Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Know That Difficult Times Will Come, And Turn Away From The Ungodly

3 But know this— that during the last days difficult^[a] times will be present. ² For the people will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unaffectionate, unreconcilable^[b], slanderous, without-self-control, untamed^[c], not-lovers-of-good, ⁴ traitors, reckless, having become conceited, pleasure-lovers rather than God-lovers, ⁵ holding a form of godliness but having denied the power of it. Indeed, be turning-away-from these ones.

For They Deceive The Ignorant And Oppose The Truth

⁶ For from these are the ones creeping into the houses and taking-captive little-women^[d]— women having been heaped with sins, being led by various desires, ⁷ always learning and never being able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ And the way Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, in this manner these also oppose the truth— people having been corrupted as to the mind, disapproved with respect to the faith. ⁹ But they will not advance further, for their folly will be very-evident to everyone, as also the folly of those two came-to-be^[e].

Continue In The Teaching And Lifestyle You Have Seen In Me And Learned From The Scriptures

¹⁰ Now you closely-followed my teaching, way-of-life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings— such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. Such persecutions I endured! And the Lord delivered me out of them all! ¹² And indeed all the ones wanting to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³ And evil people and impostors will advance to the worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you, be continuing in the things which you learned and were convinced-of, knowing from whom^[f] you learned, ¹⁵ and that from babyhood you have known the sacred writings being able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus!

All Scripture Is God-Breathed, And Profitable For Equipping Us For Good Works

¹⁶ All^[g] Scripture is God-breathed^[h], and profitable for teaching, for rebuking^[i], for correcting^[j], for training^[k] in righteousness, ¹⁷ in order that the person of God may be complete^[l], having been equipped for every good work.

I Solemnly Charge You To Proclaim The Word, For People Will Turn Away From The Truth

4 I solemnly-charge you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, the One going-to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearance and His kingdom— ² proclaim the Word. Stand-at^[m] it in-season, out-of-season. Rebuke, warn, exhort^[n], with all patience and instruction. ³ For there will be a time when they will not bear-with healthy teaching, but while itching^[o] with respect to the hearing, they will heap-up teachers for themselves in accordance with their own desires. ⁴ And they will turn the hearing away from the truth and be turned-aside to myths. ⁵ But you, be sober in all things, suffer-hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill^[p] your ministry.

For The Time of My Departure Is Near. I Have Finished My Course

⁶ For I am already being poured-out^[q], and the time of my departure^[r] has stood-near^[s]. ⁷ I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will render to me on that day— and not only to me, but also to all the ones having loved His appearance.

Closing Words

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly. ¹⁰ For Demas deserted^[t] me, having loved the present age^[u], and went to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Luke only is with me. Having picked-up Mark, bring him with yourself, for he is useful to me for service. ¹² And I sent-forth Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ While coming, bring the cloak which I left-behind in Troas with Carpus, and the books— especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith^[v] showed^[w] many evil things against me— the Lord will render to him according to his works— ¹⁵ as to whom you also be guarding yourself, for he greatly opposed our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one was present^[x] with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood-by me and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fulfilled and all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of a lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and save^[y] me into His heavenly kingdom— to Whom be the glory forever and ever, amen.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus remained in Corinth, but I left-behind Trophimus sick in Miletus. ²¹ Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and [so do] Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers. ²² The Lord be with your^[z] spirit. Grace be with you^[aa] all.