2 ทิโมธี 3:6 วิจารณ์

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 3 In this chapter the apostle delivers out a prophecy of the last days, showing how perilous the times will be, describing the persons that will live in them, and what will be their end; and in opposition to these men, proposes himself an example in doctrine and sufferings; and encourages Timothy to persevere, and highly commends the sacred writings. The prophecy begins Ti2 3:1 the description it gives of hypocrites, formal professors, and false teachers, that should rise up in the last days, and perilous times spoken of, is in Ti2 3:2. And these are compared to the magicians of Egypt for the corruption of their minds, the badness of their principles, and their opposition to truth, and for their exit, and the issue of things; they will be stopped in their progress, and their folly exposed, Ti2 3:8 and as the reverse of these men, the apostle gives an account of his own doctrine, conversation, and sufferings; which he proposes to Timothy for imitation, as being well known to him, and as also the common state of all godly persons in this life, being a suffering one, Ti2 3:10 nor can it be expected that it should be otherwise, since false teachers, who are wicked and deceitful men, grow worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. And then the apostle exhorts Timothy to abide by, and continue in the doctrines of the Gospel, from the assurance he had of the truth of them, from the consideration of his having learned them of the apostle, and especially from their agreement with the holy Scriptures, which he had knowledge of from a child, Ti2 3:14 which Scriptures are commended, partly from the useful effect of them, making men wise unto salvation; and chiefly from the author of them, being by the inspiration of God; and also from the profitableness of them, both for doctrine and manners, and especially to furnish a Gospel minister for the work he is called unto, Ti2 3:15.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses,.... Privily and unawares, in a clandestine manner, and insinuate themselves into families, by fawning and flattering, and under specious pretences to knowledge and virtue. The Syriac version uses a word, from whence comes "Chulda", which signifies "a weasel"; suggesting, that their entrance into houses was like to the way of that creature, which is sometimes covered, and sometimes open: there was also a gate of the temple, which was called "Huldah"; whether there is any allusion in the word to that, may be inquired (k). And lead captive silly women; the coming of antichrist is after the working of Satan; as Satan attacked the woman, and not the man, and beguiled Eve and not Adam, so these his instruments and emissaries, work themselves into the affections of the weaker vessel, and into the weaker sort of women, as the diminutive word here used signifies; and gain upon them, instil their principles into them, attach them to their interests, captivate them to them, and lead them as they please: laden with sins; covered with them, full of them, and so ready to receive any set of principles that would encourage them to continue in them; or else were pressed down with a sense of them, their consciences being awakened, and they under some concern on account of them, and so fit persons for such deceivers to gain upon, by pretending to great sanctity and religion, and by providing them with pardons and indulgences, and putting them upon penance, &c. though the former sense seems most agreeable, and is confirmed by what follows, led away with divers lusts. The Alexandrian copy adds, "and pleasures"; that is, sinful ones; though this may be understood, not of unclean lusts, but of the itch and desire after new teachers, and new doctrines, and practices, which prevail in weak women, and by which they are governed and led away. (k) Vid. L. Empercur in Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 3.

Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.

Such are the words and deeds by which, in our own district of the Rhone, they have deluded many women, who have their consciences seared as with a hot iron.

Some of the disciples of Marcus wandered about among the faithful, deceived many silly women and defiled them. They boasted of being so perfect that no one was able to come up to the greatness of their knowledge. No one, not even Peter or Paul, or any other of the apostles. They imagined that they knew more than all others and alone imbibed the greatness of the knowledge and the unspeakable Power. They thought of themselves as on a height above all Power, and so they felt free to do all things without fear of anyone in regard to anything.

Avoid men, also, when you see them loaded with chains and wearing their hair long like women, contrary to the apostle’s precept, not to speak of beards like those of goats, black cloaks and bare feet braving the cold. All these things are tokens of the devil. Such a one was Antimus, who Rome groaned over some time ago. And Sophronius is a still more recent instance. Such persons, when they have once gained admission to the houses of the highborn, and have deceived “silly women laden with sins, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” feign a sad face and pretend to make long fasts while at night they would feast in secret.

For from these are those who enter into households and lead captive young women burdened with sins, who are driven by various lusts: always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Behold, all their secret and shameless plotting was revealed by the saying, those who enter into households and lead captive young women burdened with sins. Do you see that they have been deceived by the Serpent's deceit, which he used against Adam? For it was likely that he also deceived these men through the women. But by calling them mere women, he only revealed what is easily deceived. Therefore, the one being deceived, even if he is a man, differs in no way from a woman in this respect. But the multitude, accumulated with sins, also shows the confusion of sins. For it is not simply, Paul says, that women deceive (for there are also women of a courageous nature, just as there are men of a weak nature), but the sins accumulated, for from these come also the acts of deceit. who are driven by various lusts. Paul did not blame nature, but such a woman. Here he encountered many lusts. Both bodily and mental. And see also the phrase "driven," as if towards irrational beings. always learning. Not excusing them for these things, but rather strongly blaming them. For since they have heaped up sins for themselves, their mind has naturally become hardened because of them.

By the word "creep in" he indicates their shamelessness and craftiness. He did not say: they deceive, but: they take captive, they make use of them as slave women. For such is the one who is beguiled. Note that to give oneself over to beguilement is characteristic of women. Consequently, even a man who is beguiled may be called by this name. This signifies both the multitude, and the disorder, and the mixture of sins. They deceive not simply women—for nature ought not to be condemned—but silly women laden with a multitude of sins. For whoever recognizes nothing good in himself is more readily inclined toward false doctrines, consoling himself with the thought that he will not be subjected to punishment for his deeds. That is, by greed, love of glory, passion for luxury, for fine clothes. He also points to shameful desires. Notice: "led away," as if speaking of irrational creatures.

Then he shows that even now such men are to be found: first, he describes the damage they do; second, the defects from which they suffer, at men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith; third, the impediment with which they are straitened: but they shall proceed no farther. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows the impediment they cast before their subjects; second, the hindrance they cast before prelates, at as Jannes and Mambres. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he discloses their imprudence; second, their astuteness, at they lead captive. Regarding the first he says, now these avoid, because there are such even today: for of these sort, i.e., of their number, are they: even now there are become many antichrists (1 John 2:18). Nor should you suppose that of these were, but of these are, the wicked and the ungrateful, because sinners so converted should not be called sinners: nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips (Ps 15:4). Then when he says, who creep into houses, he unmasks their wickedness. His words can be taken literally to mean those who force themselves unreasonably and rove about for gain. Against such Sirach says: the foot of a fool is soon in his neighbor's house (Sir 21:25). But this is no reason for not visiting the afflicted in their hovels: religion clean and undefiled, before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation (Jas 1:27). Or house can be explained metaphorically as meaning conscience: when I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her (Wis 8:16). They, therefore, creep into houses who with astuteness desire to know the secrets of conscience in order to deceive others: by much talk I will sift you, and smiling will examine you concerning your secrets (Sir 13:14). Nevertheless, those who have the care of souls are allowed to inquire into the state of their conscience: be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks (Prov 27:23). Then when he says, and lead captive silly women, he shows their cleverness. First, he remarks on their wickedness, because they withdraw them from the freedom of the state of grace: he that has looked into the perfect law of liberty and has continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work: this man shall be blessed in his deed (Jas 1:25) and will lead into a state of servitude, which is the state of sin: when the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we became like men comforted (Ps 125:1). For the name 'captivity' suggests this: therefore is my people led away captive, because they had not knowledge (Isa 5:13). Second, he discloses the persons upon whom they will exercise their malice, describing them: first, from the wickedness of their sex; second, from the wickedness of their manner of life; third, from the vanity of their affection; fourth, from their lack of discretion. In regard to the first he says, silly women, who lack discernment and constitute the weaker sex. And he says, silly women, because great ladies have good advisers to prevent them from being seduced; but these women are destitute of such help: you devour the houses of widows (Matt 23:14); and they took the women captive (1 Macc 1:34). In regard to the second he says, laden with sins. For sin is a load, because it prevents one from moving about freely, from being erect and standing; rather it bends one over: my iniquity as a heavy burden is become heavy upon me (Ps 37:5). Hence, it especially deceives them, because sin prepares the way for seduction. And because they are wicked, they fear to resist, lest they be betrayed. In regard to the third he says, who are led away with diverse desires, i.e., are ready to be seduced because of the various desires they have: a double minded man is inconstant in all his ways (Jas 1:8). Hence, the first woman was seduced, because she did not remain constant in the Lord's words, but said: lest perhaps we die (Gen 3:3); look not upon a woman that has a mind for many (Sir 9:3).

Dangerous times in the latter days, from the apostasy and wickedness of men, of whom an affecting description is given, Ti2 3:1-7. It shall happen to them as to Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses, Ti2 3:8, Ti2 3:9. The apostle speaks of his persecutions and sufferings, and shows that all those who will live a godly life must suffer persecution, Ti2 3:10-12, because evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. Timothy is exhorted to continue in the truths he had received, having known the Scriptures from a child, Ti2 3:14, Ti2 3:15. All Scripture is given by Divine inspiration, Ti2 3:16, Ti2 3:17.

For of this sort are they - He here refers to false teachers and their insinuating manners, practising upon weak women, who, seeing in them such a semblance of piety, entertain them with great eagerness, and at last become partakers with them in their impurities. Among the Jews there are remarkable cases of this kind on record, and not a few of them among the full fed monks of the Romish Church. But in what sect or party have not such teachers been occasionally found? yet neither Judaism, Protestantism, nor Roman Catholicism makes any provision for such men.

COMING EVIL DAYS: SIGNS OF EVIL ALREADY: CONTRAST IN THE DOCTRINE AND LIFE OF PAUL, WHICH TIMOTHY SHOULD FOLLOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS EARLY TRAINING IN SCRIPTURE. (2Ti. 3:1-17) also--Greek, "but." last days--preceding Christ's second coming (Pe2 3:3; Jde 1:18). "The latter times," Ti1 4:1, refer to a period not so remote as "the last days," namely, the long days of papal and Greek anti-Christianity. perilous--literally, "difficult times," in which it is difficult to know what is to be done: "grievous times." shall come--Greek, "shall be imminent"; "shall come unexpectedly" [BENGEL].

of this sort--Greek, "of these," such as were described (Ti2 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 (Ti1 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].