2 Timothy 3:1-4:8 THE LAST DAYS CHARACTERIZED BY SINFULNESS / 3:1–9 Paul’s suffering left him with few illusions about his future; he would die before Christ returned. As has already been pointed out, this letter has the recurring tone of someone setting his personal matters in order. Paul began this chapter with remarks about degenerating conditions in society. Both Paul and Timothy had witnessed how bad “the last days” would become. Paul listed a whole catalog of attitudes and behaviors typical