2 Timothy 2:14–3:9

An Unashamed Workman

14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly acharge them in the presence of God not to bwrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

15 Be diligent to apresent yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling bthe word of truth.

16 But aavoid bworldly and empty chatter, for 1it will lead to further ungodliness,

17 and their 1talk will spread like 2gangrene. Among them are aHymenaeus and Philetus,

18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that athe resurrection has already taken place, and they upset bthe faith of some.

19 Nevertheless, the afirm foundation of God stands, having this bseal, “cThe Lord knows those who are His,” and, “dEveryone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and asome to honor and some to dishonor.

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from athese things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, bprepared for every good work.

22 Now aflee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, bfaith, love and peace, with those who ccall on the Lord dfrom a pure heart.

23 But refuse foolish and ignorant aspeculations, knowing that they bproduce 1quarrels.

24 aThe Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, bable to teach, patient when wronged,

25 awith gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, bif perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to cthe knowledge of the truth,

26 and they may come to their senses and escape from athe snare of the devil, having been bheld captive 1by him to do his will.

Chapter 3

“Difficult Times Will Come”

1 But realize this, that ain the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be alovers of self, blovers of money, cboastful, carrogant, drevilers, cdisobedient to parents, eungrateful, funholy,

3 aunloving, irreconcilable, bmalicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, 1chaters of good,

4 atreacherous, breckless, cconceited, dlovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of 1agodliness, although they have bdenied its power; cAvoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who 1aenter into households and captivate 2bweak women weighed down with sins, led on by cvarious impulses,

7 always learning and never able to acome to the 1knowledge of the truth.

8 Just as aJannes and Jambres bopposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, cmen of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.

9 But they will not make further progress; for their afolly will be obvious to all, just bas 1Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.