2 Timothy 3

New International Reader’s Version

1 Here is what I want you to know. There will be terrible times in the last days.2 People will love themselves. They will love money. They will boast and be proud. They will tear others down. They will not obey their parents. They won’t be thankful or holy.3 They won’t love others. They won’t forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control. They will be wild. They will hate what is good.4 They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will love what pleases them instead of loving God.5 They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God’s power. Have nothing to do with these people.6 They are the kind who trick their way into the homes of some women. These women are ready to believe anything. And they take control over these women. These women are loaded down with sins. They give in to all kinds of evil desires.7 They are always learning. But they are never able to come to know the truth.8 Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. In the same way, the teachers I’m talking about oppose the truth. Their minds are twisted. As far as the faith is concerned, God doesn’t accept them.9 They won’t get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.10 But you know all about my teaching. You know how I live and what I live for. You know about my faith and love. You know how patient I am. You know I haven’t given up.11 You know that I was treated badly. You know that I suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know how badly I have been treated. But the Lord saved me from all my troubles.12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.13 Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.14 But I want you to continue to follow what you have learned and are sure about. You know the people you learned it from.15 You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.16 God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.17 By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.

2 Timothy 3

English Standard Version

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (1Ti 4:1)2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (Lu 16:14; Ro 1:30; Php 2:21; 1Ti 6:10)3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, (Ro 1:31; Tit 1:8)4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (Php 3:19; 1Ti 3:6; 1Ti 6:4)5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (1Ti 5:8; 1Ti 6:20; Tit 1:14)6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, (Tit 1:11)7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 2:4)8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. (Ex 7:11; Ac 13:8; 1Ti 6:5; Tit 1:16)9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (Ex 7:12; Ex 8:18; Ex 9:11)10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, (Php 2:22)11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. (Ps 34:19; Ac 13:14; Ac 13:45; Ac 13:50; Ac 14:1; Ac 14:5; Ac 14:6; Ac 14:19; 2Co 1:10; 2Ti 4:17)12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (Ac 14:22; Tit 2:12)13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (Tit 3:3; Re 22:11)14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[1] you learned it (1Ti 4:6)15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (Ps 119:99; Joh 5:39; Eph 6:4; 2Ti 1:5)16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (Ro 15:4; 2Pe 1:20)17 that the man of God[2] may be complete, equipped for every good work. (Lu 6:40; 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:21)