ἐκ τούτων γάρ εἰσιν οἱ ἐνδύνοντες εἰς τὰς οἰκίας καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντες γυναικάρια σεσωρευμένα ἁμαρτίαις, ἀγόμενα ἐπιθυμίαις ποικίλαις, (2 Timothy 3:6)
Seducers and the Seduced: Paul’s Syntax of Moral Decline
In 2 Timothy 3:6, Paul offers a profile of manipulative deceivers and their vulnerable targets. Through an intense chain of participles and passives, the verse depicts predators who infiltrate homes and ensnare weak-willed women, using both morphology and syntax to dramatize the spiritual captivity.
We’ll use a grammar table to unpack this vivid passage, focusing on:
– Participles indicating actions of infiltration and manipulation
– Passive participles marking moral vulnerability
– Prepositional phrases with dative or accusative
– Gender-specific diminutives with theological implications
Grammatical Analysis Table
| Greek Phrase | Form & Morphology | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐκ τούτων γάρ εἰσιν | Preposition + demonstrative (gen. pl.) + verb of being | Identifying clause | “For from among them are…” — introduces identity of the deceivers |
| οἱ ἐνδύνοντες εἰς τὰς οἰκίας | Present active participle, nominative plural masculine + preposition + accusative |
Manner of activity | “those who creep into houses” — stealthy, parasitic infiltration |
| καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντες γυναικάρια | Present active participle + diminutive accusative plural feminine | Coordinated participle of result | “and who take captive little women” — portrays spiritual subjugation of weak targets |
| σεσωρευμένα ἁμαρτίαις | Perfect passive participle (acc. pl. neuter/feminine) + dative plural noun | State of the captives | “heaped up with sins” — suggests accumulated moral burden |
| ἀγόμενα ἐπιθυμίαις ποικίλαις | Present passive participle (acc. pl. fem.) + dative of means | Condition of enslavement | “being led by various desires” — passive voice shows domination by lusts |
Key Observations from the Syntax
– ἐνδύνοντες and αἰχμαλωτίζοντες form a verbal pair showing action: entry and enslavement.
– γυναικάρια is a diminutive form — not just “women,” but “little women,” indicating perhaps weakness or social marginalization.
– The two following participles (σεσωρευμένα, ἀγόμενα) are passive, showing the victims as those acted upon, not acting.
– The perfect participle (σεσωρευμένα) indicates a completed state of being weighed down by sin.
– The present passive participle (ἀγόμενα) indicates ongoing subjection to diverse lusts.
When Participles Tell a Story
This verse does not merely describe bad behavior — it constructs a theological drama through grammar:
– The aggressors: active, masculine participles (entering, enslaving)
– The victims: passive, feminine participles (accumulated, led)
It is a grammar of moral inversion — those who appear strong (false teachers) are actually predators, and those who appear weak are not judged but described as ensnared and weighed down.
Paul’s Greek constructs a world where syntax itself unmasks deception — and where grammar protects truth.
