Chapter
1 2 3 4
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

2 Timothy 3:6

ESV For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
NIV They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
NASB For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
CSB For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions,
NLT They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.
KJV For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

What does 2 Timothy 3:6 mean?

In verses 2–5 Paul described the traits of evil people. He clearly taught Timothy to avoid those who claim to know God yet live in sinful ways. What Paul describes is a smaller group, within the previous category of wicked ones. Some, but not all, of these false teachers are involved in additional evil actions. Paul's description here suggests a con-man or swindler. He uses the Greek word aichmalōtizontes, which implies a "leading away," or a "taking captive." This implies one who turns a certain way of thinking into something else.

This probably involved scam artists and other thieves. It may have also meant those who physically seduced women. The idea of a false teacher taking advantage of women in their own homes would have been repulsive to Timothy and other believers.

These men are certainly targeting those who are vulnerable. The second half of this verse is constructed in Greek to show that the traits are about the same "weak women" Paul mentions. Such women are noted as having three concerns, two of which are listed in this verse. First, they were "burdened with sins." In other words, they had other sinful actions in their lives in addition to the problems brought upon them by false teachers. Second, these women were "led astray by various passions." These were likely not only referring to sexual passions, but to "various" areas of life in which weaknesses occurred.
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