imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:12–13). Because Paul was suffering for the gospel, it was only natural for him to speak of persecution. He told Timothy that persecution is the lot of every Christian and the Christian community. Believers must expect it. And what is more, he said, it was not going to get better. Paul was saying to Timothy: “Things are going to get worse and worse, and people are going to come along who are imposters, who will seek to defraud