Difficult Times Will Come

But realize this, that (A)in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be (B)lovers of self, (C)lovers of money, (D)boastful, (E)arrogant, (F)slanderers, (G)disobedient to parents, (H)ungrateful, (I)unholy, (J)unloving, irreconcilable, (K)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a](L)haters of good, (M)treacherous, (N)reckless, (O)conceited, (P)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [b](Q)godliness although they have (R)denied its power; (S)avoid such people as these. For among them are those who [c](T)slip into households and captivate [d](U)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by (V)various impulses, always learning and never able to (W)come to the [e]knowledge of the truth. Just as (X)Jannes and Jambres (Y)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, (Z)men of depraved mind, [f]worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their (AA)foolishness will be obvious to all, just (AB)as was that also of [g]Jannes and Jambres.

10 Now you (AC)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, (AD)love, [h]perseverance, 11 (AE)persecutions, and (AF)sufferings, such as happened to me at (AG)Antioch, at (AH)Iconium, and at (AI)Lystra; what (AJ)persecutions I endured, and out of them all (AK)the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus (AL)will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and impostors (AM)will proceed from bad to worse, (AN)deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, (AO)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that (AP)from childhood you have known (AQ)the sacred writings which are able to (AR)give you the wisdom that leads to (AS)salvation through faith which is in (AT)Christ Jesus. 16 (AU)All Scripture is [i]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for [j]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that (AV)the man or woman of God may be [k]fully capable, (AW)equipped for every good work.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:3 Lit not loving good
  2. 2 Timothy 3:5 Or religion
  3. 2 Timothy 3:6 Or creep into
  4. 2 Timothy 3:6 Or idle
  5. 2 Timothy 3:7 Or recognition
  6. 2 Timothy 3:8 Or unfit
  7. 2 Timothy 3:9 Lit those
  8. 2 Timothy 3:10 Or steadfastness
  9. 2 Timothy 3:16 Lit God-breathed
  10. 2 Timothy 3:16 Or reprimand
  11. 2 Timothy 3:17 Or proficient

What People will be Like in the Last Days

You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people. For some of these men go into homes and deceive foolish women who are burdened with sins and swayed by all kinds of desires. These women are always studying but are never able to arrive at a full knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and their faith is a counterfeit. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those two men,[a] their stupidity will be plain to everyone.

Continue to Teach the Truth

10 But you have observed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, 11 and how I was persecuted and suffered in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with the Messiah[b] Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and found to be true, because you know from whom you learned it. 15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiah[c] Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed[d] and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:9 The Gk. lacks two men
  2. 2 Timothy 3:12 Or Christ
  3. 2 Timothy 3:15 Or Christ
  4. 2 Timothy 3:16 Or inspired by God