2 Timothy 3:9

9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

2 Timothy 3:9 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
The Message Bible (MSG)
9 But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
9 Certainly, they won't get very far. Like the stupidity of Jannes and Jambres, their stupidity will be plain to everyone.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
9 But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
9 They won't get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.

2 Timothy 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

2 Timothy 3:9

But they shall proceed no further
They may proceed to more ungodliness, and wax worse and worse in error; but they shall proceed no further than the magicians of Egypt, who did lying wonders, hardened Pharaoh's heart, and deceived him and the Egyptians; but could not destroy the Israelites, nor hinder their departure out of Egypt, when their time was come: so these wicked men do false miracles, harden the popes of Rome, and deceive the nations subject to them; but they cannot deceive the elect of God, nor destroy the church of God, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail; nor could they hinder the reformation, or the departure of the Lord's people out of Babylon.

For their folly should be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also
was;
as the folly of Jannes and Jambres was, when Aaron's rod devoured theirs; and when they could not produce lice, but was obliged to own to Pharaoh, that that plague was the finger of God; and when they could not stand before Moses, because of the boils that were upon them, ( Exodus 7:12 ) ( Exodus 8:18 Exodus 8:19 ) ( 9:11 ) . And so the Arabic version renders it, "as is manifest the folly, or madness of these two"; and it is notorious in how many instances the frauds, impostures, tricks, and villanies of the church of Rome, and its votaries, have been detected and exposed; which have been the means of hindering them from proceeding any further than they have. The Alexandrian copy reads, "their understanding"; that which they pretended to have of divine things.

2 Timothy 3:9 In-Context

7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
8 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.
9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Exodus 7:12; Exodus 8:18; Exodus 9:11
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