Note 23 at 2Ti 3:6: Paul had just listed nineteen things that characterized the ungodliness of the last days. Here, he said that those who have been causing trouble in the church at Ephesus were just like what he described.

Note 24 at 2Ti 3:6: They "creep into houses." The Amplified Bible says, "They worm their way into homes." Remember that the New Testament church didn't have church buildings; they met in homes. This is speaking of people who wormed their way into the church gatherings, probably taking advantage of the openness of those meetings, to preach their false doctrines.

"Silly women" who were "laden with sins" were especially susceptible to these men and followed their error. Many people interpret this passage to mean that these men were committing sexual sins with these women. That may have been, but the context seems to be speaking about women who were seeking some new revelation or emotional experience. They were always looking for something more than the true Word of God.

The word "lusts" can identify sexual passions, but the word literally means "desire," especially "great desire" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon) or "passions" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). The word "lust" is applied to the Holy Spirit in Ga 5:17, and it certainly isn't speaking of sexual desire there (see note 9 at Ga 5:17). The New International Version translates this passage as "swayed by all kinds of evil desires."

Therefore, these men crept into church meetings, and they took advantage of silly women who were not content with the Word but were looking for something deeper, such as some emotional euphoria.

The same thing happens today. Some people are not content with the truths of the Gospel. They are always looking for the newest fad in the body of Christ or the newest physical manifestation. These people are fertile ground for deception. They have a form of godliness but deny its power. They appear to be so hungry for God, but they don't acknowledge the truth of God's Word.