Study Desk

But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.^(a)

For people will be lovers of self,^(b) lovers of money,^(c) boastful, proud,^(d) blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,^(e)

unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers,^(f) without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,^(g)

traitors,^(h) reckless,⁽ⁱ⁾ conceited,^(j) lovers of pleasure^(k) rather than lovers of God,

holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.^(l) Avoid these people!^(m)

For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions,⁽ⁿ⁾

always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.^(o)

Just as Jannes and Jambres^(p) resisted Moses,^(q) so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind,^(r) worthless^(s) in regard to the faith.

But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs^[a] was also.

But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose,^(t) faith, patience, love,^(u) and endurance,

along with the persecutions and sufferings^(v) that came to me in Antioch,^(w) Iconium,^(x) and Lystra.^(y) What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.^(z)

Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving^(aa) and being deceived.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,^(ab)

and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures,^(ac) which are able to give you wisdom for salvation^(ad) through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God^[b](ae) and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.^(af)

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge^(a) the living and the dead,^(b) and because of His appearing and His kingdom:^(c)

Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine,^(d) but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.^[a]

They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.^(e)

But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,^(f) fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,^(g) and the time for my departure is close.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

There is reserved for me in the future the crown^(h) of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,⁽ⁱ⁾ will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.^(j)

Make every effort to come to me soon,^(k)

for Demas^(l) has deserted me,^(m) because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.⁽ⁿ⁾ Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(o) Titus^(p) to Dalmatia.

Only Luke^(q) is with me. Bring Mark^(r) with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.

I have sent Tychicus^(s) to Ephesus.

When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas^(t) with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

Alexander^(u) the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.

Watch out^(v) for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.^(w) May it not be counted against them.

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.^(x) To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Greet Prisca and Aquila,^(y) and the household of Onesiphorus.^(z)

Erastus^(aa) has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus^(ab) sick at Miletus.^(ac)

Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.