Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 35

Paul tells Timothy to be Aware of the Godless Times Part 5

2 Timothy 3:6-7 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. KJV

Paul continues on here in this next verse to describe even further these sort of people that have only a form of godliness, but without its inherent power by writing this to Brother Timothy, "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts," (2 Timothy 3:6) (KJV). The little English phrase 'they which creep' is translated by the Greek word endunō (used this one time only here in the entire New Testament) which means to sink by implication wrap on, that is, (figuratively) sneak: - creep or to slip in by insinuation. In other words, the idea Paul is trying to get over to Brother Timothy and to we true believers today and of every era and generation is that these people are evil and are spiritually perverted and make a pretense or false appearance of wanting to help lost souls, when they actually want to use and abuse them and bring them in and over to their spiritual perversion. Two of the other Apostles spoke of such people warning us to beware of them, first the Apostle Jude had these words of warning to us of these sort of men when he wrote, "Some godless people have sneaked in among us and are saying, 'God treats us much better than we deserve, and so it is all right to be immoral.' They even deny that we must obey Jesus Christ as our only Master and Lord. But long ago the Scriptures warned that these godless people were doomed." (Jude 1:4) (Contemporary English Version) and secondly the Apostle Peter had this to say warning us of these sort of people, "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their pernicious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be evil spoken of. And through covetousness they will use you for gain with well-turned words; for whom judgment from of old does not linger, and their destruction does not sleep." (2 Peter 2:1-3) (Modern King James Version).

What these false people do is very hurtful, harmful, and  heinous because they take people away from the true Gospel of Christ or the Gospel of Grace and of the truth of the Word of God and fill them with lies and error, so Paul tells Timothy that they 'lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts'. The English phrase 'lead captive' is translated by the Greek word aichmalōteuō which means to capture or even beguile, that is, to influence by slyness or to bewitch a person or persons, that is, cause them to be enamored with their great sounding speech or words that promise an easy salvation apart from the Cross of Christ and His Blood Shed. The English phrase 'silly women' is translated by the Greek word gunaikarion (used this one time only here in the entire New Testament) and it means simply foolish women, that is, women devoid of good sense or judgment; gullible, that is, naive and easily deceived or tricked because of being too trusting. The English word 'laden' is translated by the Greek word sōreuō which means to pile up (literally or figuratively): - heap, load; Filled with a great quantity. The English phrase 'with sins' is translated by the Greek word hamartia meaning offences. The English phrase 'led away' is translated by the Greek word agō which means (as used here) (figuratively) to induce. The English phrase 'with divers' is translated by the Greek word poikilos which means Of uncertain derivation; motley, that is, various in character: - divers, manifold. The English word 'lusts' is translated by the Greek word epithumia meaning a longing (especially for what is forbidden): - concupiscence, desire, lust (after). In other words, these smooth talking men and women (without godliness) trick women lacking in good judgement and too trusting into lies and error because they are already filled up in their inner and outer woman with sinful weaknesses, therefore, they are induced or made to believe the devil's lies because of their already present longing and desire to walk in and live in that which is wrong and forbidden. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about this verse, "He shows how industrious they were to make proselytes (converts); they applied themselves to particular persons, visited them in their houses, not daring to appear openly; for those that do evil hate the light, John 3:20. They were not forced into houses, as good Christians often were by persecution; but they of choice crept into houses, to insinuate themselves into the affections and good opinion of people, and so to draw them over to their party. And see what sort of people those were that they gained, and made proselytes of; they were such as were weak, silly women; and such as were wicked, laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts. A foolish head and a filthy heart make persons, especially women, an easy prey to seducers."

Paul now shows Timothy that people who are always into learning new things (except the truth of God and His Word) are the very ones vulnerable, that is, susceptible to attack persuasion or temptation and so he declares these words concerning them, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:7) (KJV). The English word 'ever' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word pantote meaning at all times or always. The English word 'learning' is translated by the Greek word manthanō meaning to learn (in any way): - learn, understand. The English word 'never' is translated by the Greek word mēdepote (used this one time only here in the New Testament) meaning not even ever: - never. The English word 'able' is translated by the Greek word dunamai meaning (as used here) to be able or possible; to be of power. The little English phrase 'the knowledge' is translated by the Greek word epignōsis which means recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment. In other words, these women (in this case) are always going about to learn things, even spiritual things, but they are never able to obtain the power to discern or recognize or understand the real truth, because it is only revealed by God the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about this verse, "From their false teachers, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, because that teaching never leads to the truth; for, although there was a form of godliness, which gave them a sort of authority to teach, yet, as they denied the power of godliness, they never could bring their votaries (disciples) to the knowledge of the saving power of Christianity. There are many professors of Christianity still who answer the above description. They hear, repeatedly hear, it may be, good sermons; but, as they seldom meditate on what they hear, they derive little profit from the ordinances of God. They have no more grace now than they had several years ago, though hearing all the while, and perhaps not wickedly departing from the Lord. They do not meditate, they do not think, they do not reduce what they hear to practice; therefore, even under the preaching of an Apostle, they could not become wise to salvation."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…