2 Timothy 3 · Verse 7

2 Timothy 3:7

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:7, King James Version

2 Timothy 3:7 in other translations

BSB	who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
WEB	always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
ASV	ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
YLT	always learning, and never to a knowledge of truth able to come,
DARBY	always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
BBE	Ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of what is true.
Webster	Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

What does 2 Timothy 3:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. Ever learning--some new point, for mere curiosity, to the disparagement of what they seemed to know before. the knowledge--Greek, "the perfect knowledge"; the only safeguard against further novelties. Gnosticism laid hold especially of the female sex [Estius, 1.13.3]: so Roman Jesuitism.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. Ever learning. That is, these "silly women;" for so the Greek demands. The idea is, that they seem to be disciples. They put themselves wholly under the care of these professedly religious teachers, but they never acquire the true knowledge of the way of salvation.

And never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They may learn many things, but the true nature of religion they do not learn. There are many such persons in the world, who, whatever attention they may pay to religion, never understand its nature. Many obtain much speculative acquaintance with the doctrines of Christianity, but never become savingly acquainted with the system; many study the constitution and government of the church, but remain strangers to practical piety; many become familiar with the various philosophical theories of religion, but never become truly acquainted with what religion is; and many embrace visionary theories, who never show that they are influenced by the Spirit of the gospel. Nothing is more common than for persons to be very busy and active in religion, and even to learn many things about it, who still remain strangers to the saving power of the gospel.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 Ever learning - From their false teachers, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, because that teaching never leads to the truth; for, although there was a form of godliness, which gave them a sort of authority to teach, yet, as they denied the power of godliness, they never could bring their votaries to the knowledge of the saving power of Christianity. There are many professors of Christianity still who answer the above description. They hear, repeatedly hear, it may be, good sermons; but, as they seldom meditate on what they hear, they derive little profit from the ordinances of God. They have no more grace now than they had several years ago, though hearing all the while, and perhaps not wickedly departing from the Lord. They do not meditate, they do not think, they do not reduce what they hear to practice; therefore, even under the preaching of an apostle, they could not become wise to salvation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Even in gospel times there would be perilous times; on account of persecution from without, still more on account of corruptions within. Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man. When children are disobedient…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 3:1-9 →

2 Timothy 3:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

πάντοτεpantotealwaysG3842

μανθάνονταmanthanontalearningG3129

καὶkaiandG2532

μηδέποτεmēdepoteneverG3368

εἰςeistoG1519

ἐπίγνωσινepignōsina knowledgeG1922

ἀληθείαςalētheiasof [the] truthG225

ἐλθεῖνeltheinto comeG2064

δυνάμενα.¶dunamenabeing able.G1410

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 3:7

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Proverbs 14:6
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
John 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
2 Timothy 2:25
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Hebrews 5:11
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Isaiah 30:10-11
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
John 3:20-21
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Deuteronomy 29:4
Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

learning.
4:3,4; De 29:4; Pr 14:6; Isa 30:10,11; Eze 14:4-10; Mt 13:11
Joh 3:20,21; 5:44; 12:42,43; 1Co 3:1-4; Eph 4:14; Heb 5:11
never.
1Ti 2:4
the knowledge.
2:25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Timothy 3:6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Timothy 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:8
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Read all of 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Que siempre aprenden, y nunca pueden acabar de llegar al conocimiento de la verdad.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	qui apprennent toujours et qui ne peuvent jamais parvenir à la connaissance de la vérité.
German Elberfelder 1871	die immerdar lernen und niemals zur Erkenntnis der Wahrheit kommen können.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	semper discentes, et numquam ad scientiam veritatis pervenientes.