the recovery of those who have been caught in the Devil’s snare (2:24–26), Timothy must realize that opposition to the truth will grow even more intense and that evil men will arise in the professed circle of believers who will not be redeemed. With the present imperative, “this know,” Timothy is told to keep this realization before him. The one point stressed is the fact that “grievous times,” hard and difficult seasons, lie ahead when believers will be confronted with perplexing problems and difficult