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| 3 | 2 Timothy |
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| 1 |
You must face the fact: the final age of this world is to be a time of troubles. | The Character of Men in the Last Days 2Tm.3.1-9 |
| 2 |
Men will love nothing but money and self; they will be arrogant, boastful, and abusive; with no respect for parents, no gratitude, no piety, no natural affection; | |
| 3 |
they will be implacable in their hatreds, scandal-mongers, intemperate and fierce, strangers to all goodness, | |
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traitors, adventurers, swollen with self-importance. They will be men who put pleasure in the place of God, | |
| 5 |
men who preserve the outward form of religion, but are a standing denial of its reality. Keep clear of men like these. | |
| 6 |
They are the sort that insinuate themselves into private houses and there get miserable women into their clutches, women burdened with a sinful past, and led on by all kinds of desires, | |
| 7 |
who are always wanting to be taught, but are incapable of reaching a knowledge of the truth. | |
| 8 |
As Jannes and Jambres defied Moses, so these men defy the truth; they have lost the power to reason, and they cannot pass the tests of faith. | |
| 9 |
But their successes will be short-lived, for, like those opponents of Moses, they will come to be recognized by everyone for the fools they are.
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| 10 |
But you, my son, have followed, step by step, my teaching and my manner of life, my resolution, my faith, patience, and spirit of love, and my fortitude | Last Charge to Timothy 2Tm.3.10-4.8 |
| 11 |
under persecutions and sufferings—all that I went through at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, all the persecutions I endured; and the Lord rescued me out of them all. | |
| 12 |
Yes, persecution will come to all who want to live a godly life as Christians, | |
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whereas wicked men and charlatans will make progress from bad to worse, deceiving and deceived. | |
| 14 |
But for your part, stand by the truths you have learned and are assured of. Remember from whom you learned them; | |
| 15 |
remember that from early childhood you have been familiar with the sacred writings which have power to make you wise and lead you to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. | |
| 16 |
Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, | |
| 17 |
so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind.
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