Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

He prophesies of the perilous times. He describes the traits of hypocrites, and tells us what they are within for all their fair faces outwardly. Persecution for the gospel.

3 This understand: in the last days, perilous times will come. ² For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to father and mother, unthankful, unholy, ³ unkind, truce breakers, stubborn, false accusers, dissolute, fierce, despisers of those who are good, ⁴ traitors, wilful, high-minded, greedy for pleasures more than lovers of God, ⁵ having a similitude of godly living, but who have denied the power thereof – and from such, turn away. ⁶ Of this sort are those who enter into houses and bring into bondage women laden with sin, which women are led by divers desires and lusts, ⁷ ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

⁸ As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, even so do these resist the truth. Men they are of corrupt minds, and ignorant concerning the faith. ⁹ But they will progress no further, for their madness will be revealed to all, as theirs was.