Dealing With False Teachers

¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;^(A) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.^{(B) 16} Avoid godless chatter,^(C) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus^(D) and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,^(E) and they destroy the faith of some.^{(F) 19} Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(G) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(H) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(I) must turn away from wickedness.”

²⁰ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.^{(J) 21} Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.^(K)

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(L) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(M) out of a pure heart.^{(N) 23} Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.^{(O) 24} And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^{(P) 25} Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^{(Q) 26} and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(R) who has taken them captive to do his will.

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{(S) 2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^(T) boastful, proud,^(U) abusive,^(V) disobedient to their parents,^(W) ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous,^(X) rash, conceited,^(Y) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(Z) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(AA)

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(AB) 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.^{(AC) 8} Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^(AD) so also these teachers oppose^(AE) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^(AF) 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,^(AG) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(AH) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(AI) Iconium^(AJ) and Lystra,^(AK) the persecutions I endured.^(AL) Yet the Lord rescued^(AM) me from all of them.^{(AN) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(AO) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(AP) deceiving and being deceived.^{(AQ) 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,^{(AR) 15} and how from infancy^(AS) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(AT) which are able to make you wise^(AU) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(AV) and is useful for teaching,^(AW) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(AX) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](AY) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(AZ)