But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres.
Parallel translations
- WEB But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
- KJV But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
- BSB But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.
- NKJV but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
- NLT But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
These opponents will not get far, for their folly will become obvious to everyone, as happened to Moses's opponents. False teaching is ultimately exposed and limited by God.
Overview
Though false teachers do real harm, Paul assures Timothy that their progress is ultimately checked. Their folly will be publicly unmasked, just as Jannes and Jambres were finally discredited. This gives hope that God will not allow error to triumph over his truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Tim 3:8Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith, are rejected.
- Exod 7:12For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
- Jer 28:15–17Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
- Exod 9:11The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.
- 1 Kgs 22:25Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”
- Acts 13:11Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
- Acts 19:15–17The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”
- Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
- Jer 29:31–32“Send to all them of the captivity, saying, ‘Yahweh says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn’t send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie;”
- Jer 29:21–23Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: “Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall kill them before your eyes.
- Exod 8:18–19The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal.
- Jer 37:19Now where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you, nor against this land?’
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Original language
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