The spirit of Jannes and Jambres
Robert Wurtz II
Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:7–9 ESV)
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. (Matthew 7:21–23 ESV)
I chose these two passages to illustrate from the New Testament the alarming fact that many people in these last days consider themselves to be Spiritual but are influenced by, empowered by, and imitating the enemy. These verses imply that many people are greatly mistaken in regards to the supernatural. It is a classic case of observing gifts rather than fruits when discerning the legitimacy of a person. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16-20). Until we agree with Jesus on this point, we are wide open to deception.
Some people are deceived and are deceiving others, too (2 Timothy 3:13). Deceived people believe that if they or someone else operates in the supernatural, that fact alone guarantees that they are empowered and endorsed by God. Emphasizing power while disregarding the fruit of the Spirit opens the door to the demonic in the churches. Anyone who claims to operate in the supernatural better know what the source is and not just assume it is the Holy Spirit.
The late great Greek scholar A.T. Robertson commented on Matthew 7:21-23, saying, “They claim to have prophesied (preached) in Christ’s name and to have done many miracles. But Jesus will tear off the sheepskin and lay bare the ravening wolf. ‘I never knew you’ (oudepote egnoœn huœmaœs). ‘I was never acquainted with you’ (experimental knowledge).” Notice the emphasis on the word “never.” These people believed they were close to God, but Jesus will deny knowing them. Imagine the shock, disbelief, and utter sorrow they will feel.
Moving in the Demonic
In 2 Timothy 3:7-9, Paul used an illustration comparing Jannes and Jambres to deceivers in the last days. These two brothers used sorcery (demonic powers) to withstand Moses when he went before Pharaoh. They imitated many of Moses and Aaron’s miracles (Exodus 7:10-12, Exodus 7:22) using a drakon (or dragon or demon; See LXX on Exodus 7:11) to turn a staff into a snake. In the beginning verses of 2 Timothy 3, Paul warns Timothy that these types of men will have a form of godliness but deny its power. In other words, they make Christian claims and use Christian words and phrases, but there is no godly reality in their life. The comparison with Jannes and Jambres certainly brings in the element of demonic involvement.
One way to identify them is that they sneak into the lives of certain unmarried women who are vulnerable and gullible (2 Timothy 3:6). Often these women have a dark past and look to spiritual men to comfort them. Rather than operating a sexual relationship with them, the deceivers engage them in “Spiritual” things to create a bond and a dependency. Once certain women believe a man is “spiritual,” that man can exercise control over them. Deceivers frequently work to appear to be the most spiritual person around.
Faking the Gifts
Understand that the enemy has faked nearly all of the spiritual gifts and used those counterfeits to cause havoc in the churches. Nobody could genuinely cast out devils if Christ “never knew them” because that implies they operated without Him. We also know that Satan will not cast out Satan (Matthew 12:26). The only possibility is that the people believed they were casting out devils, but it was a make-believe situation. As we have already discovered, other miracles the enemy can certainly imitate and has been doing so since the times of Moses.
I have known numerous people who never gave a hint that they genuinely repented of their sins, turned from their wickedness, and took up their cross and yet claimed to be Spirit-filled. It is doubtful that they even understood what “Godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10), crying out to God in faith, and obedience (Acts 2:21, Acts 5:32)” even implies. They “received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues,” and everyone around them praised God. But we need to ask a serious question. How can a person bypass repentance and speak in tongues and it be the Holy Spirit at work?
Pentecostals have long emphasized the role of tongues in receiving the Spirit — typically known as “initial evidence.” Unfortunately, in many cases, it is the only evidence. Where is the requisite proof of the fruit of the Spirit? It’s a lot easier to falsify tongues than to forge love, joy, peace, gentleness, self-control, etc. Many false religions have manifested ecstatic speech exercising their faith. In modern times, the enemy has passed off almost any gibberish or unintelligible utterances as proof that the person “received the Holy Ghost” and with disastrous consequences. People who never truly repented end up believing that they are not only saved but uniquely gifted and favored of God. It is a throwback to the story of Simon the Sorcerer.
Empirical Evidence?
Why will the people appeal to miracles as proof of their legitimacy at the Great Judgment? Because that’s what’s emphasized in these last days. They will argue their case with God based upon what they believed is empirical evidence, “(…) did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” Someone sold them on the idea that the supernatural is the defining proof of God’s acceptance.
They never realized that they were being indwelt and empowered by the enemy and not God until it was too late. Had they performed some honest self-examination and looked for fruits unto holiness, they may have discovered the problem, repented, and truly received the Spirit before the great judgment. Understand that nobody who is full of the Holy Spirit is anti-holiness.
I don’t want to die deceived, and I hope nobody else does. We have to determine today that we will stop trusting manifestations alone as evidence that we or anyone else received the Spirit. Do we care that people are going to die and go to Hell believing they are approved of God when they aren’t? That’s what we’re talking about in this article. Moreover, they are deceiving others at the same time. We need to ask, how are we living? How are we treating our neighbor? How are we treating fellow believers? Are we known for godliness and holiness? Are we generous? Do we love others, help others, and give ourselves to God? Or are we selfish? What about ministers? What is our reputation among the unbelievers? How do we treat fellow ministers?
Wolves in Sheep Clothing
If a person occasionally pulls their mask down to reveal a wolf underneath, mark that person and have no fellowship with them (2 Thessalonians 3:14). Don’t make excuses for behaviors that are unbecoming of Christ. Don’t be impressed just because a person appears to operate the supernatural. Examine their fruit.
Jannes and Jambres used a demon to enable them to look powerful so they could keep the people in bondage in Egypt. This is what the spirit of Jannes and Jambres wants. It will do whatever it takes to keep people bound in sin. People who are used by Satan in this way will be exposed eventually. Repentance is their only hope. If we find that quality in our own lives we need to come before the Lord in repentance and humility. Allow God to do the work while there is still hope. It will be too late when…
(…) that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. (Matthew 7:21–23 ESV)
Thank you Robert. A timely word in these days. Much appreciated.
Thank you for that, indeed a very timely word 👍🙏
A genuine and helpful word. It explains much and is based on scripture. Just pondering on how to assimilate and consider these things. Thanks
In your text you mentioned do they even posses the fruit if the Spirit,, like Christian”s should possess the fruit of the spirit after repentance??? To possess the fruit of the Spirit ,one must first be Filled(Baptized) with the Holy Spirit,, how can you have the fruit and not the Spirit? We are known by our fruit which is instilled by the Holy Spirit,, the rich man wanted just a drip of water,, the living water. If he had it before wonder what kind of fruit he would have produced?
Excellent article Robert. You mentioned the apocryphal work, “Jannes and Jambres”. I wondered, lest folks consider that this was the source of Paul’s quotation of the names of Jannes and Jambres, may I make a side comment? The occasion Paul refers to is Ex 7:10: “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods”.
Paul had a broad education in both Hebrew tradition and in secular literature (Gal 1:14 Acts 17:28; Tit 1:12). Led by the Holy Spirit, out of this vast background knowledge, (Acts 26:24), he provided the names of the two Egyptian magicians but he does not provide details of the source.
It is my view that is extremely unlikely, on both historical and ethical grounds that Paul would quote from the apocryphal book called “The Book of Jannes and Jambres”. The book is an apocryphal production, some time later than Paul’s composition of 2 Timothy, (c.65.AD) that is full of nonsense and unworthy of the apostle Paul’s consideration.
Hi dear brother, I tried to pass over any connection to specific attestations as they always lead to questions regarding authority and source documents, etc. As we know, it is often hard to pin down the exact source of such views and I would not concur either that he was quoting specifically from the apocrophon, but more likely it was a generally understood tradition during the second temple period. We have rabbinical sources, but their authority is questionable, too. For those unfamiliar with the issues I’ll copy below a reference from my TDNT that covers a lot but not all of the issues. Thanks for responding. God bless.
1. In Jewish writings these two names are corrupt even in the texts which have come down to us. The original forms have obviously been lost in the course of the centuries. We find such different renderings of Jannes as יניס,93 יוניס,94 יונוס,95 יוחנא,96יוחני,97 and of Jambres as ימריס,98 ימבריס,99 יומברוס,1 ממרא2 In the first case we can see a twofold original, the Aram. Yohannaœ, and the Gk. Iannes (cf. Shim’on, Simon). In the second we can hardly work back past the original Gk. form Iambres.
[Vol. III, p. 193]
According to the remnants of the tradition preserved in surviving Rabb. texts, Jannes and Jambres were the magicians, or chief magicians,3 of Pharaoh who according to Ex. 7:11 ff. deployed their magical arts against Moses and Aaron.4 They are supposed to have cried out to Moses: “You are bringing straw to ‘Afaœráyim,” i.e., you believe that you can do something in Egypt, the home of magical arts.5 They have been linked with Balaam as his companions, servants,6 or sons.7 They are supposed to have continued their opposition to Moses and Israel even after their defeat in Ex. 7. They tried to destroy Israel in its passage through the Red Sea by practising magical arts against the angels sent by God in order to restrict their miraculous power.8 They also went with Israel through the wilderness to fight against Moses and to lead Israel astray. They were the real instigators of the apostasy of Israel at the making of the golden calf (Ex. 32).9
The statements concerning them are never attributed to a known author. This is an indication that they derive from a collected tradition, e.g., from a writing dealing with the story of Jannes and Jambres. It is true that there is no reference to any such work, but this applies equally to all the pseudepigraphical works from which many anonymous statements in the Rabbinic writings derive. That the traditions concerning these opponents of Moses go back to the pre-Christian era is obvious in view of their attestation in the NT.
2. 2 Tm. 3:8. The general way in which Jannes and Jambres are mentioned is in keeping with the references in Jewish sources. It cannot be said for certain to what situation there is supposed to be allusion. That the readers of the epistle know the story of Jannes and Jambres is presupposed. The reference may be to incidents developed out of Ex. 7, or to an opposition to the truth which lasted over a longer period, as in the Rabbinic accounts already mentioned. Probably the stories at issue were contained in a work which is now lost but which was numbered with the OT writings at the time of 2 Tm.
3. Later traces of a work which contained the tales of Jannes and Jambres have been detected in Origen, who mentions τὴν περὶ Μωϋσέως καὶ Ἰαννοῦ καὶ Ἰαμβροῦ ἱστορίαν,10 and who also speaks of a Book of Jannes and Jambres.11 Pope Gelasius in his Decretum De Libris Recipiendis et Non Recipiendis also mentions an apocryphal Book of Jannes and Jambres (liber qui appellatur Paenitentia Jamne et Mambre apocryphus).12 (TDNT)