2 Timothy 3:5-9

3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance ¹  of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. ²  3:6 For some of these insinuate themselves ³  into households and captivate weak women ⁴  who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. 3:7 Such women are always seeking instruction, ⁵  yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres ⁶  opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith ⁷  – also oppose the truth. 3:9 But they will not go much further, ⁸  for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres. ⁹ 

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¹ tn Or “form.”

sn Outward appearance. Paul’s contrast with power in 3:5b shows that he regards this “form” to be outward, one of appearance rather than reality (cf. 1 Cor 4:19-20; 1 Thess 1:5).

² tn Grk “and avoid these,” with the word “people” implied.

³ tn Grk “For from these are those who sneak.”

⁴ tn Or “silly women.”

⁵ tn Grk “always learning,” continuing the description of the women from v. 6. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁶ sn Jannes and Jambres were the traditional names of two of Pharaoh’s magicians who opposed Moses at the time of the Exodus.

⁷ tn Grk “disapproved concerning the faith.”

⁸ tn Grk “for they will not progress any more.”

⁹ tn Grk “as theirs came to be,” referring to the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres. The referent of “theirs” (Jannes and Jambres) has been specified in the translation for clarity.