Add parallel Print Page Options

Ministry in the Last Days

But understand this, that in the last days difficult[a] times will come. For people[b] will be lovers of themselves,[c] lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance[d] of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.[e]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:1 tn Or perhaps, “dangerous,” “fierce.”
  2. 2 Timothy 3:2 tn Grk “men,” but here ἄνθρωποι (anthrōpoi) is generic, referring to both men and women.
  3. 2 Timothy 3:2 tn Or “self-centered.” The first two traits in 2 Tim 3:2 and the last two in 3:4 are Greek words beginning with the root “lovers of,” and so bracket the list at beginning and end.
  4. 2 Timothy 3:5 tn Or “form.”sn Outward appearance. Paul’s contrast with power in 3:5b shows that he regards this “form” to be outward, one of appearance rather than reality (cf. 1 Cor 4:19-20; 1 Thess 1:5).
  5. 2 Timothy 3:5 tn Grk “and avoid these,” with the word “people” implied.

Difficult Times Will Come

But know this, that (A)in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be (B)lovers of self, (C)lovers of money, (D)boastful, (E)arrogant, (F)blasphemers, (G)disobedient to parents, (H)ungrateful, (I)unholy, (J)unloving, irreconcilable, [a](K)malicious gossips, without self-control, without gentleness, (L)without love for good, (M)treacherous, (N)reckless, (O)conceited, (P)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [b](Q)godliness, but having (R)denied its power. (S)Keep away from such men as these.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:3 Or devilish
  2. 2 Timothy 3:5 Or religion