Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Difficult Times Will Come

3 But know this, that ^(A)in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be ^(B)lovers of self, ^(C)lovers of money, ^(D)boastful, ^(E)arrogant, ^(F)blasphemers, ^(G)disobedient to parents, ^(H)ungrateful, ^(I)unholy, ^3 (J)unloving, irreconcilable, ^[a](K)malicious gossips, without self-control, without gentleness, ^(L)without love for good, ^4 (M)treacherous, ^(N)reckless, ^(O)conceited, ^(P)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of ^[b](Q)godliness, but having ^(R)denied its power. ^(S)Keep away from such men as these. ⁶ For among them are those who ^[c](T)enter into households and take captive ^[d](U)weak women weighed down with sins, being led on by ^(V)various desires, ⁷ always learning and never able to ^(W)come to the ^[e]full knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as ^(X)Jannes and Jambres ^(Y)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(Z)men of depraved mind, disqualified in regard to the faith. ⁹ But they will not make further progress, for their ^(AA)folly will be obvious to all, just ^(AB)as theirs was also.

¹⁰ But you ^(AC)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, ^(AD)love, ^[f]perseverance, ^11 (AE)persecutions, and ^(AF)sufferings, such as happened to me at ^(AG)Antioch, at ^(AH)Iconium, and at ^(AI)Lystra. What ^(AJ)persecutions I endured, and out of them all ^(AK)the Lord rescued me! ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus ^(AL)will be persecuted.

¹³ But evil men and impostors ^(AM)will proceed from bad to worse, ^(AN)deceiving and being deceived.

¹⁴ But you, ^(AO)continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them, ¹⁵ and that ^(AP)from childhood you have known ^(AQ)the sacred writings which are able to ^(AR)make you wise unto ^(AS)salvation through faith which is in ^(AT)Christ Jesus. ^16 (AU)All Scripture is ^[g]God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for ^[h]training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that ^(AV)the man of God may be equipped, having been ^(AW)thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 ^(AX)I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(AY)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(AZ)appearing and His kingdom: ² preach ^(BA)the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^(BB)reprove, rebuke, exhort, with ^[i]great ^(BC)patience and teaching. ³ For ^(BD)the time will come when they will not endure ^(BE)sound doctrine, but wanting to have ^[j]their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, ⁴ and ^(BF)will turn away their ears from the truth and ^(BG)will turn aside to myths.

⁵ But you, ^(BH)be sober in all things, ^(BI)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(BJ)evangelist, fulfill your ^(BK)ministry.

⁶ For I am already being ^(BL)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(BM)my departure has come. ^7 (BN)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(BO)the course, I have kept ^(BP)the faith. ⁸ In the future there ^(BQ)is laid up for me ^(BR)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(BS)that day, and not only to me, but also to ^(BT)all who have loved His ^(BU)appearing.

Personal Concerns

^9 (BV)Be diligent to come to me soon, ¹⁰ for ^(BW)Demas, having loved ^(BX)this present age, has deserted me and gone to ^(BY)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ^[k](BZ)Galatia, ^(CA)Titus to Dalmatia. ^11 (CB)Only ^(CC)Luke is with me. Pick up ^(CD)Mark and bring him with you, ^(CE)for he is useful to me for service. ¹² But ^(CF)Tychicus I sent to ^(CG)Ephesus. ¹³ When you come bring the cloak which I left at ^(CH)Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments. ^14 (CI)Alexander the coppersmith showed me much harm; ^(CJ)the Lord will award him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. ^(CK)May it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and ^(CL)strengthened me, so that through me ^(CM)the preaching might be ^(CN)fulfilled, and that all ^(CO)the Gentiles might hear. And I was ^(CP)rescued out of ^(CQ)the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^(CR)save me unto His ^(CS)heavenly kingdom; ^(CT)to ^[l]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and ^(CU)Aquila, and ^(CV)the household of Onesiphorus. ^20 (CW)Erastus remained at ^(CX)Corinth, but ^(CY)Trophimus I left sick at ^(CZ)Miletus. ^21 (DA)Be diligent to come before ^(DB)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

^22 (DC)The Lord be with your spirit. ^(DD)Grace be with ^[m]all of you.