1But understand this: in the last days, difficult times will come.
2People will love themselves and money. They will be boastful, proud, and insult God. They will not obey their parents, and will be ungrateful and unholy.
3They will be unloving, unwilling to forgive, and spread false rumors. They will lack self-control, be cruel, and hate what is good.
4They will be traitors, reckless, and conceited. They will love pleasure more than they love God.
5They will act religious, but they will reject the power that makes a person godly. Stay away from people like that.
6Some of these people sneak into homes and manipulate weak women who are burdened with sins and led astray by many desires.
7These women are always learning but never able to fully understand the truth.
8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, these people also oppose the truth. Their minds are corrupt, and their faith is fake.
9But they won't get very far, because their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like Jannes and Jambres' foolishness was.
10But you did follow my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
11You have also followed me through persecutions and sufferings, like what happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions, and the Lord rescued me from all of them.
12Indeed, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13But evil people and deceivers will go from bad to worse, misleading others and being misled themselves.
14But you must continue in what you have learned and are convinced of, because you know who taught you.
15From childhood, you have known the sacred Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for training in right living.
17It is given so that the person who serves God may be complete and fully equipped to do every good work.