1But know that in the last days, troubled times will come. 2People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, and unholy. 3[They will be] without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, no lovers of good, 4treacherous, stubborn, self-important, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5having an appearance of godliness but having rejected its [inner] meaning.2091 Stay away from these people too. 6Indeed, some of these creep into houses and captivate gullible women who are burdened with sins, led away by various lusts, 7always learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, these people also oppose the truth. They are mentally corrupted, and as far as the faith is concerned, they are rejected. 9But they will not go very far because their folly will be obvious to all, as in the case of Jannes and Jambres.
Paul’s example
10You, however, have paid close attention to my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 11persecutions, and sufferings. You know what happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions and the Lord delivered me out of them all! 12Yes, all those who desire to lead godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But wicked impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others, being themselves deceived. 14As for you, remain in what you have learned, which is what you firmly believe, knowing from whom you have learned them. 15From infancy, you have known the Holy Scriptures2092 which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 16Every Scripture is God-breathed,2093 and2094 profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be fully qualified, completely equipped2095 for every good work.
A charge to preach the word
- Or “power/significance” (du,nami)
- In the case of Timothy, a clear reference to the Septuagint
- Or “inspired” (qeo,pneustoj)
- Or possibly “Every writing inspired by God is…”
- See EOB Introduction (Volume 1) for a discussion of the issues of canonicity and sufficiency.
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
