The Widow’s Offering^(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.^{(B) 2} He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”^(C)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times^(D)(E)

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;^(F) every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^{(G) 9} When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(H) 11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(I)

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(J) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(K) 15} For I will give you^(L) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(M) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(N) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(O) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(P)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(Q) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^{(R) 22} For this is the time of punishment^(S) in fulfillment^(T) of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(U) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.^{(V) 26} People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.^{(W) 27} At that time they will see the Son of Man^(X) coming in a cloud^(Y) with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”^(Z)

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God^(AA) is near.

³² “Truly I tell you, this generation^(AB) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(AC)

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(AD) and that day will close on you suddenly^(AE) like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray^(AF) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷ Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,^(AG) and each evening he went out^(AH) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,^{(AI) 38} and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.^(AJ)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{(A) 2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^(B) boastful, proud,^(C) abusive,^(D) disobedient to their parents,^(E) ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous,^(F) rash, conceited,^(G) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(H) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(I)

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(J) 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.^{(K) 8} Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^(L) so also these teachers oppose^(M) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^(N) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,^(O) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(P) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(Q) Iconium^(R) and Lystra,^(S) the persecutions I endured.^(T) Yet the Lord rescued^(U) me from all of them.^{(V) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(W) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(X) deceiving and being deceived.^{(Y) 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,^{(Z) 15} and how from infancy^(AA) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(AB) which are able to make you wise^(AC) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(AD) and is useful for teaching,^(AE) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(AF) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](AG) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(AH)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(AI) and in view of his appearing^(AJ) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{(AK) 2} Preach^(AL) the word;^(AM) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(AN) and encourage^(AO)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(AP) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(AQ) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(AR) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(AS) do the work of an evangelist,^(AT) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^(AU) and the time for my departure is near.^{(AV) 7} I have fought the good fight,^(AW) I have finished the race,^(AX) I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me^(AY) the crown of righteousness,^(AZ) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^(BA)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^(BB)

Personal Remarks

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly,^{(BC) 10} for Demas,^(BD) because he loved this world,^(BE) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.^(BF) Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(BG) and Titus^(BH) to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke^(BI) is with me.^(BJ) Get Mark^(BK) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus^(BL) to Ephesus.^{(BM) 13} When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,^(BN) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander^(BO) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.^{(BP) 15} You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^{(BQ) 17} But the Lord stood at my side^(BR) and gave me strength,^(BS) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^(BT) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^{(BU) 18} The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack^(BV) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.^(BW) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(BX)

Final Greetings

¹⁹ Greet Priscilla^[b] and Aquila^(BY) and the household of Onesiphorus.^{(BZ) 20} Erastus^(CA) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus^(CB) sick in Miletus.^{(CC) 21} Do your best to get here before winter.^(CD) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^[c]

²² The Lord be with your spirit.^(CE) Grace be with you all.^(CF)