1You must face the fact: the final age of this world is to be a time of troubles. 2Men 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; 3they will be implacable in their hatreds, scandal-mongers, intemperate and fierce, strangers to all goodness, 4traitors, adventurers, swollen with self-importance. They will be men who put pleasure in the place of God, 5men who preserve the outward form of religion, but are a standing denial of its reality. Keep clear of men like these. 6They 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, 7who are always wanting to be taught, but are incapable of reaching a knowledge of the truth. 8As 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. 9But 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.
10But 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 11under 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. 12Yes, persecution will come to all who want to live a godly life as Christians, 13whereas wicked men and charlatans will make progress from bad to worse, deceiving and deceived. 14But for your part, stand by the truths you have learned and are assured of. Remember from whom you learned them; 15remember 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. 16Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, 17so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind.
| << | 2Tim:3 | >> |
|---|