Godlessness in the Last Days

1 But understand this, that ^yin the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, ^zproud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, ^aswollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. ^bAvoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a ^cknowledge of the truth. 8 Just as ^dJannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men ^ecorrupted in mind and ^fdisqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 ^gYou, however, have ^hfollowed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at ⁱAntioch, at ^jIconium, and at ^kLystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord ^lrescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a ^mgodly life in Christ Jesus ⁿwill be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on ^ofrom bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom¹ you learned it 15 and how ^pfrom childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 ^qAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the ^rman of God² may be complete, ^sequipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

1 I ^tcharge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, ^uwho is to judge the living and the dead, and by his ^vappearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^wreprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 ^xFor the time is coming when people will not endure ^ysound³ teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and ^zwander off into ^amyths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, ^bendure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, ^cfulfill your ministry.

6 ^dFor I am already being ^epoured out as a drink offering, and the time of my ^fdeparture has come. 7 I have fought the ^ggood fight, I have ^hfinished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is ⁱlaid up for me the ^jcrown of righteousness, which the Lord, the ^krighteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Personal Instructions

9 Do your best ^lto come to me soon. 10 For ^mDemas, ⁿin love with ^othis present world, ^phas deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,^{4 q}Titus to Dalmatia. 11 ^rLuke alone is with me. Get ^sMark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 ^tTychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 ^uAlexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^vthe Lord will repay him ^waccording to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first ^xdefense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and ^ystrengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and ^zall the Gentiles might hear it. So I was ^arescued ^bfrom the lion’s mouth. 18 ^cThe Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. ^dTo him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Greet ^ePrisca and Aquila, and the household of ^fOnesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.⁵

22 The Lord be with your spirit. ^gGrace be with you.⁶

Let Us Go to the House of the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of David.