2 Timothy 3

1 [You need to] realize that during the last days [MTY] [before Christ returns, evil people will make] it difficult [for believers to behave as they should].

And know this: that in the last days perilous times will press near.

2 This is because [such evil] people will be habitually loving themselves and loving money. They will habitually boast [about themselves], they will be proud, and will often say bad things [about others. They] will disobey [their] parents. They will not be thankful, nor will they respect [anything that is good].

Men will be lovers of themselves, greedy, self-exalting, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,

3 They will not [even] love their own family, nor agree with [anybody] (OR, [they never forgive anyone]). They will tell lies about people. They will not control what they say and do, nor allow anyone to control them. They will not love [anything that is] good.

without affection, without peace, false accusers, unchaste, cruel, without kindness,

4 They will (betray others/hand others over to their enemies) and act foolishly. They will be overly/very proud of themselves, and they will love to please themselves instead of loving God.

traitorous, reckless, self-important, loving pleasure more than God,

5 [And, although they will] pretend that they worship God, they will not let [God’s Spirit] work powerfully [in their lives]. Do not associate with such people (OR, Do not let such people join [your congregation]),

even having the appearance of piety while rejecting its virtue. And so, avoid them.

6 because some such [people, even now], subtly/deceivingly persuade foolish women to let them come into their houses, and then they deceive those women [so that they control what those women think. These women] have been burdened with sins {have sinned very much} and they have been led to do {they do} the many [evil] things that they strongly desire to do.

For among these are ones who penetrate houses and lead away, like captives, foolish women burdened with sins, who are led away by means of various desires,

7 [Even though] they are always [wanting to] learn new things, they are never able to recognize what is true.

always learning, yet never achieving knowledge of the truth.

8 Just like Jannes and Jambres [long ago] very much opposed Moses, so also some [people] now oppose the true [message. Those] people think only what is evil. God rejects them [because they do not] believe [what is true].

And in the same manner that Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so also will these resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobates from the faith.

9 Nevertheless, they will not continue to succeed, because most [HYP] people will understand clearly that such people are foolish, just like people also realized [clearly that Jannes and Jambres were foolish].

But they will not advance beyond a certain point. For the folly of the latter shall be made manifest to all, just as that of the former.

10 But as for yourself, you have fully known what I have taught. You have known [and imitated] the way in which I conducted my life, [and] what I have been trying to do. [You have] trusted [God as] I have. You have been patient as I have been. [You have] loved people [as] I have, and [you have] endured [as you suffered like] I have [suffered].

But you have fully comprehended my doctrine, instruction, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

11 [You know how I endured many times when people] harmed me. [They] caused me to suffer at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra [cities]. [But although they caused me to suffer], I endured it; and every time [they] did those things to me, the Lord rescued me.

persecutions, afflictions; such things as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; how I endured persecutions, and how the Lord rescued me from everything.

12 (Indeed/You know that), for us [(inc)] who want to live (in a [godly manner/] a [manner that pleases God]), we will always be persecuted {there will always be people who will cause us to suffer} because we [have a close relationship with] Christ Jesus.

And all those who willingly live the piety in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 Evil people (OR, And those) who deceive other people will (get worse/teach things that are more and more wrong). [Specifically, they will] deceive other people, and [those who hear them will] deceive others.

But evil men and deceivers will advance in evil, erring and sending into error.

14 But you, in contrast, must continue [to believe] what you have learned and (been assured of/firmly believe). [I know that you are confident/sure that it is true because] you know that you have learned it from all [of us who taught you] ([God’s truth/what is right]).

Yet truly, you should remain in those things which you have learned and which have been entrusted to you. For you know from whom you have learned them.

15 From [the time when you were] a child you have known the holy writings/Scriptures. [You now know that] they enabled you to become wise so that God saved you because of your believing in Christ Jesus.

And, from your infancy, you have known the Sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you toward salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 God (inspired/put into men’s minds) everything [that is written] in the Scriptures {they [wrote] in the holy writings}, and those writings are all useful to teach [us what is true], to cause us to know [when we are] wrong and then (to correct us/to show us what we have done that is wrong), and to train/teach us to do what is right.

All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice,

17 What [is written] {they wrote} is useful to help us who [serve] God to be ready/prepared to do all that we should do. By means of it, we are equipped {God gives us what we need} in order to do every [kind of] good deeds.

so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.