¹⁶ Avoid godless chatter,^(A) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus^(B) and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,^(C) and they destroy the faith of some.^(D)

⁴ treacherous,^(A) rash, conceited,^(B) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(C) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(D)

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(E) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.^(F)

⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,^(A) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(B) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,

¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(A) deceiving and being deceived.^{(B) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^(C)