With the conclusion of a bleak description of the last days, and the false teachers in that era, Paul gives Timothy some insight into how they operate as they try to spread their false religion.
Take a look at this week’s passage, found in 2 Timothy 3:6-7:
At first glance, you might think that this entire passage describes the false teachers. But that is not the case. These two verses begin with how such teachers operate, but then transitions into a description of those who fall for their traps.
These false teachers infiltrate homes, often under false pretenses. Some commentators suggest that these homes are of people that Timothy knows. These homes may even refer to some of the younger widows in the community, who have enough wealth to give them ample time to listen to and perpetuate such false teachings. These widows would have been “easy marks” for the false teachers, with the extra time on their hands.
These false teachers captivate such minds, gaining control and planting their ideas into fertile soil. Such minds are weak-willed. Take note that Paul is not describing women in general with this statement, but certain women in particular within Timothy’s church or community.
With the conclusion of this sentence, Paul’s description shifts from the teachers to the pupils, these women who are falling into the trap of false teaching. He gives Timothy three descriptors.
The are loaded down with sins
This can be translated as “overwhelmed.” This can mean that they were currently engaged in sinful behavior, or that they were burdened with the baggage of sin in the past. The context lends itself to the second option a bit more clearly.
They are swayed by all kinds of evil desires
Such people are easy prey for falling into the traps laid by the false teachers. This may even have some implications that such women were involved in sexually immoral relationships, perhaps with the false teachers themselves. This would explain how they were so easily deceived. On the other hand, in other passages where Paul address such behavior, he does so very clearly. So this idea may not be the case.
They are always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth
This indicates another nature of these particular weak-willed women. They desired to continually learn, but their interests weren’t directed in the right directions. Some have suggested that this is indicative of an occult context, although, once again, Paul does not explicitly state this. However, in the next verse, he mentions two names that have long been associated with the magicians and sorcerers of Egypt. Regardless, they were seeking truth in the wrong places, and failing to find it there.
This description sounds very familiar. We live in a culture that does many of these same things, falling for false teaching and not even realizing it much of the time. Take, for example, the concept of astrology and horoscopes. So many people, Christians even, search for guidance in these areas. God has not revealed all of his secrets, and when we search for these things through means and methods outside of God’s true teachers, we open ourselves up to the influence of evil.
My heart breaks, much as Paul’s or Timothy’s must have, realizing that such people seek and search, but never find the truth they so desperately long for. To that end, I suspect Paul and Timothy continually prayed for these women, and others like them. We must do the same. And often, that is the only, and best, thing that we can do.
Do you know anyone who is seeking truth in the wrong places? How are you helping them? Are you praying for them? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.