2 Timothy 3:8-9
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Notice how Paul doesn't just say these false teachers are like Jannes and Jambres, but that they "oppose the truth" in the same way. This isn't just about disagreeing; it's a direct, active resistance to God's very real message, mirroring the spiritual warfare seen in ancient Egypt.
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is warning Timothy about dangerous people who will appear in the last days, people who have a form of godliness but deny its power. He’s just described how these individuals will be greedy, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, and ungrateful. The reference to Jannes and Jambres highlights how, throughout history, people have actively resisted God’s truth and His messengers, just as these sorcerers opposed Moses and God’s power in Egypt.
Ever wonder who these 'Jannes and Jambres' are that Paul mentions? They weren't just random names. They represent a long history of opposition to God's messengers.
Paul draws a powerful parallel between the opposition Moses faced in Egypt and the resistance faced by the truth in his own day. Jannes and Jambres were magicians in Pharaoh's court, miraculously imitating some of Moses' signs (like turning a staff into a serpent) to counter God's power. Their goal was to discredit Moses and maintain the status quo. Paul uses them as archetypes of those who actively fight against God's revealed truth, not out of genuine confusion, but out of a stubborn refusal to yield to divine authority.
Paul doesn't just describe what these people do, but who they are. What does it mean to be 'corrupted in mind' and 'disqualified regarding the faith'?
This verse pinpoints the root of resistance: a corrupted mind. It's not simply a lack of knowledge, but a mind that has been systematically twisted and deceived, often by their own sinful choices. When the mind is corrupted, the natural response is to reject God's truth. Paul then uses a strong term, 'disqualified' (Greek: adokimos), which can mean 'tested and found wanting,' like a flawed coin. Their minds are so compromised that they are rendered unfit or useless when it comes to matters of true faith. They've failed the test of genuine belief because their internal compass is broken.
Understand the original words
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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.
anoia · Greek Noun
Lack of good sense or spiritual understanding; it signifies a mindless or irrational state that leads one to oppose God’s will and face inevitable failure.
The reference to Jannes and Jambres, though not explicitly named in the Old Testament, highlights a long-standing pattern of spiritual opposition that Paul draws upon to warn Timothy about false teachers who mimic truth but are ultimately powerless against God.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, a pivotal event involving divine intervention and confrontation with Egyptian power.
c. 1446 BC
Confrontation at the Red Sea
Following their departure, Moses and the Israelites faced the pursuing Egyptian army at the Red Sea, where God intervened miraculously.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Jannes and Jambres Oppose Moses
According to tradition and alluded to in 2 Timothy, Egyptian sorcerers Jannes and Jambres used their magical abilities to mimic Moses' miracles and oppose God's plan. This event challenged divine authority directly.
c. 13th Century BC
Book of Exodus Written
The events of Moses' ministry, including the confrontation with the Egyptian magicians, were recorded in the Book of Exodus, becoming foundational scripture.
This passage describes Jannes and Jambres as the Egyptian sorcerers who used their magic to imitate Moses' miracles, directly showing the kind of opposition and deceptive opposition mentioned in 2 Timothy.
Jude 1:10-11Jude parallels these opponents with historical figures who rebelled against God's authority, highlighting a pattern of rejecting divine truth and following deceptive paths.
1 Timothy 1:19-20Paul warns Timothy about individuals like Hymenaeus and Alexander who have rejected a good conscience and have shipwrecked their faith, similar to the 'corrupted in mind' individuals Paul addresses in 2 Timothy.
2 Peter 2:1-3Peter warns of false teachers who will secretly bring destructive heresies, mirroring the idea that these opposing men are 'corrupted in mind' and will lead others astray with their lies.
Notice how Paul doesn't just say these false teachers are like Jannes and Jambres, but that they "oppose the truth" in the same way. This isn't just about disagreeing; it's a direct, active resistance to God's very real message, mirroring the spiritual warfare seen in ancient Egypt.
Paul is warning Timothy about dangerous people who will appear in the last days, people who have a form of godliness but deny its power. He’s just described how these individuals will be greedy, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, and ungrateful. The reference to Jannes and Jambres highlights how, throughout history, people have actively resisted God’s truth and His messengers, just as these sorcerers opposed Moses and God’s power in Egypt.
Paul is warning Timothy about dangerous people who will appear in the last days, people who have a form of godliness but deny its power. He’s just described how these individuals will be greedy, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, and ungrateful. The reference to Jannes and Jambres highlights how, throughout history, people have actively resisted God’s truth and His messengers, just as these sorcerers opposed Moses and God’s power in Egypt.
"Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men." — Notice how Paul doesn't just say these false teachers are like Jannes and Jambres, but that they "oppose the truth" in the same way. This isn't just about disagreeing; it's a direct, active resis…
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Last reviewed October 2026
