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Selected Verse: 2 Timothy 3:13 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
2Ti 3:13	King James	But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Reason why persecutions must be expected, and these becoming worse and worse as the end approaches. The breach between light and darkness, so far from being healed, shall be widened [ALFORD]. evil men--in contrast to the "godly" (Ti2 3:12). seducers--literally, "conjurers." Magical arts prevailed at Ephesus (Act 19:19), and had been renounced by many Ephesians on embracing Christianity: but now when Paul was writing to Ephesus, symptoms of a return to conjuring tricks appeared: an undesigned coincidence [BURTON]. Probably sorcery will characterize the final apostasy (Rev 13:15; Rev 18:23; Rev 22:15). wax worse--literally, "advance in the direction of worse" (see on Ti2 3:9). Not contradictory to that verse: there the diffusion of the evil was spoken of; here its intensity [ALFORD]. deceiving, and being deceived--He who has once begun to deceive others, is the less easily able to recover himself from error, and the more easily embraces in turn the errors of others [BENGEL].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Reason why persecutions must be expected, and these becoming worse and worse as the end approaches. The breach between light and darkness, so far from being healed, shall be widened [ALFORD].

evil men--in contrast to the "godly" (Ti2 3:12).

seducers--literally, "conjurers." Magical arts prevailed at Ephesus (Act 19:19), and had been renounced by many Ephesians on embracing Christianity: but now when Paul was writing to Ephesus, symptoms of a return to conjuring tricks appeared: an undesigned coincidence [BURTON]. Probably sorcery will characterize the final apostasy (Rev 13:15; Rev 18:23; Rev 22:15).

wax worse--literally, "advance in the direction of worse" (see on Ti2 3:9). Not contradictory to that verse: there the diffusion of the evil was spoken of; here its intensity [ALFORD].

deceiving, and being deceived--He who has once begun to deceive others, is the less easily able to recover himself from error, and the more easily embraces in turn the errors of others [BENGEL].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse - That is, it is the character of such men to do this; they may be expected to do it. This is the general law of depravity - that if men are not converted, they are always growing worse, and sinking deeper into iniquity. Their progress will be certain, though it may be gradual, since "nemo repente turpissimus." The connection here is this: that Timothy was not to expect that he would be exempt from persecution Ti2 3:12, by any change for the better in the wicked men referred to. He was to anticipate in them the operation of the general law in regard to bad men and seducers - that they would grow worse and worse. From this fact, he was to regard it as certain that he, as well as others, would be liable to be persecuted. The word rendered "seducers" - γόης goēs - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, a "juggler, or diviner;" and then, a "deceiver, or impostor." Here it refers to those who by seductive arts, lead persons into error. Deceiving - Making others believe that to be true and right, which is false and wrong. This was, of course, done by seductive arts. And being deceived - Under delusion themselves. The advocates of error are often themselves as really under deception, as those whom they impose upon. They are often sincere in the belief of error, and then they are under a delusion; or, if they are insincere, they are equally deluded in supposing that they can make error pass for truth before God, or can deceive the Searcher of hearts. The worst victims of delusion are those who attempt to delude others.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse - That is, it is the character of such men to do this; they may be expected to do it. This is the general law of depravity - that if men are not converted, they are always growing worse, and sinking deeper into iniquity. Their progress will be certain, though it may be gradual, since "nemo repente turpissimus." The connection here is this: that Timothy was not to expect that he would be exempt from persecution Ti2 3:12, by any change for the better in the wicked men referred to. He was to anticipate in them the operation of the general law in regard to bad men and seducers - that they would grow worse and worse. From this fact, he was to regard it as certain that he, as well as others, would be liable to be persecuted. The word rendered "seducers" - γόης goēs - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, a "juggler, or diviner;" and then, a "deceiver, or impostor." Here it refers to those who by seductive arts, lead persons into error.

Deceiving - Making others believe that to be true and right, which is false and wrong. This was, of course, done by seductive arts.

And being deceived - Under delusion themselves. The advocates of error are often themselves as really under deception, as those whom they impose upon. They are often sincere in the belief of error, and then they are under a delusion; or, if they are insincere, they are equally deluded in supposing that they can make error pass for truth before God, or can deceive the Searcher of hearts. The worst victims of delusion are those who attempt to delude others.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Seducers (γόντες) N.T.o. Better, impostors or deceivers. From γοᾶν to howl. Originally, one who chants spells; a wizard, sorcerer. Hence, a cheat. Shall wax worse and worse (προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον) Lit. shall proceed to the worse. The formula, Pasto. Comp. Ti2 3:9 and Ti2 2:16. Deceiving (πλανῶντες) Properly, leading astray. See on πλάνοις seducing, Ti1 4:1.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Seducers (γόντες)

N.T.o. Better, impostors or deceivers. From γοᾶν to howl. Originally, one who chants spells; a wizard, sorcerer. Hence, a cheat.

Shall wax worse and worse (προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον)

Lit. shall proceed to the worse. The formula, Pasto. Comp. Ti2 3:9 and Ti2 2:16.

Deceiving (πλανῶντες)

Properly, leading astray. See on πλάνοις seducing, Ti1 4:1.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Deceiving and being deceived - He who has once begun to deceive others is both the less likely to recover from his own error, and the more ready to embrace the errors of other men.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Deceiving and being deceived - He who has once begun to deceive others is both the less likely to recover from his own error, and the more ready to embrace the errors of other men.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse - They will yet get on for a season, deceiving themselves and deceiving others; but, by and by, their folly will become manifest to all, Ti2 3:9. The word γοητες, which we render seducers, signifies jugglers, pretenders to magical arts; probably persons dealing in false miracles, with whom the Church in all ages has been not a little disgraced.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse - They will yet get on for a season, deceiving themselves and deceiving others; but, by and by, their folly will become manifest to all, Ti2 3:9. The word γοητες, which we render seducers, signifies jugglers, pretenders to magical arts; probably persons dealing in false miracles, with whom the Church in all ages has been not a little disgraced.

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