2 Timothy 3:1–4:22
3 But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.w 2 For people will be lovers of self,x lovers of money,y boastful, proud,z demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,aa 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers,ab without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,ac 4 traitors,ad reckless,ae conceited,af lovers of pleasureag rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.ah Avoid these people.ai
6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions,aj 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.ak 8 Just as Jannes and Jambresal resisted Moses,am so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mindan and worthlessao in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.
STRUGGLES IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose,ap faith, patience, love,aq and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferingsar that came to me in Antioch,as Iconium,at and Lystra.au What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.av 13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceivingaw and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,ax 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,ay which are able to give you wisdom for salvationaz through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by GodI,ba and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.bb
4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judgebc the living and the dead,bd and because of his appearing and his kingdom:be 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine,bf but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.a 5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,b fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,c and the time for my departure is close. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 There is reserved for me the crownd of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,e will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.A,f
9 Make every effort to come to me soon,g 10 because Demash has deserted me,i since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.j Crescens has gone to Galatia,k Titusl to Dalmatia. 11 Only Lukem is with me. Bring Markn with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicuso to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troasp with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. 14 Alexanderq the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 Watch outr for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.
16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.s May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.t To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila,u and the household of Onesiphorus.v 20 Erastusw has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimusx sick at Miletus.y 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.