2 Timothy 3 · Verse 9

2 Timothy 3:9

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2 Timothy 3:9, King James Version

2 Timothy 3:9 in other translations

BSBBut they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.
WEBBut they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
ASVBut they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.
YLTbut they shall not advance any further, for their folly shall be manifest to all, as theirs also did become.
DARBYBut they shall not advance farther; for their folly shall be completely manifest to all, as that of those also became.
BBEBut they will go no farther: for their foolish behaviour will be clear to all men, as theirs was in the end.
WebsterBut they shall proceed no further: for their folly will be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.

What does 2 Timothy 3:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. they shall proceed no further--Though for a time (2Ti 2:16) "they shall advance or proceed (English Version, 'increase') unto more ungodliness," yet there is a final limit beyond which they shall not be able to "proceed further" (Job 38:11; Re 11:7, 11). They themselves shall "wax worse and worse" (2Ti 3:13), but they shall at last be for ever prevented from seducing others. "Often malice proceeds deeper down, when it cannot extend itself" [Bengel]. their folly--literally, "dementation": wise though they think themselves. shall be manifest--Greek, "shall be brought forth from concealment into open day" [Bengel], (1Co 4:5). as theirs ... was--as that of those magicians was, when not only could they no longer try to rival Moses in sending boils, but the boils fell upon themselves: so as to the lice (Ex 8:18; 9:11).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. But they shall proceed no further. There is a certain point beyond which they will not be allowed to go. Their folly will become manifest, and the world will understand it. The apostle does not say how far these false teachers would be allowed to go, but that they would not be suffered always to prosper and prevail. They might be plausible at first, and lead many astray; they might, by art and cunning, cover up the real character of their system, but there would be a fair development of it, and it would be seen to be folly. The apostle here may be understood as declaring a general truth in regard to error. It often is so plausible at first, that it seems to be true. It wins the hearts of many persons, and leads them astray. It flatters them personally, or it flatters them with the hope of a better state of things in the church and the world. But the time will always come when men will see the folly of it. Error will advance only to a certain point, when it will be seen to be falsehood and folly, and when the world will arise and cast it off. In some cases, this point may be slower in being reached than in others; but there is a point, beyond which error will not go. At the reformation under Luther, that point had been reached when the teachings of the great apostasy were seen to be "folly," and when the awakened intellect of the world would allow it to "proceed no farther," and aroused itself and threw it off. In the workings of society, as well as by the direct appointment of God, there is a point beyond which error cannot prevail; and hence there is a certainty that truth will finally triumph.

For their folly shall be manifest unto all men. The world will see and understand what they are, and what they teach. By smooth sophistry, and cunning arts, they will not be able always to deceive mankind.

As their's also was. That of Jannes and Jambres. That is, it became manifest to all that they could not compete with Moses and Aaron; that their claims to the power of working miracles were the mere arts of magicians, and that they had set up pretensions which they could not sustain. Comp. Ex 8:18,19. In regard to the time to which the apostle referred in this description, it has already been observed 2Ti 3:1, that it was probably to that great apostasy of the "latter days," which he has described in 2Thes 2, 1Timm 4. But there seems to be no reason to doubt that he had his eye immediately on some persons who had appeared then, and who had evinced some of the traits which would characterize the great apostasy, and whose conduct showed that the great "falling away" had already commenced. In 2Thes 2:7, he says that the "mystery of iniquity" was already at work, or was even then manifesting itself; and there can be no doubt that the apostle saw that there had then commenced what he knew would yet grow up into the great defection from the truth. In some persons, at that time, who had the form of godliness, but who denied its power; who made use of insinuating arts to proselyte the weak and the credulous; who endeavoured to imitate the true apostles, perhaps by attempting to work miracles, as Jannes and Jambres did, he saw the germ of what was yet to grow up into so gigantic a system of iniquity as to overshadow the world. Yet he consoled Timothy with the assurance that there was a point beyond which the system of error would not be allowed to go, but where its folly must be seen, and where it would be arrested.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 But they shall proceed no farther - Such teaching and teachers shall never be able ultimately to prevail against the truth; for the foundation of God standeth sure. Their folly shall be manifest - As the Scriptures, which are the only rule of morals and doctrine, shall ever be preserved; so, sooner or later, all false doctrines shall be tried by them: and the folly of men, setting up their wisdom against the wisdom of God, must become manifest to all. False doctrine cannot prevail long where the sacred Scriptures are read and studied. Error prevails only where the book of God is withheld from the people. The religion that fears the Bible is not the religion of God. Is Popery or Protestantism this religion?

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 3:9 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.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
οὐounotG3756
προκόψουσινprokopsousinthey will advanceG4298
ἐπὶepifurtherG1909
πλεῖον·pleionmuch;G4119
ἡhē<the>G3588
γὰρgarforG1063
ἄνοιαanoiathe follyG454
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
ἔκδηλοςekdēlosplainG1552
ἔσταιestaiwill beG1510
πᾶσιν,pasinto all,G3956
ὡςhōsasG5613
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἡhēthatG3588
ἐκείνωνekeinōnof those [two]G1565
ἐγένετο.¶egenetobecame.G1096

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

Cross references for 2 Timothy 3:9

  • 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.

  • Exodus 7:12

    For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

  • Jeremiah 28:15-17

    Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

  • Exodus 9:11

    And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Jeremiah 29:21-23

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

  • Acts 13:11

    And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

  • Acts 19:15-17

    And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

  • Exodus 8:18-19

    And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

  • Jeremiah 37:19

    Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?

  • Jeremiah 29:31-32

    Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.

  • 1 Kings 22:25

    And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
their.
8; Ex 7:12; 8:18,19; 9:11; 1Ki 22:25; Ps 76:10; Jer 28:15-17
Jer 29:21-23,31,32; 37:19; Ac 13:11; 19:15-17

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Timothy 3:9

    But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

  • 2 Timothy 3:10

    But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

Read all of 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas no prevalecerán; porque su insensatez será manifiesta á todos, como también lo fué la de aquéllos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais ils n’iront pas plus avant, car leur folie sera manifeste pour tous, comme a été celle de ceux-là aussi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie werden aber nicht weiter fortschreiten, denn ihr Unverstand wird allen offenbar werden, wie auch der von jenen es wurde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		sed ultra non proficient: insipientia enim eorum manifesta erit omnibus, sicut et illorum fuit.