2 Timothy 3:1–4:22
But 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, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous,o rash, conceited,p lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godlinessq but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.r
6 They are the kind who worm their ways into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always 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 opposev the truth. They are men of depraved minds,w who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,x their folly will be clear to everyone.
10 You, however, know all about my teaching,y my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,z Iconiuma and Lystra,b the persecutions I endured.c Yet the Lord rescuedd 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 infancyj you have known the Holy Scriptures,k which are able to make you wisel for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathedm and is useful for teaching,n rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,o 17 so that the servant of Goda p may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.q
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,r and in view of his appearings and his kingdom, I give you this charge:t 2 Preachu the word;v be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebukew and encouragex—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For 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.
6 For 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. 8 Now there is in store for meh the crown of righteousness,i which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that dayj—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.k
9 Do 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 Titusq to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luker is with me.s Get Markt and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicusu to Ephesus.v 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,w and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexanderx 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.
16 At 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 sidea 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 attacke and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.f To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.g
19 Greet Priscillaa and Aquilah and the household of Onesiphorus.i 20 Erastusj stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimusk 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