Bible Strands
2 Timothy 3:7
who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Timothy to identify false teachers who infiltrate homes and exploit vulnerable women weighed down by sin.
The words — The Greek πᾶντοτε (pantote, "always") and μανθάνοντα (manthanonta, "learning") describe continuous study, while μηδέποτε (mēdepote, "never") and ἐπίγνωσιν (epignōsin, "knowledge") state their inability to reach the truth.
The thread — The passage links to warnings about teachers who reject sound doctrine and cater to itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3) and contrasts with God’s stated desire that all arrive at genuine knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
Why it lands — The text states that persistent intellectual activity does not guarantee truth, requiring readers to evaluate whether their studies produce actual alignment with biblical revelation rather than mere accumulation of information.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Cross-references
- 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
- 1 Timothy 2:4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- Proverbs 14:6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
- John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- 2 Timothy 2:25 He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
- Isaiah 30:10 They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
- John 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
- John 12:42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.