Who Ate the Snakes?

Second Timothy 3 addresses false teachers. Verse 8 says, “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.” 

We know Paul is referring to the two magicians in Exodus 7:11 even though the names Jannes and Jambres aren't found in Exodus. But they’re found in various Jewish history writings such as the Talmud. In Exodus 7, Aaron miraculously turns his staff into a snake to prove to the Pharoah that the Israelites had a powerful God who demanded Pharoah to set His people free from Egyptian slavery. Jannes and Jambres duplicated the miracle, but their victory was short-lived when Aaron’s snake swallowed both of theirs (Exodus 7). 

Why is this important to know? 

It’s good to know who Paul refers to in this verse. But more importantly, it gives us confidence in the validity and trustworthiness of God’s Word.

The Bible is supported in history, archaeology, and literature. 
There are more manuscript copies and more historical evidence for the Bible than any other document in history of the world! (source)
 

If 40 human authors wrote about something over a span of 2000 years, there would be tons of contradictions, but the divinely inspired Bible authors don’t contradict each other. Compare this to the Quran, which was dictated by one man, Muhammad, and completed in 23 years. But it contains multiple contradictions (Contradictions in Quran).*

 
So when you read about Jannes and Jambres, remember how interesting and trustworthy Scripture is! 

 

✞✞✞ 

For more encouragement about God's Word, see Believing God's Word is Inerrant and Count on It!

What is the Talmud: “Christianity does not consider the Talmud to be inspired in the same sense that the 66 books of the biblical canon are ‘God breathed’ (2 Timothy 3:16). While some of the teachings from the Talmud may be ‘compatible’ with biblical teachings, the same can be said for many different writings from many different religions. For the Christian, the study of the Talmud can be a great way to learn more about Jewish tradition, history, and interpretation, but the Talmud is not to be considered the authoritative Word of God.” 

 

For more study: Is the Bible Truly God’s Word? 

 

*Many Muslim resources seek to explain away these contradictions as well as the hate promoted in the Quran, but the evidence in the Quran refutes their propaganda.