Difficult Times Ahead in the Last Days

3 But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come, ² for people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ hardhearted, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, savage, with no interest for what is good, ⁴ traitors, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God, ⁵ maintaining a form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid these people. ⁶ For from these are those who slip into houses and captivate foolish women loaded down with sins, led by various kinds of desires, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ And just as^[a] Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, people corrupted in mind, disqualified concerning the faith. ⁹ But they will not progress to a greater extent, for their folly will be quite evident to everyone, as also the folly of those two was.

¹⁴ And if even the three of these men were in the midst of it—Noah, Daniel, and Job—they, through their righteousness, would save only themselves!”^[a] declares^[b] the Lord Yahweh.

Be Anxious for Nothing

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be made known to all people. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds^[a] in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things. ⁹ And the things which you have learned and received and heard about and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Support for Paul’s Ministry

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your concern for me^[b], for whom also you were thinking, but you had no opportunity to express it. ¹¹ Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how both to make do with little^[c] and I know how to have an abundance^[d]. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have an abundance^[e] and to go without. ¹³ I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me.

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires which wage war against your^[a] soul, ¹² maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in the things in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

²³ And then I will say to them plainly,^[a] ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’

²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’