2 Timothy 3 8

2 Timothy 3:8 kjv

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

2 Timothy 3:8 nkjv

Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;

2 Timothy 3:8 niv

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

2 Timothy 3:8 esv

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

2 Timothy 3:8 nlt

These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.

2 Timothy 3 verses

2 Timothy 3 8 Meaning

The verse reveals a profound truth about false teachers and their opposition to divine truth. It draws a powerful parallel between those who currently pervert the faith and the ancient Egyptian sorcerers, Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses during the Exodus. These contemporary opponents are characterized by minds corrupted by sin and a foundational rejection concerning the true faith, rendering them unfit or disapproved in God's sight. Their internal corruption leads to external resistance against truth, mirroring historical patterns of rebellion against God's chosen messengers.

2 Timothy 3 8 Context

Verse 2 Timothy 3:8 is embedded within Paul’s prophecy to Timothy regarding "perilous times" (2 Tim 3:1-9) that will arise in the last days. Immediately preceding this verse, Paul details the depraved character of people in these times (2 Tim 3:2-5), describing them as lovers of self, money, pleasure, rather than God, and having a "form of godliness but denying its power." Verse 6 introduces those who "worm their way into homes and gain control over vulnerable women loaded down with sins." These individuals, by their resistance to truth (2 Tim 3:7), set the stage for the specific comparison drawn in verse 8. The broader historical context is Paul’s final instructions to young Timothy, guiding him in leading the church in Ephesus amidst mounting challenges, particularly from false teachers and their deceitful practices. Paul prepares Timothy for this escalating spiritual conflict by grounding him in the authority of Scripture and historical precedent. This verse, therefore, acts as an analogy, highlighting the nature and eventual defeat of spiritual opposition that Timothy and the church would face.

2 Timothy 3 8 Word analysis

• Just as: Establishes a direct, powerful analogy between two distinct groups and historical events.
• Jannes and Jambres: These names are not found in the Old Testament account of the Exodus (Exod 7:10-12) but are known from ancient Jewish traditions, rabbinic literature, and other non-canonical writings (e.g., Targum Jonathan on Exod 1:15; Pliny the Elder, Josephus). They refer to Pharaoh's leading magicians who resisted Moses and Aaron during the plagues. Their mention highlights Paul’s familiarity with such traditions, lending depth and specific imagery to the comparison.
• opposed (ἀνθίστημι - anthistēmi): Literally means "to stand against," "to resist," "to set oneself against." It implies active, deliberate, and forceful opposition, a confrontational posture. This is more than disagreement; it's a defiant resistance to what is presented as divinely ordained.
• Moses: Represents God's chosen messenger and the embodiment of divine authority and truth, particularly concerning the Law and liberation. In this context, he stands as a type of the true apostles and ministers of the Gospel.
• so also these teachers: The analogy's second part. "These" refers back to the false teachers described in 2 Timothy 3:5-7, characterizing their current activity. The similarity lies in their method and target of opposition.
• oppose the truth: Directly links the action of false teachers to Jannes and Jambres. The "truth" (τὴν ἀλήθειαν - tēn alētheian) refers to the truth of the Gospel, sound doctrine, the divine revelation which leads to godliness, contrasting with the deception these teachers promote.
• men of depraved minds: (διεφθαρμένοι τὸν νοῦν - diephtharmenoi ton noun).
  • depraved: (diephtharmenoi) from diaphtheirō, meaning "to corrupt thoroughly," "to spoil," "to destroy," "to ruin." It denotes complete moral and spiritual deterioration.
  • minds: (ton noun) refers to the intellect, understanding, perception, and moral consciousness. A depraved mind is one whose thinking, judgment, and spiritual perception are utterly corrupted, unable to rightly discern or appreciate spiritual truth. This state is not accidental but a consequence of willful resistance and moral decay.
• who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected:
  • as far as the faith is concerned (περὶ τὴν πίστιν - peri tēn pistin): "The faith" here refers to the objective body of Christian doctrine, the truth of the Gospel that is believed, rather than just personal belief. This phrase clarifies the area of their disapproval.
  • are rejected (ἀδόκιμοι - adokimoi): Means "disapproved," "tested and found wanting," "unfit for use," or "reprobate." It derives from testing metals for purity. These teachers have been tested against the standard of the "faith" and found impure, counterfeit, and thus, rejected by God as genuine exponents of His truth. This highlights a spiritual unfitness that comes from their depravity and opposition to truth.

2 Timothy 3 8 Bonus section

The tradition of Jannes and Jambres is an important extra-biblical reference. Paul's use of these specific names, which are not directly mentioned in Exodus, indicates that such detailed traditions about the Exodus events were part of the broader Jewish lore familiar to his audience and likely part of his own rabbinic training. Their mention legitimizes these figures in Paul's theological discourse, akin to how he cites extrabiblical sayings elsewhere. The key takeaway from the Jannes and Jambres narrative, especially their eventual failure and the explicit statement from their side, "This is the finger of God" (Exod 8:19), reinforces Paul’s concluding point in 2 Timothy 3:9, that "their folly will be clear to everyone." This foreshadows the inevitable exposure and limitation of the false teachers, whose spiritual imitations will eventually fail, just as the Egyptian magicians could no longer duplicate Moses’s miracles. Their opposition, though formidable for a time, would ultimately be rendered impotent and their deception exposed.

2 Timothy 3 8 Commentary

2 Timothy 3:8 serves as a vivid illustration of a recurring pattern: when divine truth is presented, there are always those who actively oppose it. Paul uses the extrabiblical but well-known figures of Jannes and Jambres to liken the resistance of Moses to the current resistance faced by true Gospel ministers. These false teachers are not merely mistaken; they are characterized by an internal corruption of their understanding and conscience, described as having "depraved minds." This depravity isn't just intellectual error but a fundamental moral and spiritual corruption that makes them hostile to God's truth. Their opposition is not accidental but flows from this corrupted inner state. The phrase "as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected" underscores their utter failure when evaluated against the standard of the Gospel. They may claim knowledge or insight, but when God tests their fidelity to the foundational truths of Christianity, they are found wanting, like a coin that is revealed to be counterfeit after assay. This means they are disapproved by God and deemed unfit for serving His purpose, regardless of any outward appearance or claims.Example: Just as counterfeit currency, no matter how convincing, holds no real value upon close inspection, so these false teachers, despite their outward show or persuasive words, are exposed as worthless when held up to the standard of God's revealed truth.