| 1 | But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress
and
trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. |
| 2 | For people will be lovers of self
and
[utterly] self-centered, lovers of money
and
aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud
and
arrogant
and
contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy
and
profane. |
| 3 | [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate
and
loose in morals
and
conduct, uncontrolled
and
fierce, haters of good. |
| 4 | [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures
and
vain amusements more than
and
rather than lovers of God. |
| 5 | For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny
and
reject
and
are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. |
| 6 | For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly
and
weak-natured
and
spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the burden of their] sins [and easily] swayed
and
led away by various evil desires
and
seductive impulses. |
| 7 | [These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring
and
getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition
and
knowledge of the Truth. |
| 8 | Now just as
[a]Jannes and Jambres were hostile to
and
resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to
and
oppose the Truth. They have depraved
and
distorted minds, and are reprobate
and
counterfeit
and
to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned. |
| 9 | But they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everybody, as was that of those [magicians mentioned]. |
| 10 | Now you have closely observed
and
diligently followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, |
| 11 | Persecutions, sufferings—such as occurred to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. |
| 12 | Indeed all who delight in piety
and
are determined to live a devoted
and
godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. |
| 13 | But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving
and
leading astray others and being deceived
and
led astray themselves. |
| 14 | But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], |
| 15 | And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of
and
been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you
and
give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the
[b]leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. |
| 16 | Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof
and
conviction of sin, for correction of error
and
discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), |
| 17 | So that the man of God may be complete
and
proficient, well fitted
and
thoroughly equipped for every good work. |
Cross references:
-
2 Timothy 3:8 : Exod. 7:11.
|