2 Timothy 3:7

2 Timothy 3:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• New International Version (NIV)always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Context of 2 Timothy 3:7

5holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. 6For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres [the court magicians of Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their meaningless nonsense and ignorance will become obvious to everyone, as was that of Jannes and Jambres.

2 Timothy 3:7 word by word

πάντοτε μανθάνοντα καὶ μηδέποτε εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν δυνάμενα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Everπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• learningμανθάνωmanthanō · to learnG3129
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• neverμηδέποτεmēdepote · neverG3368
• ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the knowledgeἐπίγνωσιςepignōsis · knowledgeG1922
• of the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225

Cross-references for 2 Timothy 3:7

• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,
• Deuteronomy 29:4Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart and mind to understand, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.
• Proverbs 14:6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom], But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].
• Isaiah 30:10Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions from God”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right! Speak to us pleasant things and smooth words, Prophesy [deceitful] illusions [that we will enjoy].
• Ezekiel 14:4Therefore speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Any man of the house of Israel who takes his idols [of rebellion] into his heart, and puts the [vile] stumbling block of his wickedness and guilt [images of silver and gold] before his face, and yet comes to the prophet [to ask of him], I the Lord will answer him, [but I will answer him] in accordance with the number of his idols,
• Matthew 13:11Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
• John 3:20For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned.
• John 5:44How can you believe [in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only God?
• John 12:42Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated);
• 1 Corinthians 3:1However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ!
• Ephesians 4:14So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].
• Hebrews 5:11Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen.
• 1 Timothy 2:4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.
• 2 Timothy 2:25He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],

Commentaries on 2 Timothy 3:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Ever 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Ever 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7The letters to Timothy and Titus consistently express concern about the impact of false teachers on households and women (Titus 1:11; see 1 Timothy 2:11–15; 3:4–5; 5:14–15). Whether or not these false teachers specifically targeted women, they were successful with some.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Timothy 3:7

• Apostasy
• Blindness
• Doctrines
• Fellowship
• Minister, Christian
• Wicked (People)
• Women
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Correction
• Creep
• Doctrine
• Godly
• Inspiration
• Reprobate
• Truth
• Unholy
• Wise
• Worse

Commentaries on 2 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings