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Daily Devotions

2 Timothy

2 Timothy 
Day 
Day 55

"These also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds..."

Text: 2 Timothy 3:8

JEWISH TRADITIONS

The Apostle Paul was a well-read man. He was trained under the famous scholar Gamaliel who taught at Jerusalem (Acts 22:3). Paul would have read extensively about the history of Israel. In the following text he cited from extra-biblical sources. Israel had a rich source of traditional knowledge that was not recorded in the Scriptures. (These sources are often called “extra-Biblical.”)

“Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses,
so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds,
disapproved concerning the faith.”
2 Timothy 3:8

1. “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses”

a) The Book of Exodus notes that the magicians of Pharaoh resisted Moses.
b) These were supposed to be the Advisors to the Pharaoh.
c) Paul named two people, Jannes and Jambres, as the key magicians who resisted Moses.
d) Their names were not mentioned in the Bible.

2. “So do these also resist the truth”

a) These men must have been “clever” to make it to the Advisory Council of Pharaoh.
b) They would have had some “status” in the world.
c) The false brethren are described in a similar vein.
d) These false brethren “resist the truth”
i) In the days of the apostle Paul.
ii) In our days too.

3. “Men of corrupt minds”

a) Because they resist the truth, Paul described them as having “corrupt minds”.
b) The word “corrupt” suggests “ruinous depravity”.
c) These may be seen as “successful” in the eyes of the world, but they are in fact ruinous spiritually.
d) Their minds are worldly and carnal rather than godly and spiritual.

4. “Disapproved concerning the faith”

a) These people when brought to the light of the truth are “disapproved”.
b) Their lifestyle would not pass muster.
c) Their “faith” is of doubtful value.
d) As far as Paul was concerned, their so-called faith is “disapproved!”