2 Timothy 3
1599 Geneva Bible
3 1 He foretelleth the dangerous times that are to ensue: 9 but with the certain hope of victory, 10 he encourageth him to the combat, 14 setting out especially the trial of sound doctrine.
1 This [a]know also, that in the (A)last days shall come perilous times.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, [b]unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, no lovers at all of them which are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,
5 Having a show of godliness, but have denied the power thereof: [c]turn away therefore from such.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive simple women laden with sins, and led with divers lusts,
7 Which women are ever learning, and are never able to come to the acknowledging of the truth.
8 (B)And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 [d]But they shall prevail no longer: for their madness shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 ¶ [e]But thou hast [f]fully known my doctrine, manner of living, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
11 Persecutions, and afflictions which came unto me at [g]Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, which persecutions I suffered: but from them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.
13 But the evil men and deceivers shall wax [h]worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and which are committed unto thee, knowing of whom thou hast learned them:
15 And that thou hast known the holy Scriptures of a child, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 (C)[i]For the whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to convince, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness,
17 That the [j]man of God may be absolute, being made perfect unto all good works.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 3:1 The seventh admonition: we may not hope for any Church in this world without corruption: but there shall be rather great abundance of most wicked men, even in the very bosom of the Church, which notwithstanding shall make a show and countenance of great holiness and charity.
- 2 Timothy 3:2 Which make no account, either of right or honesty.
- 2 Timothy 3:5 We must not dally with such men as resist the truth not of simple ignorance, but of a perverse mind, (which thing appeareth by their fruits which he painteth out here lively) but we must rather turn away from them.
- 2 Timothy 3:9 He addeth a comfort: The Lord will at length pluck off all their vizards.
- 2 Timothy 3:10 That we be not deceived by such hypocrites, we must set before us the virtues of the holy servants of God, and we must not be afraid of persecution, which they suffered willingly, and which always followeth true godliness. But we must especially hold fast the doctrine of the Apostles, the sum whereof is this, that we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 3:10 Thou knowest thoroughly, not only what I taught and did, but also how I was minded and disposed.
- 2 Timothy 3:11 Which is in Pisidia.
- 2 Timothy 3:13 Their wickedness shall daily increase.
- 2 Timothy 3:16 The eighth admonition, which is most precious: A Pastor must be wise by the word of God only: wherein we have perfectly delivered unto us, whatsoever pertaineth either to discern, know and establish true opinions, and to confute false, and furthermore, to correct evil manners, and to frame good.
- 2 Timothy 3:17 The Prophets and expounders of God’s will, are properly and peculiarly called, Men of God.
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
New King James Version
Perilous Times and Perilous Men
3 But know this, that (A)in the last days [a]perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 (B)traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 (C)having a form of godliness but (D)denying its power. And (E)from such people turn away! 6 For (F)of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able (G)to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 (H)Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: (I)men of corrupt minds, (J)disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, (K)as theirs also was.
The Man of God and the Word of God
10 (L)But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me (M)at Antioch, (N)at Iconium, (O)at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And (P)out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and (Q)all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 (R)But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must (S)continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known (T)the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 (U)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, (V)and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [c]instruction in righteousness, 17 (W)that the man of God may be complete, (X)thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 3:1 times of stress
- 2 Timothy 3:3 irreconcilable
- 2 Timothy 3:16 training, discipline
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
