2 Tim 3:6

[Rich Koster]

*6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, *7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

In this passage, as Paul describes the kind of men to look out for, he mentions the type of woman they target. Some translations call them weak, some silly. Would this be someone who is in the visible community of Christians who appears to be getting educated, but never grasps who Christ is, OR- is always worried that they did some unforgiveable sin, OR- claims to love Jesus, but never gets past myths and legends about him, OR- something else. My curiosity was peaked during a conversation this week.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

In the church, which is to say in the Christian society, there will be a mixture of people having almost no end of variety of spiritual graces and maturity. Without being pejorative here, I think perhaps a Baptist might approach an answer to this question slightly differently than a Presbyterian. For in the Baptist's mind, he has established what he is more comfortable seeing as a higher threshold to entry into that society, with its sense of identity and belonging, and the duties of governors toward members.

I would say these Paul refers to are simply "weak women," who are in the church. Not that there aren't "weak men," but Paul is talking here about the targets of his main subject: male scoundrels (who as men had significantly more opportunities for independent operation in ancient culture than women generally). A "strong woman" is not as likely to be his victim (strong internally, in her spirit); nor is the woman strengthened by the supports that are around her without, such as parents, or a good husband. These women are weak because they are not spiritually robust, either constitutionally or because they are more lazy (less diligent) in spiritual exercise. The world around them is a strong attraction, on many levels.

In the first century, many of these ladies may have been engaged in other "societies"--before and even after their induction into the church--that exercised regular influence over their passions, stirring them up in ways that used to be acceptable without question (before their baptism). The like obsessions haven't disappeared, and many modern "weaklings" (of either sex, OK?) are consumed with fashion, athletics, jealousies, sex, etc. Whatever outlet exists.

Trustworthy elders, who know to look out for the vulnerable in their society, should be especially watchful on behalf of such weak people (in this case, certain women). Because as with opportunistic infections, the Body is secretly vulnerable. Some dangers to it are simply hidden from the watchmen on the walls. And so treatment of these issues has to take place after discovery. The vermin have to be evicted.


I hope this offering gives a little insight.

 

[Cymro]

Would not 1Tim 5 be helpful in the interpretation of the question?
"But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." (v 6)
(v11-13) "But the younger widows refuse; for when they have begun
to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation,
because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to
be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idlers
but tattlers also and busy-bodies ,speaking things which they ought not."
Interesting that 2Tim 3 : 6 has,, "they which creep into houses," and
1Tim5:13 has, "wandering from house to house."

 

[Rich Koster]

In the church, which is to say in the Christian society, there will be a mixture of people having almost no end of variety of spiritual graces and maturity. Without being pejorative here, I think perhaps a Baptist might approach an answer to this question slightly differently than a Presbyterian. For in the Baptist's mind, he has established what he is more comfortable seeing as a higher threshold to entry into that society, with its sense of identity and belonging, and the duties of governors toward members.

I would say these Paul refers to are simply "weak women," who are in the church. Not that there aren't "weak men," but Paul is talking here about the targets of his main subject: male scoundrels (who as men had significantly more opportunities for independent operation in ancient culture than women generally). A "strong woman" is not as likely to be his victim (strong internally, in her spirit); nor is the woman strengthened by the supports that are around her without, such as parents, or a good husband. These women are weak because they are not spiritually robust, either constitutionally or because they are more lazy (less diligent) in spiritual exercise. The world around them is a strong attraction, on many levels.

In the first century, many of these ladies may have been engaged in other "societies"--before and even after their induction into the church--that exercised regular influence over their passions, stirring them up in ways that used to be acceptable without question (before their baptism). The like obsessions haven't disappeared, and many modern "weaklings" (of either sex, OK?) are consumed with fashion, athletics, jealousies, sex, etc. Whatever outlet exists.

Trustworthy elders, who know to look out for the vulnerable in their society, should be especially watchful on behalf of such weak people (in this case, certain women). Because as with opportunistic infections, the Body is secretly vulnerable. Some dangers to it are simply hidden from the watchmen on the walls. And so treatment of these issues has to take place after discovery. The vermin have to be evicted.


I hope this offering gives a little insight.

I can see the link between the "society" and passions. Ditto on the vermin.

 

[Rich Koster]

Would not 1Tim 5 be helpful in the interpretation of the question?
"But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." (v 6)
(v11-13) "But the younger widows refuse; for when they have begun
to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation,
because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to
be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idlers
but tattlers also and busy-bodies ,speaking things which they ought not."
Interesting that 2Tim 3 : 6 has,, "they which creep into houses," and
1Tim5:13 has, "wandering from house to house."

Since the younger widows were not on the distribution list, would this be an open door for such a predator to gain entrance to the house? That's an angle to explore. Wolf brings gift. Wolf gets in. Wolf devours prey.

The drift of "wandering from house to house" seems to me about occupying their time with gossipy chat sessions rather than doing something useful. Is there possibly more to this like parking at different congregations meeting in different homes and riding the circuit to see what they can get from each group?