“For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 3:6-7).
Some dudes just give you the willies. You know the ones. They try WAY too hard with the ladies and clearly up to no good. And these sleaze balls have a type. They’re constantly on the prowl for women who are weak and vulnerable. They’re really nothing more than self-absorbed sexual predators. Let’s call it like it is. They’re creeps.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking the natural habitat for the lowlife is limited to the singles bar. They’re not just lurking on Tinder. These dirtbags are anywhere and everywhere. I hate to say it but church is one of their favorite hunting grounds. If you’ve ever been to any singles ministry mixer, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about!
Like the cockroach, the rat, and the shark, this species has been stalking the planet for thousands of years. For instance, did you know that Paul and Timothy had to deal with an infestation of creeps at the church in Ephesus? Yeah, you read that right. Creeps are literally in the Bible.
In his second letter to a young pastor named Timothy, the apostle spends a good bit of time addressing a team of false teachers and their impact on the Ephesian church. It’s obviously a VERY big deal. Why else would Paul take the time to address these slime balls in the last letter he will ever write?
You see, the man from Tarsus is walking the Green Mile. He’s on Death Row in Rome at the infamous Mamertine Prison. The apostle knows a date with the executioner is right around the corner (2Tim 4:6-7). He pleads with his protege to make one last visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). Paul spends the rest of this epistle passing the torch of spreading the Gospel to his spiritual son (2Tim 1:1-2; 2:1-4:5).
There’s no doubt that spiritual hucksters have weaseled their way into the Ephesian church. Their destructive message is spreading like an aggressive cancer (2Tim 2:16). Instead bringing people together, they tearing people apart (2Tim 2:14, 23). Instead of getting up in their grill, Paul tells Tim to treat them gently. You never know, “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” and snap out of it (2Tim 2:25-26).
If you think it’s bad now, just you wait. The apostle tips us off that things are going really go off the rails “in the last days” (2Tim 3:1). That’s when the false teachers and their followers become self-absorbed, self-centered, self-obsessed, self-worshipers (2Tim 3:2-5). Seen Instagram lately? Looks like we’re well on our way. Well, buckle your seat belts, boys and girls. Things will soon spiral completely out of control.
Paul lets us know that a significant percentage of these snake oil salesmen have something else up their sleazy sleeves. “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women” (v6). The ESV uses the phrase “those who creep” as the translation for the Greek verb ενδυνω (enduno). It means to enter on the sly with ulterior motives, worm your way into, or secretly slip in.
One ancient translation of this verse in the Syriac language actually uses the word “weasel” here. A commentator by the name of Bloomfield says Paul is comparing them to snakes. These infiltrators can slither through the smallest openings. If you’re starting to get the willies, you get the drift. The apostle pulls no punches when talking about these pervs. He calls them creeps.
Not buying it? Don’t believe one of the writers of the Bible would stoop to this kind of name-calling? Well, take one look at who these lowlifes are targeting. They’re hoping to “capture weak women” (v6). Creepy enough for you? Paul uses a verb here (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) that’s actually a military term describing the capture prisoners of war.
Check out its other uses in the NT. Jesus paints a bleak picture of how the last days will go down when many “will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) among all nations” (Lk 21:24). Paul uses it to describe his own internal firefight and it’s “make me captive (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Rom 7:23). The apostle tells the Corinthians that the followers of Jesus must win the war over the voices in their heads and “take every though captive (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) to obey Christ” (2Cor 10:5).
Is Paul comparing these First Century creeps to those van-driving dirtbags who kidnap young women and hold them hostage for years in the basement? I’ll let you make that call. One way or the other, the apostle is not exactly describing a guy looking out for a lady’s best interest. These false teachers look to control and manipulate their victims. It’s really no more than low grade human trafficking.
These sexual predators set their sites on “weak women” (v6). The apostle once again doesn’t waste his time with P.C. language. He dusts off a word (Gr. γυναικαριον/gunaikarion) that’s not exactly a compliment. It paints a picture of a frivolous and foolish female who is morally immature. You might say a desperate housewife. This is a woman whose situation in life has left her prone to temptation. Desperate for a little attention. Easily flattered. Emotionally available.
How long has this stuff been going on? A long time. A VERY long time! Flip back to our first parents first days on the planet. That’s when Satan duped Eve into believing God was holding out on her and Adam (Gen 3:1-7). From what we’ve seen in 2 Timothy, it should come as no shock that our enemy showed up as a talking snake. The devil used a little scriptural slight of hand to fool Eve into chomping into the forbidden fruit and then handing it to her husband.
Ever since, pseudo-Christian creeps have been twisting Scripture so that their victims will be “burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (v6-7). They overwhelm these women with all sorts of teaching that sounds like it comes from the Bible but is really nothing more than spiritual bondage. Their counterfeit gospel entices people further from our Heavenly Father, not closer. They pile on condemnation instead of leading them under the waterfall of God’s grace.
A word to the women and then to the men. Ladies, could there be a stronger encouragement to deepen your walk with Jesus and have a fuller understanding of God’s Word? That’s the best way to protect yourself from these creeps. When we know the Gospel, we much less likely to fall for something phony. Don’t let anyone try to convince you that he has the secret formula for salvation.
Remember, Jesus lived the perfect life we failed to live. He died the death for our sin we should have died. He rose to the glorious new life we don’t deserve. We place our trust in what He’s done on our behalf. We trust in His leadership and lordship of our lives. We obey God’s commands as an act of gratitude for what He’s done, not in order to earn our way into heaven. It really is that simple.
Ladies, don’t look for any other savior. Don’t subtly substitute the need for a boyfriend or husband for the place reserved only for Jesus. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those relationships…EXCEPT when they become the ultimate object of worship. Idolatry is a lot more than bowing down to some handcrafted statue. Anytime we take a good thing and make it a god thing, that’s a bad thing.
Gentlemen, now can I have your attention for just a moment? First of all, if you feel like Paul’s getting personal here, now is the time to repent and ask for the forgiveness that only comes through Christ. We’re to see the women who follow Jesus as our sisters, not targets. As their brothers, we look out for their best interest. That means protecting them from creeps and any other sexual predators who are on the prowl.
And now a specific word for the husbands. Paul is not just talking about the single ladies here in 2 Timothy. Our wives need us to be fully involved in our marriages. That means our day isn’t done when we walk in the door from work. Instead of plopping down on the couch and watching SportsCenter, we love and serve our wives. She gets our best.
Just a reminder. God not only expects us to treat her the same way Jesus treated His bride, the church (Eph 5:25-33). I’m to love her. Give myself for her. Wash her in God’s Word. That does NOT mean guilting and manipulating her into doing what you want and when you want. When we do that, we’re really no better than the pseudo-Christian creeps Paul writes about.
Some dudes just give you the willies. You know the ones. They try WAY too hard with the ladies and clearly up to no good. And these sleaze balls have a type. They’re constantly on the prowl for women who are weak and vulnerable. They’re really nothing more than self-absorbed sexual predators. Let’s call it like it is. They’re creeps.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking the natural habitat for the lowlife is limited to the singles bar. They’re not just lurking on Tinder. These dirtbags are anywhere and everywhere. I hate to say it but church is one of their favorite hunting grounds. If you’ve ever been to any singles ministry mixer, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about!
Like the cockroach, the rat, and the shark, this species has been stalking the planet for thousands of years. For instance, did you know that Paul and Timothy had to deal with an infestation of creeps at the church in Ephesus? Yeah, you read that right. Creeps are literally in the Bible.
In his second letter to a young pastor named Timothy, the apostle spends a good bit of time addressing a team of false teachers and their impact on the Ephesian church. It’s obviously a VERY big deal. Why else would Paul take the time to address these slime balls in the last letter he will ever write?
You see, the man from Tarsus is walking the Green Mile. He’s on Death Row in Rome at the infamous Mamertine Prison. The apostle knows a date with the executioner is right around the corner (2Tim 4:6-7). He pleads with his protege to make one last visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). Paul spends the rest of this epistle passing the torch of spreading the Gospel to his spiritual son (2Tim 1:1-2; 2:1-4:5).
There’s no doubt that spiritual hucksters have weaseled their way into the Ephesian church. Their destructive message is spreading like an aggressive cancer (2Tim 2:16). Instead bringing people together, they tearing people apart (2Tim 2:14, 23). Instead of getting up in their grill, Paul tells Tim to treat them gently. You never know, “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” and snap out of it (2Tim 2:25-26).
If you think it’s bad now, just you wait. The apostle tips us off that things are going really go off the rails “in the last days” (2Tim 3:1). That’s when the false teachers and their followers become self-absorbed, self-centered, self-obsessed, self-worshipers (2Tim 3:2-5). Seen Instagram lately? Looks like we’re well on our way. Well, buckle your seat belts, boys and girls. Things will soon spiral completely out of control.
Paul lets us know that a significant percentage of these snake oil salesmen have something else up their sleazy sleeves. “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women” (v6). The ESV uses the phrase “those who creep” as the translation for the Greek verb ενδυνω (enduno). It means to enter on the sly with ulterior motives, worm your way into, or secretly slip in.
One ancient translation of this verse in the Syriac language actually uses the word “weasel” here. A commentator by the name of Bloomfield says Paul is comparing them to snakes. These infiltrators can slither through the smallest openings. If you’re starting to get the willies, you get the drift. The apostle pulls no punches when talking about these pervs. He calls them creeps.
Not buying it? Don’t believe one of the writers of the Bible would stoop to this kind of name-calling? Well, take one look at who these lowlifes are targeting. They’re hoping to “capture weak women” (v6). Creepy enough for you? Paul uses a verb here (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) that’s actually a military term describing the capture prisoners of war.
Check out its other uses in the NT. Jesus paints a bleak picture of how the last days will go down when many “will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) among all nations” (Lk 21:24). Paul uses it to describe his own internal firefight and it’s “make me captive (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Rom 7:23). The apostle tells the Corinthians that the followers of Jesus must win the war over the voices in their heads and “take every though captive (Gr. αιχμαλωτιζω/aichmalotizo) to obey Christ” (2Cor 10:5).
Is Paul comparing these First Century creeps to those van-driving dirtbags who kidnap young women and hold them hostage for years in the basement? I’ll let you make that call. One way or the other, the apostle is not exactly describing a guy looking out for a lady’s best interest. These false teachers look to control and manipulate their victims. It’s really no more than low grade human trafficking.
These sexual predators set their sites on “weak women” (v6). The apostle once again doesn’t waste his time with P.C. language. He dusts off a word (Gr. γυναικαριον/gunaikarion) that’s not exactly a compliment. It paints a picture of a frivolous and foolish female who is morally immature. You might say a desperate housewife. This is a woman whose situation in life has left her prone to temptation. Desperate for a little attention. Easily flattered. Emotionally available.
How long has this stuff been going on? A long time. A VERY long time! Flip back to our first parents first days on the planet. That’s when Satan duped Eve into believing God was holding out on her and Adam (Gen 3:1-7). From what we’ve seen in 2 Timothy, it should come as no shock that our enemy showed up as a talking snake. The devil used a little scriptural slight of hand to fool Eve into chomping into the forbidden fruit and then handing it to her husband.
Ever since, pseudo-Christian creeps have been twisting Scripture so that their victims will be “burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (v6-7). They overwhelm these women with all sorts of teaching that sounds like it comes from the Bible but is really nothing more than spiritual bondage. Their counterfeit gospel entices people further from our Heavenly Father, not closer. They pile on condemnation instead of leading them under the waterfall of God’s grace.
A word to the women and then to the men. Ladies, could there be a stronger encouragement to deepen your walk with Jesus and have a fuller understanding of God’s Word? That’s the best way to protect yourself from these creeps. When we know the Gospel, we much less likely to fall for something phony. Don’t let anyone try to convince you that he has the secret formula for salvation.
Remember, Jesus lived the perfect life we failed to live. He died the death for our sin we should have died. He rose to the glorious new life we don’t deserve. We place our trust in what He’s done on our behalf. We trust in His leadership and lordship of our lives. We obey God’s commands as an act of gratitude for what He’s done, not in order to earn our way into heaven. It really is that simple.
Ladies, don’t look for any other savior. Don’t subtly substitute the need for a boyfriend or husband for the place reserved only for Jesus. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those relationships…EXCEPT when they become the ultimate object of worship. Idolatry is a lot more than bowing down to some handcrafted statue. Anytime we take a good thing and make it a god thing, that’s a bad thing.
Gentlemen, now can I have your attention for just a moment? First of all, if you feel like Paul’s getting personal here, now is the time to repent and ask for the forgiveness that only comes through Christ. We’re to see the women who follow Jesus as our sisters, not targets. As their brothers, we look out for their best interest. That means protecting them from creeps and any other sexual predators who are on the prowl.
And now a specific word for the husbands. Paul is not just talking about the single ladies here in 2 Timothy. Our wives need us to be fully involved in our marriages. That means our day isn’t done when we walk in the door from work. Instead of plopping down on the couch and watching SportsCenter, we love and serve our wives. She gets our best.
Just a reminder. God not only expects us to treat her the same way Jesus treated His bride, the church (Eph 5:25-33). I’m to love her. Give myself for her. Wash her in God’s Word. That does NOT mean guilting and manipulating her into doing what you want and when you want. When we do that, we’re really no better than the pseudo-Christian creeps Paul writes about.
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