Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Timothy 3:8

"And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith." — 2 Timothy 3:8 (ASV)

Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned in the OT, but there was a Jewish tradition that they were two of the Egyptian magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron. They are mentioned in an Aramaic paraphrase of Ex 7:11. Paul likens the false teachers at Ephesus to these ancient magicians. He describes them as men of utterly corrupted minds. As far as the faith is concerned, they are “rejected” (GK 99); they cannot be trusted to teach the truth. But they will not get far. As in the case of Jannes and Jambres, their “folly” (GK 496) will be clearly seen.