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2 Timothy 3:9
ESV But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
NIV But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
NASB But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres.
CSB But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.
NLT But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
KJV But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
NKJV but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

What does 2 Timothy 3:9 mean?

Paul ends this section condemning the ungodliness of false teachers on a more uplifting note, at least for true believers. Regardless of the efforts, and even the temporary success, of false teachers, they will not succeed for long. Paul also explains why: Those who live sinful lives will eventually be discovered (Numbers 32:23).

Referring again to Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8), Paul concludes that the fate of false teachers will be the same. Jannes and Jambres were, according to Jewish tradition, the names of two leading magicians of Pharaoh. These were the men who opposed Moses when he followed God's command to tell Pharaoh to let the Jewish people go free from slavery. Though they were able to reproduce the signs of Moses at first (Exodus 7:11–12, 22; 8:7), they eventually could not (Exodus 8:18; 9:11). Everyone knew their power had been surpassed by the God of Moses.

Despite early, superficial success, a false teacher will eventually be exposed for who and what he is. The same would be true of those who opposed Timothy through false teachings.
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