2 Timothy 3–4

Difficult Times Ahead in the Last Days

3But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come, ²for people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³hardhearted, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, savage, with no interest for what is good, ⁴traitors, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God, ⁵maintaining a form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid these people. ⁶For from these are those who slip into houses and captivate foolish women loaded down with sins, led by various kinds of desires, ⁷always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸And just as^a Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, people corrupted in mind, disqualified concerning the faith. ⁹But they will not progress to a greater extent, for their folly will be quite evident to everyone, as also the folly of those two was.

The Value of the Scriptures

¹⁰But you have faithfully followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹persecutions, and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra, what sort of persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from all of them. ¹²And indeed, all those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³But evil people and imposters will progress to the worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴But you continue in the things which you have learned and are convinced of, because you^* know from whom you learned them, ¹⁵and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

4I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, ²preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction. ³For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, because they have an insatiable curiosity^a, ⁴and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths. ⁵But you, be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is imminent. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have completed the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Final Instructions to Timothy

⁹Make haste to come to me quickly. ¹⁰For Demas deserted me, because he^* loved the present age, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia; Titus went to Dalmatia. ¹¹Luke alone is with me. Take along Mark and^* bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry. ¹²But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³When you^* come, bring the cloak that I left behind in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the metalworker did me much harm; may the Lord pay back to him according to his deeds, ¹⁵against whom you also be on guard, because he vehemently opposed our words. ¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my aid, but they all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷But the Lord helped me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fulfilled and all the Gentiles might hear, and he rescued me from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will save me for his heavenly kingdom, to whom be the glory forever and ever^b. Amen.

Final Greetings and Benediction

¹⁹Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left behind in Miletus because he^* was sick. ²¹Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers greet you. ²²The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.