A.T. Robertson Commentary 2 Timothy 3:13

"But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." — 2 Timothy 3:13 (ASV)

Impostors (γοητες). Old word from wailers (γοαω, to bewail), professional mourners, deceivers, jugglers. Here only in the N.T. Modern impostors know all the tricks of the trade.

Shall wax worse and worse (προκοψουσιν επ το χειρον). "Shall cut forward to the worse stage." See 2:16 for προκοπτω. Χειρον is comparative of κακος, "to the worse than now."

Deceiving and being deceived (πλανωντες κα πλανωμενο). Present active and present passive participles of πλαναω. The tragedy of it all is that these seducers are able to deceive others as well as themselves.