2Ti 3:6, Tit 1:11 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses . Who go slyly and insidiously into families. They are not open and manly in endeavouring to propagate their views, but they endeavour by their address to ingratiate themselves first with weak women, and through them to influence men. Comp. . The word translated "creep into," is rendered by Doddridge, insinuate themselves ; by Bloomfield, wind their way into , in the manner of serpents; by Bretschneider, deceitfully enter ; by Robinson and Passow, go in, enter in . It is not certain that the idea of deceit or cunning is contained in this word, yet the whole complexion of the passage implies that they made their way by art and deceitful tricks. And lead captive silly women . One of the tricks always played by the advocates of error, and one of the ways by which they seek to promote their purposes. Satan began his work of temptation with Eve rather than with Adam, and the advocates of error usually follow his example. There are always weak-minded women enough in any community to give an opportunity of practicing these arts, and often the aims of the imposter and deceiver can be best secured by appealing to them. Such women are easily flattered; they are charmed by the graceful manners of religious instructors; they lend a willing ear to anything that has the appearance of religion, and their hearts are open to anything that promises to advance the welfare of the world. At the same time, they are just such persons as the propagators of error can rely on. They have leisure; they have wealth; they are busy; they move about in society, and by their activity they obtain an influence, to which they are by no means entitled by their piety or talents. There are , indeed, very many women in the world who cannot be so easily led away as men; but it cannot be denied also that there are those who are just adapted to the purposes of such as seek to spread plausible error. The word rendered silly women , means properly little women , and then weak women . Laden with sins . With so many sins that they seem to be burdened with them. The idea is, that they are under the influence of sinful desires and propensities, and hence are better adapted to the purposes of deceivers. Led away with divers lusts . With various kinds of passions or desires-- επιθυμιαις --such as pride, vanity, the love of novelty, or a susceptibility to flattery, so as to make them an easy prey to deceivers. (d) "creep"

2 Timothy 3:6

Verse 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses. Who go slyly and insidiously into families. They are not open and manly in endeavouring to propagate their views, but they endeavour by their address to ingratiate themselves first with weak women, and through them to influence men. Comp. Tit 1:11. The word translated "creep into," is rendered by Doddridge, insinuate themselves; by Bloomfield, wind their way into, in the manner of serpents; by Bretschneider, deceitfully enter; by Robinson and Passow, go in, enter in. It is not certain that the idea of deceit or cunning is contained in this word, yet the whole complexion of the passage implies that they made their way by art and deceitful tricks.

And lead captive silly women. One of the tricks always played by the advocates of error, and one of the ways by which they seek to promote their purposes. Satan began his work of temptation with Eve rather than with Adam, and the advocates of error usually follow his example. There are always weak-minded women enough in any community to give an opportunity of practicing these arts, and often the aims of the imposter and deceiver can be best secured by appealing to them. Such women are easily flattered; they are charmed by the graceful manners of religious instructors; they lend a willing ear to anything that has the appearance of religion, and their hearts are open to anything that promises to advance the welfare of the world. At the same time, they are just such persons as the propagators of error can rely on. They have leisure; they have wealth; they are busy; they move about in society, and by their activity they obtain an influence, to which they are by no means entitled by their piety or talents. There are, indeed, very many women in the world who cannot be so easily led away as men; but it cannot be denied also that there are those who are just adapted to the purposes of such as seek to spread plausible error. The word rendered silly women, means properly little women, and then weak women.

Laden with sins. With so many sins that they seem to be burdened with them. The idea is, that they are under the influence of sinful desires and propensities, and hence are better adapted to the purposes of deceivers.

Led away with divers lusts. With various kinds of passions or desires-- επιθυμιαις --such as pride, vanity, the love of novelty, or a susceptibility to flattery, so as to make them an easy prey to deceivers.

(d) "creep" Tit 1:16

Titus 1:11

Verse 11. Whose mouths must be stopped. The word here rendered stopped επιστομιζειν--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, to check, or curb, as with a bridle; to restrain, or bridle in; and then, to put to silence. It is, of course, implied here, that this was to be done in a proper way, and in accordance with the spirit of the gospel. The apostle gives Timothy no civil power to do it, nor does he direct him to call in the aid of the civil arm. All the agency which he specifies as proper for this, is that of argument and exhortation. These are the proper means of silencing the advocates of error; and the history of the church shows that the ministers of religion can be safely intrusted with no other. Comp. Ps 32:8,9.

Who subvert whole houses. Whole families. Comp. Mt 23:14 2Ti 3:6. That is, they turn them aside from the faith.

Teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. For gain. That is, they inculcate such doctrines as will make themselves popular, and as will give them access to the confidence of the people. They make it their first object to acquire influence as ministers of religion, and then abuse that in order to obtain money from the people. This they would doubtless do under many pretences; such as, that it was needful for the support of the gospel, or for the relief of the poor, or, perhaps, for the assistance of distant Christians in persecution. Religion is the most powerful principle that ever governs the mind; and if a man has the control of that, it is no difficult thing to induce men to give up their worldly possessions. In all ages, there have been impostors who have taken advantage of the powerful principle of religion, to obtain money from their deluded followers. No people can be too vigilant in regard to pretended religious teachers; and while it is undoubtedly their duty to contribute liberally for the support of the gospel, and the promotion of every good cause, it is no less their duty to examine with care every proposed object of benevolence, and to watch with an eagle eye those who have the disbursement of the charities of the church. It is very rare that ministers ought to have much to do with disposing of the funds given for benevolent purposes; and when they do, they should in all cases be associated with their lay brethren. See Paley's Horae Paulinae, ch. iv., No. 1, 3, note. Comp. 1Cor 16:3. On the phrase "filthy lucre," 1Timm 3:3.

(b) "subvert" Mt 23:14