:6 . ἐνδύνοντες : who insinuate themselves into houses [which they overthrow], Titus 1:11 . “Observe how he shows their impudence by this expression, their dishonourable ways, their deceitfulness” (Chrys.). παρεισέδυησαν ( Judges 1:4 ) and παρεισῆλθον ( Galatians 2:4 ) are similar expressions. γυναικάρια : Mulierculas . Chrys. acutely implies that the victims of the crafty heretics were “silly women” of both sexes: “He who is easy to be deceived is a silly woman, and nothing like a man; for to be deceived is the part of silly women”. St. Paul, however, refers to women only. σεσωρευμένα ἁμαρτίαις : overwhelmed , rather than burdened ( βεβαρημένα ) (Field). Is there any contrast implied between the diminutive, indicating the insignificance of the women, and the load of sins which they carry? De Wette (quoted by Alf.), notes that a sin-laden conscience is easily tempted to seek the easiest method of relief. ποικίλαις : There is no great difficulty in diverting them from the right path, for they are inconstant even in vice.

Verse 6. - These for this sort , A.V.; tact for which , A.V.; take for lead , A.V.; by for with , A.V. Creep into ( ἐνδύνοντες ); here only in the New Testament. It has the sense of "sneaking into," "insinuating themselves into," as in Xenophon, 'Cyrop.,' 2. 1. 13. Take captive ( αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ); as in Ephesians 4:3 . The other form, αἰχμαλωτίζοντες which is that of the R.T., is in Luke 21:24 ; Romans 7:23 ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 . The word well describes the blind surrender of the will and conscience to such crafty teachers. Silly women ( τὰ γυναικάρια , diminutive of γυνή ); nowhere else in the New Testament or LXX., but is used by some late Greek authors. It is a term of contempt - he will not call them γυναῖκας - they are only γυναικάρια . In the passages quoted by Alford from Irenaeus and Epiphanius, the women made use of by the later Gnostics are called γυναικάρια . See, too, the striking quotation in the same note from Jerome, specifying by name the women whom Nicolas of Antioch, Marcion, Montanus, and others employed as their instruments in spreading their abominable heresies. So true is St. Paul's forecast in the text. Laden with sins ( σεσωρευμένα ἁμαρτίαις ); elsewhere only in Romans 12:20 , "heap coals of fire." It occurs in Aristotle and other Greek writers in the sense of heaping one thing upon another, and heaping up anything with something else. The last is the sense in which it is here used. It seems to convey the idea of passive helplessness.

Led away ( ἀγόμενα ); with a strong intimation of unresisting weakness (comp. 1 Corinthians 12:2 ; Acts 8:32 ; Luke 23:32 ). Lusts ( ἐπιθυμίαις ); all kinds of carnal and selfish desires (see Matthew 4:19 ; John 8:44 ; Romans 1:24 ; Romans 6:12 ; Romans 7:7, 8 ; Galatians 5:24 ; Ephesians 2:3 ; Ephesians 4:22 ; Colossians 3:5 ; 1 Timothy 6:9 ; 2 Timothy 2:22 ; 2 Timothy 4:3 : Titus 2:12 ; fit. 3; 1 Peter 1:14 , etc.; 2 Peter 2:18 ; 1 John 2:16 , etc.). 2 Timothy 3:6