2 Timothy 3
English Standard Version
Godlessness in the Last Days
3 But understand this, that (A)in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be (B)lovers of self, (C)lovers of money, (D)proud, (E)arrogant, abusive, (F)disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 (G)heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, (H)not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, (I)swollen with conceit, (J)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but (K)denying its power. (L)Avoid such people. 6 For among them are (M)those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to (N)arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as (O)Jannes and Jambres (P)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, (Q)men corrupted in mind and (R)disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, (S)as was that of those two men.
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10 (T)You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me (U)at Antioch, (V)at Iconium, and (W)at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet (X)from them all (Y)the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to (Z)live a godly life in Christ Jesus (AA)will be persecuted, 13 while (AB)evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and (AC)being deceived. 14 But as for you, (AD)continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it 15 and how (AE)from childhood you have been acquainted with (AF)the sacred writings, (AG)which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 (AH)All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that (AI)the man of God[b] may be complete, (AJ)equipped (AK)for every good work.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 3:14 The Greek for whom is plural
- 2 Timothy 3:17 That is, a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression)
2 Timothy 3
Common English Bible
Avoid people like this
3 Understand that the last days will be dangerous times. 2 People will be selfish and love money. They will be the kind of people who brag and who are proud. They will slander others, and they will be disobedient to their parents. They will be ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, contrary, and critical. They will be without self-control and brutal, and they won’t love what is good. 4 They will be people who are disloyal, reckless, and conceited. They will love pleasure instead of loving God. 5 They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power. Avoid people like this. 6 Some will slither into households and control immature women who are burdened with sins and driven by all kinds of desires. 7 These women are always learning, but they can never arrive at an understanding of the truth. 8 These people oppose the truth in the same way that Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. Their minds are corrupt and their faith is counterfeit. 9 But they won’t get very far. Their foolishness will become obvious to everyone like those others.
Take Paul as your model
10 But you have paid attention to my teaching, conduct, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, and endurance. 11 You have seen me experience physical abuse and ordeals in places such as Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I put up with all sorts of abuse, and the Lord rescued me from it all! 12 In fact, anyone who wants to live a holy life in Christ Jesus will be harassed. 13 But evil people and swindlers will grow even worse, as they deceive others while being deceived themselves.
14 But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. 15 Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, 17 so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible