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.

Preach the Word

4 ^(AL)I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, ^(AM)who is to judge the living and the dead, and by ^(AN)his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^(AO)reprove, rebuke, and ^(AP)exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ^3 (AQ)For the time is coming when people will not endure ^(AR)sound^[c] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and ^(AS)will turn away from listening to the truth and ^(AT)wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, ^(AU)always be sober-minded, ^(AV)endure suffering, do the work of ^(AW)an evangelist, ^(AX)fulfill your ministry.

⁶ For ^(AY)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my ^(AZ)departure has come. ^7 (BA)I have fought the good fight, ^(BB)I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is ^(BC)laid up for me ^(BD)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ^(BE)the righteous judge, will award to me on ^(BF)that day, and not only to me but also to all ^(BG)who have loved his appearing.

To the Church in Pergamum

¹² “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has ^(A)the sharp two-edged sword.

¹³ “‘I know where you dwell, ^(B)where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not ^(C)deny my faith^[a] even in the days of Antipas ^(D)my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of ^(E)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might ^(F)eat food sacrificed to idols and ^(G)practice sexual immorality. ¹⁵ So also you have some who hold the teaching of ^(H)the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ Therefore repent. If not, ^(I)I will come to you soon and ^(J)war against them with ^(K)the sword of my mouth. ^17 (L)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ^(M)To the one who conquers I will give some of ^(N)the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with ^(O)a new name written on the stone ^(P)that no one knows except the one who receives it.’