The Coming Apostasy

4 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² by the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience, ³ who forbid marrying and insist on abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth, ⁴ because everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is^[a] received with thankfulness, ⁵ for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

The Good Servant of Christ

⁶ By^[b] teaching these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully. ⁷ But reject those worthless myths told by elderly women^[c], and train yourself for godliness. ⁸ For the training of the body is somewhat^[d] profitable, but godliness is profitable for everything, because it^[e] holds promise for the present life and for the life to come. ⁹ The statement is trustworthy and deserving of complete acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we labor and suffer reproach,^[f] because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

¹¹ Command these things and teach them. ¹² Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, pay attention to the public reading,^[g] to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. ¹⁵ Practice these things. Be diligent^[h] in these things, in order that your progress may be evident to everyone. ¹⁶ Fix your attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for by^[i] doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.