2 Timothy 3:7

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1.”Ever learning…”

a. ever [3842 * pantote] [Zodhiates: always, at all times, ever.]

b. learning [3129 * manthano] [Zodhiates: to learn, to have learned something.]

2. “…and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

a. never [3368 * medepote; mede-not even; pote-at any time, ever.] [Zodhiates: not even ever.]

b. able [1410 * dunamai] [Zodhiates: to be able.]

c. knowledge [1922 * epignosis] [Zodhiates: It is more intensive that gnosis (1108), knowledge, because it expresses a more thorough participation in the acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner. In the N.T., it often refers to knowledge which very powerfully influences the form of religious life, a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement.]

d. truth [225 * aletheia] [Zodhiates: Truth, reality; the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter.

e. I am reminded of what Jesus said to his followers.

1). John 8:31, 32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

f. These reason these people are ever learning, always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth which leads to freedom, is they are not walking in what they learn. This is a perfect application of hearing and not doing.

1). James 1:22-24 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

a). The wonderful word play in the King James I believe is more profound. Its not that he forgets what he looked like, no, he forgot what manner of man he was. The manner of man he saw when he looked into the mirror of the word of God, (cp. 2Corinthians 3:18).

2). Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

a). If we as believers do not walk in what we know or learn out of the word of God, we are building our lives upon the sand, we are deceiving ourselves, and when the storms come we will be blown away, our house will fall.

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.

1.”Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth…”

a. Jannes and Jambres are the magicians of Egypt who used satanic power to resist Moses. Though these two are not named in Exodus, they are mentioned in Jewish tradition. There are only a few instances of Jewish tradition being placed by God’s direction within the Scripture. This is one of them.

b. JANNES AND JAMBRES [ISBE]JANNES AND JAMBRES - jan'-ez, jam'-brez (Iannes kai Iambres, 2 Tim 3:8): These are the names of two magicians in ancient Egypt, who withstood Moses before Pharaoh. This is the only place where the names occur in the New Testament, and they are not mentioned in the Old Testament at all. In Ex 7:11,22 Egyptian magicians are spoken of, who were called upon by Pharaoh to oppose Moses and Aaron: "Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments." Jannes and Jambres were evidently two of the persons referred to in this passage. It should be observed that the word translated here "magicians" occurs also in Gen 41:8 in connection with Pharaoh's dreams: Pharaoh "sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof." the Revised Version margin reads for "magicians" "or sacred scribes." The Hebrew word is charTummim, and means sacred scribes who were skilled in the sacred writing, that is in the hieroglyphics; they were a variety of Egyptian priests. Jannes and Jambres were doubtless members of one or other of the various classes spoken of in the passages in Exodus and Genesis, the wise men, the sorcerers, and the magicians or sacred scribes.
Mentioned by Pliny and Others: Jannes and Jambres, one or both, are also mentioned by Pliny (23-79 AD), by Apuleius (circa 130 AD), both of whom speak of Moses and Jannes as famous magicians of antiquity. The Pythagorean philosopher Numenius (2nd century AD) speaks of Jannes and Jambres as Egyptian hierogrammateis, or sacred scribes.
1). There are many curious Jewish traditions regarding Jannes and Jambres. These traditions, which are found in the Targum and elsewhere, are full of contradictions and impossibilities and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding this impossibility in the matter of date, they were said to have withstood Moses 40 years previously at the court of Pharaoh, to whom it was also said, they so interpreted a dream of that king, as to foretell the birth of Moses and cause the oppression of the Israelites. They are also said to have become proselytes, and it is added that they left Egypt at the Exodus, among the mixed multitude. They are reported to have instigated Aaron to make the golden calf. The traditions of their death are also given in a varying fashion. They were said to have been drowned in the Red Sea, or to have been put to death after the making of the golden calf, or during the slaughter connected with the name of Phinehas. According to Origen (Comm. on Mt 27:8) there was an apocryphal book--not yet rediscovered--called "The Book of Jannes and Jambres." Origen's statement is that in 2 Tim 3:8 Paul is quoting from that book. In the Targumic literature "Mambres" occurs as a variant reading instead of "Jambres." It is thought that Jambres is derived from an Aramaic root, meaning "to oppose," the participle of which would be Mambres. The meaning of either form is "he who opposes." Jannes is perhaps a corruption of Ioannes or Iohannes (John). John Rutherfurd. ( www.net.bible.org )
c. withstood [436 * anthistemi; anti-against; histemi-to stand] [D.C. This is where we get the word ‘antihistemine’ used in cold remedies for sneezing and runny nose]. [Zodhiates: to stand against, resist, whether in word or deed.] [The Greek word for “resist” in this verse is the same Greek word.

d. truth[225 * aletheia] [Zodhiates: Truth, reality; the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter.]

e. Although Jannes and Jambres used satanic miracles to withstand Moses in Exodus, I don’t believe that the wording of 2 Timothy 3:8 implies satanic miracles will be used by these men to withstand the gospel. The context is speaking of men (and probably women), in the church who have a form of godliness but deny the power of God or godliness. Yes I believe that demonic influence will be used in this opposition, but in the sense of demonic doctrines causing people to be lead astray. Doctrines that attack the integrity of God’s word and attack the profitability of living a life of godliness, doctrines that attack the truth and reliability of the Gospel.

1). Acts 13:8 “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”

2). The word used for the phrase “to turn away” is ‘diastrepho’ (1294), and it means to turn or twist throughout, to distort, pervert.” I am inclined to believe that though the false prophet was a sorcerer, his means of turning away the deputy from the faith was to pervert and twist the gospel message.

3). The same Greek word is also used to describe Paul’s confronting Peter in the matter of his different behavior, when he was with Jews or with Gentiles.

4). Galatians 2:11, 12 “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.”

2. “…men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

a. This is another implication that these individuals will be within the church world (and I use that term loosely); their minds are corrupt, but they are to be rejected concerning the faith.

b. corrupt [2704 * kataphtheiro; kata-intensive; phtheiro-to corrupt, destroy] [Zodhiates: to spoil utterly, lay waste. Referring to the mind in a moral sense, to deprave.]

c. reprobate [96 * adokimos; a-without; dokimos-acceptable] [Zodhiates: unapproved, unworthy, spurious]. [D.C. Unacceptable, to be rejected.]

d. An applicable verse regarding demonic doctrine is found in first letter to Timothy.

1). 1 Timothy 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter days, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

a). Though only two of those doctrines are mentioned in particular, forbidding to marry (celebate priesthood: Catholic), and commanding to abstain from meats (can’t eat meat on Fridays: Catholic), there will be others implied in the proceeding verses.

b). There are at this time more than a few doctrines of devils in the church and I believe that these will be some of the means these individuals will use to attempt to destroy the church, but they will only be able to persuade those who are willingly ignorant of the word to the point they are neglecting their own responsibility to seek a deeper relationship with God, blindly following and being obedient to these pretenders to the faith.

e. faith [4102 * pistis] [Vines: The main elements in faith in its relation to the invisible God…are brought out in the use of this noun and corresponding verb, pisteuo, (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation or truth;…(2) a personal surrender to Him; (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender.]

f. Perhaps in these elements they are to be rejected. I am fully persuaded that in all of these elements of faith, examples can be found in Scripture where failure to believe them leads to gross error.

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is costello.don@gmail.com

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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