2 Timothy 3:16-17 is one of the most quoted passages in church. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
While these words are beautiful, true, and helpful for emphasizing the inerrancy of Scripture, their context is greater than that. These verses are an admonition to avoid ungodly influences in our lives.
Paul warns us to beware of those who hold to the form of godliness but deny its power. These are people who outwardly look like godly men and women; however, their hearts, words, attitudes, and motivations do not line up with true godliness. They are our modern-day Pharisees and false teachers.
The Characteristics of False Godliness
2 Timothy 3:1-5 characterizes these people as:
- Lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, and demeaning.
- Disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, and unloving.
- Irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, and brutal.
- Without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, and conceited.
- Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
At a quick glance, these defining characteristics seem obvious to avoid. No one enjoys being friends with a self-centered person. Arrogance rubs us the wrong way. Reckless behavior makes us uneasy. Yet, we are regularly inviting these kinds of people into our homes. We often do this through the content we consume.
Paul’s following statement can come across as offensive to Western ears, but stay with me as we unpack it.
“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.” — 2 Timothy 3:6
The word “them” refers to those who hold to godliness in form but deny its power in verse 5. These people, who outwardly seem religious in spirit but inwardly resist truth, actively attempt to creep or sneak into hearts and homes in an unassuming manner. They know that if they target the home, then everything else will unravel.
If you read the statement “gullible women” and kept on reading, kudos to you. This phrase feels demeaning, but it’s an honest assessment of many hearts. Gullible means to be easily deceived, too trusting, and willing to believe what one is told. It is someone who does not test against biblical truth.
In a world that promotes inclusivity and “speaking your own truth,” the term gullible or silly applies to the majority of our population.
This warning is for all people not to be easily deceived, but Paul homes in on women for a reason. Women set the thermostat for the home. They harbor deep passions that they long to possess or achieve. These become a problem when they dictate a woman’s direction or focus.
The Modern "Worm": Media Influence
Today, we call these passionate interests Pinterest.
I’m not knocking the use of Pinterest. This blog contains pinnable pictures! However, I am challenging women to examine their own Pinterest boards. The things we pin often dictate the social media accounts we follow, the books we read, and the shows we watch.
Our passionate interests influence what we allow to creep into our hearts and homes. We must be actively on guard for what we are allowing to infiltrate our lives. In order to do this, we need to be grounded in truth. Undeniable, final truth comes from the Word of God.
When we make Scripture our dwelling place, we are able to identify and stand firm against allowing performative, false godliness from creeping into our lives.
Dwelling on the Word of God is the application of 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Having a teachable spirit
- Leaning into biblical rebuke
- Receiving godly correction
- Being trained in righteousness
When we lean into Scripture more than into our passions, God is able to craft us into His own workmanship. Only then can we learn to enjoy the good, beautiful, and true desires He’s given us, rather than allowing foolishness and lies to worm their way into our lives.
So, what are you allowing to influence you today?
Reflection Questions
Here’s a list to review that may help you identify what has been creeping into your heart and home:
- What dominates your Pinterest page? Do you give more space to these interests or to the Word of God?
- What influencers frequent your screen? Honestly examine them against 2 Timothy 3:2-5. You mimic what you consume.+1
- Does your media (books, TV, or social outlets) mimic God’s truth or resist truth?
- What does dwelling in God’s Word look like in your life? Honestly share what your personal time in the Bible looks like with a friend as a litmus test for your spiritual health.
It’s not easy to safeguard our hearts and homes from ungodly influence. In fact, Paul promises that “evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim 3:13). But it is not impossible to withstand these things. God is near to all who call on Him. He is ready to help us in our time of need.
