2 Timothy 3

Godlessness in the Last Days

³You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. ²For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,^{* 3}unfeeling, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good,^{* 4}treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,^{* 5}holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! ⁶For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate immature women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires,^{* 7}who are always studying yet never able to recognize truth. ⁸As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.^{* 9}But they will not make much progress because, as in the case of those two men,^o their folly will become plain to everyone.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

¹⁰Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,^{* 11}my persecutions, and my sufferings, the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.^{* 12}Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.^{* 13}But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.^{* 14}But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All scripture is inspired by God and is^p useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,^{* 17}so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.^*