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Jannes and Jambres

A Greek text composed between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, probably in Roman Egypt. Recounts the story of the two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses.|||Survives in Greek (P. Chester Beatty XVI, 3rd–4th c.) and Latin (British Library Cotton Tiberius B. v).|||Composed between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, probably in Roman Egypt.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||The story of the two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses before Pharaoh. Contains legends about their eventual repentance or destruction.|||Pietersma, A. The Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres the Magicians. Brill, 1994.|||Jannes and Jambres — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannes_and_Jambres|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" And Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, as also the magicians withstood the apostles." — 2 Timothy 3:8 (NT reference)

Collection: Jewish Pseudepigrapha Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Composed between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, probably in Roman Egypt.

Language & Manuscripts

Survives in Greek (P. Chester Beatty XVI, 3rd–4th c.) and Latin (British Library Cotton Tiberius B. v).

Why It Matters for Study

The story of the two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses before Pharaoh. Contains legends about their eventual repentance or destruction.

" And Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, as also the magicians withstood the apostles." — 2 Timothy 3:8 (NT reference)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " And Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, as also the magicians withstood the apostles." — 2 Timothy 3:8 (NT reference) " And Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, as also the magicians withstood the apostles." — 2 Timothy 3:8 (NT reference)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Pietersma, A. The Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres the Magicians. Brill, 1994.
Jannes and Jambres — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannes_and_Jambres|Background and scholarly discussion.
" And Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, as also the magicians withstood the apostles." — 2 Timothy 3:8 (NT reference)