3Here is what I want you to know. There will be terrible times in the last days. ²People will love themselves. They will love money. They will brag and be proud. They will tear others down. They will not obey their parents. They won’t be thankful or holy. ³They won’t love others. They won’t forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control. They will be wild. They will hate what is good.

⁴They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will love what pleases them instead of loving God. ⁵They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God’s power. Have nothing to do with those people.

⁶They are the kind who worm their way into the homes of silly women. They get control over them. Women like that are loaded down with sins. They give in to all kinds of evil longings. ⁷They are always learning. But they never come to know the truth.

⁸Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. In the same way, the teachers I’m talking about oppose the truth. Their minds are twisted. As far as the faith is concerned, God doesn’t accept them. ⁹They won’t get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.

Paul Gives a Command to Timothy

¹⁰But you know all about my teaching. You know how I live and what I live for. You know about my faith and love. You know how patient I am. You know I haven’t given up. ¹¹You know that I was treated badly. You know that I suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know how badly I have been treated. But the Lord saved me from all of my troubles.

¹²In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly. ¹³Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.

¹⁴But I want you to continue to follow what you have learned. Don’t give up what you are sure of. You know the people you learned it from. ¹⁵You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. ¹⁷By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.

4I give you a command in the sight of God and Christ Jesus. Christ will judge the living and the dead. Because he and his kingdom are coming, here is the command I give you. ²Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people’s mistakes. Warn them. Cheer them up with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully.

³The time will come when people won’t put up with true teaching. Instead, they will try to satisfy their own longings. They will gather a large number of teachers around them. The teachers will say what the people want to hear. ⁴The people will turn their ears away from the truth. They will turn to stories that aren’t completely true.

⁵But I want you to keep your head no matter what happens. Don’t give up when times are hard. Work to spread the good news. Do everything God has given you to do.

⁶I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time has come for me to leave.

⁷I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

Personal Words

⁹Do your best to come to me quickly.

¹⁰Demas has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica. He left me because he loved this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He helps me in my work for the Lord. ¹²I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

¹³When you come, bring my coat. I left it with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my scrolls. Most of all, bring the ones made out of animal skins.

¹⁴Remember Alexander, the one who works with metal? He did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he has done. ¹⁵You too should watch out for him. He strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶The first time I was put on trial, no one came to help me. Everyone deserted me. I hope they will be forgiven for it.

¹⁷The Lord stood at my side. He gave me the strength to preach the whole message. Then all those who weren’t Jews heard it. I was saved from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will save me from every evil attack. He will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

Give him glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹⁹Greet Priscilla and Aquila. Greet those who live in the house of Onesiphorus.

²⁰Erastus stayed in Corinth. I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.

²¹Do your best to get here before winter.

Eubulus greets you. So do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.

²²May the Lord be with your spirit. May God’s grace be with you.

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