2 Timothy 3–4

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

3But know this, that ^ain the last days ¹perilous times will come: ²For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³unloving, ²unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ^4btraitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ^5chaving a form of godliness but ^ddenying its power. And ^efrom such people turn away! ⁶For ^fof this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷always learning and never able ^gto come to the knowledge of the truth. ^8hNow as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: ⁱmen of corrupt minds, ^jdisapproved concerning the faith; ⁹but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, ^kas theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

^10lBut you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me ^mat Antioch, ⁿat Iconium, ^oat Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And ^pout of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹²Yes, and ^qall who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ^13rBut evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴But you must ^scontinue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵and that from childhood you have known ^tthe Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

^16uAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, ^vand is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ³instruction in righteousness, ^17wthat the man of God may be complete, ^xthoroughly equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4I ^acharge you ¹therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^bwho will judge the living and the dead ²at His appearing and His kingdom: ²Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^cConvince, ^drebuke, ^eexhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ^3fFor the time will come when they will not endure ^gsound doctrine, ^hbut according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ⁱbe turned aside to fables. ⁵But you be watchful in all things, ^jendure afflictions, do the work of ^kan evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶For ^lI am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^mmy departure is at hand. ⁷ⁿI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me ^othe crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^pJudge, will give to me ^qon that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰for ^rDemas has forsaken me, ^shaving loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Get ^tMark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹²And ^uTychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

^14vAlexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^wMay it not be charged against them.

The Lord is Faithful

^17xBut the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^yso that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^zout of the mouth of the lion. ^18aAnd the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^bTo Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

¹⁹Greet ^cPrisca and Aquila, and the household of ^dOnesiphorus. ^20eErastus stayed in Corinth, but ^fTrophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

²¹Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

²²The Lord ³Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.