Thomas Aquinas, on 2Tim 3:8

“Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.”

“Then when he says, as Jannes and Mambre resisted Moses, he shows the harm they cause prelates, namely, the harm of resisting their doctrine. And he finds an example in Exodus, where the magicians resisted Moses; because from the beginning of time there has been a struggle between truth and falsity: but there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you, lying teachers (2 Pet 2:1). But in Exodus those magicians were not named, but here they are: and perhaps he obtained their names from certain Jewish writings. So these also resist the truth which we preach: they have been rebellious to the light (Job 24:13); you always resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). Then when he says, men corrupted in mind, he shows wherein they fail in faith and in works: they are reprobate in their works; a Gloss says: that is, they prove themselves reprobates by their works: call them reprobate silver (Jer 6:30). And corrupted in mind concerning the faith, i.e., in their reasoning powers. For a thing is considered corrupt, when it falls from its due power. But the proper perfection of the mind is knowledge of the truth. Hence, one is said to be corrupted in mind, if he falls away from the knowledge of the truth.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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