2 Timothy 3:8

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. NOW - Greek, 'But.' It is no wonder there should be now such opponents to the truth, for their prototypes existed of old (Alford). JANNES AND JAMBRES - Egyptian magicians who resisted Moses (; ). In a point so immaterial, where Scripture had not recorded the names, Paul takes those which Jewish tradition, or more probably history, assigned. Eusebius ('Praeparatio Evangelica') quotes from Numenius, 'Jannes and Jambres were sacred scribes (a lower order of priests in Egypt) deemed inferior to none in magic' Tradition made them to perish in the Red Sea. Hiller, derives Jannes from the Abyssinian 'trickster,' and Jambres, a juggler. Aan...

8_And as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses _This comparison confirms what I have already said about the “last times”, for he means that the same thing happens to us under the gospel, which the Church experienced almost from her very commencement, or at least since the law was published. In like manner the Psalmist also speaks largely about the unceasing battles of the Church. “Often did they fight against me from my youth, now let Israel say. The wicked ploughed upon my back, they made long their furrows.” (Psalms 129:1) Paul reminds us, that we need not wonder if adversaries rise up against Christ to oppose his gospel, since Moses likewise had those who contended with him; for these examples drawn from a remote antiquity yield us strong consolation. It is generally believed; that the two who are mentioned, “Jannes and Jambres,” were magicians put forward by Pharaoh

1-9 Even in gospel times there would be perilous times; on account of persecution from without, still more on account of corruptions within. Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man. When children are disobedient to their parents, that makes the times perilous. Men are unholy and without the fear of God, because unthankful for the mercies of God. We abuse God's gifts, if we make them the food and fuel of our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents are without natural affection to children. And when men have no rule over their own spirits, but despise that which is good and to be honoured. God is to be loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity against him, prefers any...

Verse 8. _NOW AS JANNES AND JAMBRES WITHSTOOD MOSES_] This refers to the history of the Egyptian magicians, given in Exodus 7, where see the notes (Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:12), and particularly the concluding observations at the end of that chapter, Exodus 7:25 where several things are said concerning these two men. _MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS_] It appears as if the apostle were referring still to some Judaizing teachers who were perverting the Church with their doctrines, and loudly calling in question the authority and doctrine of the apostle. _REPROBATE CONCERNING THE FAITH._] αδοκιμοι. Undiscerni

NOW AS JANNES AND JAMBRES WITHSTOOD MOSES - The names of these two men are not elsewhere mentioned in the Bible. They are supposed to have been two of the magicians who resisted Moses (Exodus 7:11, et al.), and who opposed their miracles to those of Moses and Aaron. It is not certain where the apostle obtained their names; but they are frequently mentioned by the Hebrew writers, and also by other writers; so that there can be no reasonable doubt that their names were correctly handed down by tradition. Nothing is more probable than that the names of the more distinguished magicians who attempted to imitate the miracles of Moses, would be preserved by tradition; and though they are not mentioned by Moses himself, and the Jews have told many ridiculous stories respecting them, yet this should not lead us to doubt the truth of the tradition respecting their names. A fu

EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 3:1 _But know this _for _this know also_,_ _A.V.; _grievous _for _perilous_,_ _A.V. GRIEVOUS TIMES (καιροὶ χαλεποί)._ _"Grievous" is not a very good rendering. "Perilous," though in some contexts it is a right rendering, is a little too restricted here. "Difficult," "trying," "uneasy," or the like, is nearer the sense. They are times when a Christian hardly knows which way to turn or what to do. He has to live under a constant sense of hindrance and difficulty of one sort or another. 2 TIMOTHY 3:2 _Self _for _their own selves_,_ _A.V.;_ lovers of money _for _covetous_,_ _A.V.;_ boastful _for boasters

NOW AS JANNES AND JAMBRES WITHSTOOD MOSES,.... These were not Jews, who rose up and opposed Moses, as Dathan and Abiram did, as some have thought; but Egyptian magicians, the chief of those that Pharaoh sent for, when Moses and Aaron came before him, and wrought miracles; and who did in like manner by their enchantments, Exodus 7:11 upon which place the Targum of Jonathan has these words: "and Pharaoh called the wise men and the magicians; and Janis and Jambres, the magicians of the Egyptians, did so by the enchantments of their divinations.'' And the same paraphrase on Exodus 1:15 calls them by the same names; and this shows from whence the apostle had these names, which are not mentioned in any place in the Old Testament; namely, from the traditions and records of the Jews, with which he

2 Timothy 3:1. _This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sin, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth._ This is the photograph of the present age, and I do not doubt that Paul spoke of it when thus the spirit of prophecy was upon him. This is the very motto of the present age, «Ever learning, and never able to come to the

2 TIMOTHY 3:8 VIa,nnhj kai. VIambrh/j Instead of VIa,nnhj C* Euthaliusms* read VIwa,nnhj, and instead of VIambrh/j certain Western witnesses (F G itd, g vg goth Cyprian Hippolytus Lucifer Ambrosiaster Augustine Ps-Augustine _al_) read Mambrh/j, which in Jewish tradition is a parallel form of the name. 1 ------------------------- 1 See Hugo Odeberg in Kittel’s _Theological Dictionary of the New Testament,_ III, pp. 192 f....

III. THE LAST DAYS AND THEIR PERILS CHAPTER 3 __ 1. The characteristics of the last days (2 Timothy 3:1) 2. What the last days mean for the true believer (2 Timothy 3:8) 3. The need of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:14) 2 Timothy 3:1 Little comment is needed on these words. They are a prophecy. The apostle by the Spirit of God reveals what shall come in the last days. It is a description of the moral qualities in the vast number of professing Christians of the last days, “who have the form of godliness,” that is, go “to church,” profess a creed of some sect, and are outwardly relig