2 Timothy 3
Difficult Times Ahead
1-5 Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.
6-9 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself "truth." They get exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.
Keep the Message Alive
10-13 You've been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They're as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.
14-17 But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
2 Timothy 3
1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.9 But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.10 But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,11 persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.13 But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.14 But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.15 And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.