³ First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts^(A)

¹⁸ for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.”^(A)

¹⁰ —especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust and who despise authority.

Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,^[a](A)

False Asceticism

4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later^[a] times some will renounce^[b] the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,^{(A) 2} through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

¹⁶ These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their lusts;^[a] their mouths utter bombastic nonsense, flattering people to their own advantage.^(A)

²⁰ First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s^[a] own interpretation,

² We have renounced the shameful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.^(A)

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come.