The last days1-4Understand that in the last days there will be terrible times, for men will fall in love with themselves and with money. They will be boastful and arrogant. They will blaspheme against God, be disobedient to their parents, be ungrateful, unholy and without proper love. They will be impossible to please and will slander others. They will not exercise any self-control themselves, nor will it be possible for others to control them. They will hate what is good, betray the trust others place in them and will act in reckless and conceited ways. In short, they will live for their own pleasure rather than to please God.5Some may put on an appearance of being godly, but they will lack the power that goes with true godliness. Have nothing to do with such people.6-7Some of them work their way into the homes of weak-willed women who are weighed down with many sins and who readily yield to their fleshly desires; the kind of people who listen but never seem able to grasp hold of the truth.8These men oppose the truth in the same way as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They are men with depraved minds and false faith.9They will not get very far for their foolish sinfulness is obvious to everyone, as was also the case with those two.10However, you are aware of my teaching, the way I believe, the purpose for which I live, my faith, patience, love and endurance.11You know of the persecutions and sufferings I have experienced in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra; persecutions I endured but from all of which the Lord delivered me.12Indeed, all those who wish to live holy lives in Christ Jesus are bound to be persecuted.13At the same time, evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving many while being themselves deceived.Importance of scripture14But you are to continue in what you have learned and have believed, knowing from whom you learned these things.15From early childhood you have been familiar with the holy scriptures which give you revelation about the salvation that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.16-17God has breathed His life and truth into all scripture which is therefore beneficial for teaching what is right, rebuking what is wrong, bringing correction and instruction and equipping people for righteousness so that the man of God may be ready for every good work.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)