3 1 But understand this: in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, hating what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of our Father 5 —They will keep up an outward show of godliness but deny its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and ensnare vulnerable women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth — people corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. a a v8 Jannes and Jambres are the traditional Jewish names for the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses (see Exodus 7–8). 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, just as it was with those two men.
Continue in the Father's Word
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra — what persecutions I endured! Yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by our Father and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correction, and for training in righteousness, b b v16 Scripture is the breath of our Father himself — not a distant deity's decree but the living word of the Father who speaks to his children. 17 so that the person of our Father may be complete, equipped for every good work.