2 Timothy 3–4

3But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{j 2}People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^k boastful, proud,^l abusive,^m disobedient to their parents,ⁿ ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴treacherous,^o rash, conceited,^p lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—⁵having a form of godliness^q but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^r

⁶They are the kind who worm their way^s into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{t 8}Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^u so also these teachers oppose^v the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^w who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,^x their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰You, however, know all about my teaching,^y my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^z Iconium^a and Lystra,^b the persecutions I endured.^c Yet the Lord rescued^d me from all of them.^{e 12}In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{f 13}while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^g deceiving and being deceived.^{h 14}But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{i 15}and how from infancy^j you have known the Holy Scriptures,^k which are able to make you wise^l for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed^m and is useful for teaching,ⁿ rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{o 17}so that the servant of God^ap may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^q

4In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^r and in view of his appearing^s and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{t 2}Preach^u the word;^v be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^w and encourage^x—with great patience and careful instruction. ³For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^y Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{z 4}They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{a 5}But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^b do the work of an evangelist,^c discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^d and the time for my departure is near.^{e 7}I have fought the good fight,^f I have finished the race,^g I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me^h the crown of righteousness,ⁱ which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^j—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^k

Personal Remarks

⁹Do your best to come to me quickly,^{l 10}for Demas,^m because he loved this world,ⁿ has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.^o Crescens has gone to Galatia,^p and Titus^q to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke^r is with me.^s Get Mark^t and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹²I sent Tychicus^u to Ephesus.^{v 13}When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,^w and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴Alexander^x the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.^{y 15}You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^{z 17}But the Lord stood at my side^a and gave me strength,^b so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^c And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^{d 18}The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack^e and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.^f To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^g

Final Greetings

¹⁹Greet Priscilla^a and Aquila^h and the household of Onesiphorus.^{i 20}Erastus^j stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus^k sick in Miletus.^{l 21}Do your best to get here before winter.^m Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^b

²²The Lord be with your spirit.ⁿ Grace be with you all.^o