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The Dangers of the Last Days

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of[a] vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Paul’s Final Words

Timothy, please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.[b]

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.

16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.[c] 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Paul’s Final Greetings

19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.

21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.[d]

22 May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.

Footnotes

  1. 3:6 Greek and take captive.
  2. 4:13 Greek especially the parchments.
  3. 4:17 Greek from the mouth of a lion.
  4. 4:21 Greek brothers.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.(A) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,(B) boastful, proud,(C) abusive,(D) disobedient to their parents,(E) ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous,(F) rash, conceited,(G) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness(H) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.(I)

They are the kind who worm their way(J) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.(K) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,(L) so also these teachers oppose(M) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,(N) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,(O) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

10 You, however, know all about my teaching,(P) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,(Q) Iconium(R) and Lystra,(S) the persecutions I endured.(T) Yet the Lord rescued(U) me from all of them.(V) 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,(W) 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,(X) deceiving and being deceived.(Y) 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,(Z) 15 and how from infancy(AA) you have known the Holy Scriptures,(AB) which are able to make you wise(AC) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed(AD) and is useful for teaching,(AE) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,(AF) 17 so that the servant of God[a](AG) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(AH)

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,(AI) and in view of his appearing(AJ) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:(AK) Preach(AL) the word;(AM) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke(AN) and encourage(AO)—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.(AP) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.(AQ) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(AR) But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(AS) do the work of an evangelist,(AT) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(AU) and the time for my departure is near.(AV) I have fought the good fight,(AW) I have finished the race,(AX) I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me(AY) the crown of righteousness,(AZ) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day(BA)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(BB)

Personal Remarks

Do your best to come to me quickly,(BC) 10 for Demas,(BD) because he loved this world,(BE) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.(BF) Crescens has gone to Galatia,(BG) and Titus(BH) to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke(BI) is with me.(BJ) Get Mark(BK) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus(BL) to Ephesus.(BM) 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,(BN) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander(BO) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.(BP) 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(BQ) 17 But the Lord stood at my side(BR) and gave me strength,(BS) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(BT) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(BU) 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack(BV) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.(BW) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(BX)

Final Greetings

19 Greet Priscilla[b] and Aquila(BY) and the household of Onesiphorus.(BZ) 20 Erastus(CA) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus(CB) sick in Miletus.(CC) 21 Do your best to get here before winter.(CD) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.[c]

22 The Lord be with your spirit.(CE) Grace be with you all.(CF)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:17 Or that you, a man of God,
  2. 2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
  3. 2 Timothy 4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

Psalm 134

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
    you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.
Lift your hands toward the sanctuary,
    and praise the Lord.

May the Lord, who made heaven and earth,
    bless you from Jerusalem.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 134:3 Hebrew Zion.

Psalm 134

A song of ascents.

Praise the Lord, all you servants(A) of the Lord
    who minister(B) by night(C) in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands(D) in the sanctuary(E)
    and praise the Lord.(F)

May the Lord bless you from Zion,(G)
    he who is the Maker of heaven(H) and earth.

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24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.
    You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the Lord means safety.

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24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.(A)

25 Fear(B) of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord(C) is kept safe.(D)

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