Coming To The Knowledge Of The Truth: Avoid Captivity

For of this sort are they which

creep into houses, and lead

captive silly women laden

with sins, led away with divers

lusts, ever learning, and never 

able to come to the knowledge

of the truth.

2Timothy 3:6-7

     Before we begin a study of this we must get understanding of the words, "creep," and "silly." How often is this verse used to point out Jehovah Witnesses because they go from door to door bringing their theology, and it may be correct, but there is more about this word, "creep." The Greek word means properly, "to envelop in" and has a secondary meaning and intransitive significance of "creeping into, insinuation oneself into," and this type of person is called "silly", which means foolish, and is used contemptuously by Paul here in verse six. In other words, those who are going into homes where a person is filled with sins brings to that person a type of hope or a gospel that may seem good to them even giving to that person a feeling of godliness but are being led captive to another gospel. This type of person is lustful, a word that is associated with sordid activities, but it means more than that lust as it means to have an overwhelming desire or craving, such as a lust for life, or power, or money, or houses, or fame, etc., and this is what is being taught by more than just women caught up in this false teaching that God will give when they ask, and that God desire for a person to be rich, famous, etc., which is not Scriptural. How lustful it is to attempt to get from God, to have Him pour out upon a person blessings, love. Think upon this: those men and women who are teaching a false gospel are often prolific writers and have many books to aid a person to learn of their theology leading a person away from the truth. It is good to study and to aid knowledge to your virtue but it is not good to gain knowledge that is not
Scriptural. To not allow this to happen one must continually examine what is being taught according to Scripture and not to someone's presupposition that is being proved by Scripture. Scripture determines a person's presupposition. 

     Love, how we want love and to seek love is not altogether wrong. Love from God is gained by being poured out unto the Lord. God already loves you with a love that cannot be measured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to pay for sin, and having that payment having be the satisfaction for justice, God pours out His love to those that are His. 

     The opening verses of Chapter Three speak of evil things that are and will occur greater and greater as the end of time approaches. One such problem is that men and women and especially children have lost the meaning of respect. People have become lovers of themselves and is manifested in the Church: today men and women, children, come to Church dressed in shorts, flip flop shoes, unkempt in hair, and dress, looking as though they are going to a party rather than coming to worship God. It is not that they do not have the money to dress better, they just want to do things their way and say that they are respectful, in other words, believe their words, and ignore their disrespectful dress. Over time Church has become more of a social meeting than a meeting with God. This is to be unthankful, unholy. I am not suggesting that every man must wear a suit and tie, but if they have it, wear it for they would do that if they were meeting the president of the United States, or other dignitaries, or even going to a formal party. Excuses are given for reasons and excuses are excuses and not reasons. 

     The desire is for blessing from God but often we will not give to God us. there is a taking form God blessings but there is not a pouring out of that blessing and people are not led to become respectful and desire to please God, they want to please themselves and others are led away. Just as Paul was admonishing and teaching Timothy, we must change our ways, manifest Jesus Christ, be that person who will live the life of Christ no matter what. This is the demand of Jesus that if you will not deny yourself, you cannot be His friend. I am not speaking of salvation, but of being His friend. Is Jesus Christ the most important person in your life? Only you can answer that question and I hope it is in the affirmative.

Seek good, and not evil, 

     that ye may live: and

so the LORD, the God of hosts,

    shall be with you as you 

have spoken.

                Amos 5:14

Manifest the Life of Jesus in yourself

Richard L. Crumb