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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - 2 Timothy 3:8 - 3:8
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Now - Greek, “But”; it is no wonder there should be now such opponents to the truth, for their prototypes existed in ancient times [Alford].
Jannes ... Jambres - traditional names of the Egyptian magicians who resisted Moses (Exo 7:11, Exo 7:22), derived from “the unwritten teaching of the Jews” [Theodoret]. In a point so immaterial as the names, where Scripture had not recorded them, Paul takes the names which general opinion had assigned the magicians. Eusebius [Preparation of the Gospel], quotes from Numenius, “Jannes and Jambres were sacred scribes (a lower order of priests in Egypt) skilled in magic.” Hiller interprets “Jannes” from the Abyssinian language a trickster, and “Jambres” a juggler” (Act 13:8).
resist - “withstand,” as before. They did so by trying to rival Moses’ miracles. So the false teachers shall exhibit lying wonders in the last days (Mat 24:24; 2Th 2:9; Rev 13:14, Rev 13:15).
reprobate - incapable of testing the truth (Rom 1:28) [Bengel]. Alford takes passively, “not abiding the test”; rejected on being tested (Jer 6:30).