Fathers

2 Timothy 3

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But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also. For some of these are people who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith are rejected. But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be. But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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What the Fathers say

2 Timothy 3:8

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth." Who are these? The magicians in the time of Moses. But how is it their names are nowhere else introduced? Either they were handed down by tradition, or it is probable that Paul knew them by inspiration. "Men of corrupt minds," he says, "reprobate concerning the faith. …

Homily on 2 Timothy 8 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

These were the sorcerers of the time of Moses. How did Paul learn their names, when Scripture does not speak of this? Their names were taken from unwritten tradition, or probably Paul learned of them from the Holy Spirit. When someone has corrupted his mind with passions, then he becomes unskilled in the faith. "The fool has said: there is no God" (Ps. 52:2). Why? Because they have become corrupt and have become abominable in their iniquities. Therefore, for the acceptance of the faith, an uncorrupted mind is needed. …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith, but they will progress no further. For their folly will be evident to all, as was that of those men. Jannes and Jambres. These were the magicians of Pharaoh. But how does one know their names when Scripture does not say? We say that it was from unwritten tradition; it was likely from the Holy Spirit that Paul knew. so do these also resist the truth. To the true faith. …

Commentary On 2 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

A great encomium on grace, my brethren,—one that will instruct the souls of the humble, and stop the mouths of the proud. Let those now answer it, if they dare, who, ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Let the self-complacent answer it, who think they have no need of God for the performance of good works. …

Tractates On John 81.2 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, as Jannes and Mambre resisted Moses, he shows the harm they cause prelates, namely, the harm of resisting their doctrine. And he finds an example in Exodus, where the magicians resisted Moses; because from the beginning of time there has been a struggle between truth and falsity: but there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you, lying teachers (2 Pet 2:1). …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗