Perilous Times in the Last Days
Study note
Paul warns that the last days will bring dangerous times characterized by self-love, love of money, pride, disobedience, ingratitude, brutality, treachery, and love of pleasure over love of God. Most deceptive are those who maintain an outward form of godliness while denying its transforming power. These infiltrate households and prey upon vulnerable people who are always learning but never arriving at truth. Paul compares them to Jannes and Jambres, the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses, predicting that their folly will eventually be exposed to all.
1 Understand this: the last days are going to bring some very dangerous times. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 People will be wrapped up in themselves. They will be obsessed with money, braggy, stuck-up, and verbally abusive. They will refuse to listen to their parents. They will be ungrateful and care nothing about what is holy. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 They will be cold and unloving. They will refuse to forgive. They will always tear others down with their words. They will be totally out of control, mean, and against anything that is good. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 They will betray you without thinking twice. They will be reckless and puffed up with pride. They will love fun much more than they love God. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 They will go through the motions of being religious, but they will reject the real power behind it. Stay away from people like that. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 Some of them sneak into people's homes and take advantage of weak women. These women are loaded down with guilt and pulled around by every desire that comes along. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 These women are always trying to learn something new. But they never seem to find out what is true. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Just like Jannes and Jambres stood up against Moses, these people stand up against the truth. Their minds are twisted, and they have completely failed when it comes to real faith. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they will not keep getting away with it for long. Soon everyone will see right through them, just like they saw through Jannes and Jambres. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Paul's Example of Faithful Endurance
Study note
In contrast to the false teachers, Timothy has closely observed Paul's teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance through persecutions at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Paul declares that the Lord delivered him from all of them, then states a universal principle: everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Meanwhile, evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse, both deceiving and being deceived. This is not pessimism but realism about the spiritual conflict that accompanies genuine faith.
10 But you, Timothy, you have been with me through everything. You have watched my teaching, my way of life, what I live for, my faith, my patience, my love, and my ability to keep going. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 You know about the suffering I went through and the hard times I faced in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I went through some terrible things! But the Lord pulled me safely through every one of them. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Truly, everyone who wants to live in a way that honors God through Christ Jesus will face some kind of trouble for it. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 Meanwhile, wicked people and cheaters will go from bad to worse. They will trick others and be tricked themselves. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The Power and Authority of Scripture
Study note
Paul urges Timothy to continue in what he has learned, knowing from whom he learned it, and recalls that Timothy has known the holy Scriptures from childhood, which are able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ. He then delivers the landmark declaration: all Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed) and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be complete and fully equipped for every good work. This is the foundational text for the Christian doctrine of biblical inspiration and sufficiency.
14 But you need to stick with the things you have learned and are confident about. Remember who taught you these things. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 Ever since you were a small child, you have known the holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you the wisdom you need to be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 Through Scripture, the person who belongs to God becomes fully ready. They are fully prepared to do every kind of good work. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.