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#29.
Disapproved (Adokimos) (3: 6-9).
Showing the dupes and devices of evil, and its final self-evident folly.
pp. 148 - 152
When we completed the list that describes the awful character of the last days, the
revealed fact that all it comprises will have a form of godliness, came rather as a surprise,
but showed how strong is the "religious" impulse even in the most abandoned. We are
now to learn that these blasphemers, and unholy men, are not content with a mere form of
godliness, they seek to make adherents, and while actually resisting the truth, make great
efforts, apparently to come to a knowledge of the truth.
"For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden
with sins, led away with divers lusts" (3: 6).
They "creep" into houses. Enduno, the Greek word translated "creep" occurs nowhere
else in the New Testament. It is however a variant of enduo which means "to put on
clothing", and the English use of the word "insinuate" approaches very near to the sense
of the original. Most normal people have an instinctive horror of things that "creep" and
this is right, for creation is filled with types of good and evil, and the creeping thing,
though innocent in itself, is a type of evil. This is no direct attack, it is back door tactics,
horrible, loathsome, reminiscent of the first intrusion into man's peace in Eden. They
creep into "houses". In the first epistle we read:
"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
idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not"
(I Tim. 5: 11-13).
Here we read of some who "wandered about from house to house". Into such houses,
these evil men will "creep", and alas, they will find an easy prey. We must not
misunderstand the apostle, he speaks of some "houses" that would be easy of access to
these advocates of error, he does not condemn all, for he knew some "houses" that
proved a veritable Bethany to him. It is suggestive that the word used by the apostle for
"house" is oikia, a house as distinct from the inmates, whereas oikos which he uses with
approval, means not merely the house but the household or the inmates that turn a
"house" into a "home". It is equally suggestive to observe that the next occurrence of
oikia is II Tim. 3: 6; the last in the New Testament is that of II John 10:
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God-speed."
The child of God is exhorted to be given to hospitality, and many a home has been the
means both of leading seeking sinners to Christ, or of refreshing the weary saint, simply
by practicing this christian principle. This ready welcome however has its limits, and to