Paul predicts that these people will not triumph, because their folly will be exposed, and the members of the Christian community will see them for what they really are.

They will not get very far is literally “they will not advance much,” with “advance” being used in a figurative sense to mean “to make progress” (compare New Revised Standard Version “they will not make much progress,” Revised English Bible “their successes will be short-lived”). For further comments on this kind of “progress,” see discussion about “more and more ungodliness” in 2 Tim 2.16. Other ways of expressing this are “Their success will only last for a short time,” or even “Their foolishness (or, stupidity) will only help them for a short time.” The reason for their short-lived success is because, like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to all. Folly denotes lack of understanding; hence “senselessness,” “stupidity” (compare Good News Translation “every one will see how stupid they are”). Plain translates a word that means “easily known,” “clearly evident,” “quite obvious.” This word occurs only here in the whole New Testament.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .