2 Timothy 3-4

New American Standard Bible

Difficult Times Will Come

3 But realize this, that ^(A)in the last days difficult times will come. ² For people will be ^(B)lovers of self, ^(C)lovers of money, ^(D)boastful, ^(E)arrogant, ^(F)slanderers, ^(G)disobedient to parents, ^(H)ungrateful, ^(I)unholy, ^3 (J)unloving, irreconcilable, ^(K)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, ^[a](L)haters of good, ^4 (M)treacherous, ^(N)reckless, ^(O)conceited, ^(P)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of ^[b](Q)godliness although they have ^(R)denied its power; ^(S)avoid such people as these. ⁶ For among them are those who ^[c](T)slip into households and captivate ^[d](U)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by ^(V)various impulses, ⁷ always learning and never able to ^(W)come to the ^[e]knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as ^(X)Jannes and Jambres ^(Y)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(Z)men of depraved mind, ^[f]worthless in regard to the faith. ⁹ But they will not make further progress; for their ^(AA)foolishness will be obvious to all, just ^(AB)as was that also of ^[g]Jannes and Jambres.

¹⁰ Now you ^(AC)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, ^(AD)love, ^[h]perseverance, ^11 (AE)persecutions, and ^(AF)sufferings, such as happened to me at ^(AG)Antioch, at ^(AH)Iconium, and at ^(AI)Lystra; what ^(AJ)persecutions I endured, and out of them all ^(AK)the Lord rescued me! ¹² Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus ^(AL)will be persecuted. ¹³ But evil people and impostors ^(AM)will proceed from bad to worse, ^(AN)deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, ^(AO)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that ^(AP)from childhood you have known ^(AQ)the sacred writings which are able to ^(AR)give you the wisdom that leads to ^(AS)salvation through faith which is in ^(AT)Christ Jesus. ^16 (AU)All Scripture is ^[i]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for ^[j]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that ^(AV)the man or woman of God may be ^[k]fully capable, ^(AW)equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 ^(AX)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(AY)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(AZ)appearing and His kingdom: ² preach ^(BA)the word; be ready ^[l]in season and out of season; ^(BB)correct, rebuke, and ^[m]exhort, with ^[n]great ^(BC)patience and instruction. ³ For ^(BD)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(BE)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they ^(BF)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(BG)will turn aside to myths. ⁵ But as for you, ^(BH)use self-restraint in all things, ^(BI)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(BJ)evangelist, fulfill your ^(BK)ministry.

⁶ For I am already being ^(BL)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(BM)my departure has come. ^7 (BN)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(BO)the course, I have kept ^(BP)the faith; ⁸ in the future there ^(BQ)is reserved for me ^(BR)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(BS)that day; and not only to me, but also to ^(BT)all who have loved His ^(BU)appearing.

Personal Concerns

^9 (BV)Make every effort to come to me soon; ¹⁰ for ^(BW)Demas, having loved ^(BX)this present ^[o]world, has deserted me and gone to ^(BY)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ^[p](BZ)Galatia, ^(CA)Titus to Dalmatia. ^11 (CB)Only ^(CC)Luke is with me. Take along ^(CD)Mark and bring him with you, ^(CE)for he is useful to me for service. ¹² But I have sent ^(CF)Tychicus to ^(CG)Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at ^(CH)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. ^14 (CI)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^(CJ)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our ^[q]teaching.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; ^(CK)may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and ^(CL)strengthened me, so that through me ^(CM)the proclamation might ^[r]be ^(CN)fully accomplished, and that all ^(CO)the Gentiles might hear; and I was ^(CP)rescued out of ^(CQ)the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^[s](CR)bring me safely to His ^(CS)heavenly kingdom; ^(CT)to ^[t]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and ^(CU)Aquila, and ^(CV)the household of Onesiphorus. ^20 (CW)Erastus remained at ^(CX)Corinth, but I left ^(CY)Trophimus sick at ^(CZ)Miletus. ^21 (DA)Make every effort to come before ^(DB)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

^22 (DC)The Lord be with your spirit. ^(DD)Grace be with you.