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Jannes and Jambres - 2 Tim 3:8
Jannes and Jambres - 2 Tim 3:8
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. (2 Timothy 3:8)
Jannes and Jambres? These are the traditional names of Pharaoh’s magicians in Exod. 7:8ff. Their names are learned from Rabbinical Judaism, specifically The Targum of Jonathan, but they are not mentioned in the OT. Paul often uses Rabbinical traditions (cf. 1 Cor. 10:4). UTLEY
The story of such (without naming the people) is found in Exodus 7:11-12 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. 12 For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
The point of this? “just as”! People have rejected God’s messengers in every age! Thus, they reject GOD. Today, the message is found in our scriptures – keep reading and memorize vs. 14-17!. For Timothy, who lived and worked with Paul, he heard these things (homework- make a list of the times ‘these things’ occur in these letters to Timothy and Titus!). For us, it is the writings of these apostles and prophets sent by Jesus. Are you letting the word of Christ richly dwell within you? (cp. Col. 3:16-17).
Hugh DeLong