Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to focus on Jannes and Jambres as just a historical example, but the real punch is that their opposition to Moses wasn't just about being wrong; it was about being corrupted in mind. This means their defiance of truth stemmed from a deep, internal rot, making them utterly useless and untrustworthy in matters of faith.
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is warning Timothy about dangerous people who will arise in the last days, distorting the truth and causing trouble. He uses the example of the Egyptian sorcerers, Jannes and Jambres, who stood against Moses and God's power, to illustrate how these false teachers will similarly resist the truth, proving themselves to be morally bankrupt and lacking genuine faith. This directly sets up Paul's instruction to Timothy in the following verses to continue in the sound doctrine he has learned.
Have you ever felt like someone just couldn't see the truth, no matter how clear it was? The Bible talks about minds that are actually corrupted.
Paul warns about individuals whose minds have been twisted and ruined. This isn't just a difference of opinion; it's a fundamental breakdown in how they process reality and truth.
A Spiritual Decay
When a mind is corrupted, it loses its ability to discern right from wrong, truth from falsehood. It's like a computer with a virus that corrupts all its files – the original data is still there, but it can no longer be accessed or understood correctly.
Disqualified by Error
This corruption leads to being "disqualified regarding the faith." It means they've failed the test, not because they didn't try, but because their flawed thinking makes them unfit to represent or even comprehend the truth of God.
Paul points to an ancient showdown in Egypt to describe the opposition faced by God's people today. Who were these figures, and what's their significance?
Paul draws a powerful analogy from the Exodus story, referencing Jannes and Jambres. These were the Egyptian sorcerers who stood against Moses when he performed miracles before Pharaoh.
Mimicking, Not Matching
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Their role wasn't just opposition; it was imitation. They performed similar feats to Moses (like turning staffs into snakes or bringing plagues of frogs), attempting to counterfeit God's power and discredit His messenger. Their goal was to deceive Pharaoh and the people, making it seem like Moses' God was no more powerful than their own idols.
A Pattern of Deception
Paul uses them as a symbol for false teachers who, like Jannes and Jambres, oppose the truth. They may present a similar-sounding message, use religious language, and even perform acts that seem impressive, but their core is deception. They don't represent God's true power or message; they seek to mislead and undermine genuine faith.
Understand the original words
Iannēs kai Iambrēs · Greek Proper Noun
Traditionally identified in Jewish midrashic literature as the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses during the Exodus; they represent those who use worldly wisdom or occult power to resist God's revelation.
adokimoi · Greek Adjective
The state of being rejected or failing a test; it implies that one has been examined and found to be unreliable or unapproved in the context of spiritual reality.
pistis · Greek Noun
The body of divine revelation, the object of belief, and the personal trust one places in Jesus Christ; it encompasses the Christian message as a whole.
Paul draws on a well-known story from Israel's past to warn Timothy about deceptive leaders. The challenge isn't new; these 'Jannes and Jambres' figures are timeless examples of those who twist truth for their own gain, just as ancient sorcerers opposed God's liberating power.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, performing miracles and challenging Pharaoh's authority.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Jannes and Jambres oppose Moses
According to ancient Jewish tradition, Jannes and Jambres were powerful Egyptian magicians who used their skills to imitate Moses' miracles and oppose God's deliverance of Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years, facing challenges and needing guidance.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites enter and conquer the Promised Land.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces conquer Jerusalem, deporting some of the Jewish elite, including Daniel.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, with many Jews exiled.
c. AD 64-67
Paul's Imprisonment and Writing of 2 Timothy
The Apostle Paul, likely imprisoned in Rome, writes his final letter to Timothy, warning him about false teachers.
This passage describes the initial confrontation where Moses' staff, turned into a serpent, is mimicked by the Egyptian magicians Jannes and Jambres, directly paralleling the opposition to Moses mentioned in 2 Timothy.
Jude 1:10-11Jude also speaks of false teachers who act like Balaam and complain about things they don't understand, likening them to those who resist God's truth, echoing the corruption of mind and rejection of faith described in 2 Timothy.
2 Peter 2:12-14Peter vividly portrays false teachers as irrational animals driven by instinct, speaking destructively and promising freedom while being enslaved by corruption, much like the corrupted minds described as opposing the truth in 2 Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:18-20Paul warns Timothy about certain individuals who have rejected a clear conscience and have shipwrecked their faith, handing them over to Satan, which is a similar theme of spiritual corruption and opposition to sound doctrine.
It's easy to focus on Jannes and Jambres as just a historical example, but the real punch is that their opposition to Moses wasn't just about being wrong; it was about being corrupted in mind. This means their defiance of truth stemmed from a deep, internal rot, making them utterly useless and untrustworthy in matters of faith.
Paul is warning Timothy about dangerous people who will arise in the last days, distorting the truth and causing trouble. He uses the example of the Egyptian sorcerers, Jannes and Jambres, who stood against Moses and God's power, to illustrate how these false teachers will similarly resist the truth, proving themselves to be morally bankrupt and lacking genuine faith. This directly sets up Paul's instruction to Timothy in the following verses to continue in the sound doctrine he has learned.
Paul is warning Timothy about dangerous people who will arise in the last days, distorting the truth and causing trouble. He uses the example of the Egyptian sorcerers, Jannes and Jambres, who stood against Moses and God's power, to illustrate how these false teachers will similarly resist the truth, proving themselves to be morally bankrupt and lacking genuine faith. This directly sets up Paul's instruction to Timothy in the following verses to continue in the sound doctrine he has learned.
"Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith." — It's easy to focus on Jannes and Jambres as just a historical example, but the real punch is that their opposition to Moses wasn't just about being wrong; it was about being corrupted in mind. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026