2 Timothy 3

You need to understand that the final time period {before Jesus returns to this world} will be very dangerous {for believers}.

{It will be dangerous} because people will care about themselves {more than they care about anyone else}. They will strongly desire to have money. They will say great things about themselves. They will think too highly of themselves. They will insult {God and others}. They will fail to do what their parents require. They will not thank {anyone for anything}. They will not honor God.

They will fail to care {for others}. They will refuse to forgive {anyone}. They will say bad things {about others}. They will fail to control themselves. They will act in brutal ways. They will hate everything that is good.

They will betray {others}. They will act without thinking first. They will be prideful. They will care about whatever makes them feel good instead of loving God. \*

They will appear to honor God, but they will refuse to actually do so. Stay away from such people.

Further, some of those people convince others to invite them to their homes. {While they are there}, they start to control what any spiritually immature women {who live there} think. These are women who have sinned very often. They do all the many things that they want to do.

They keep learning new things, but they can never understand what is true. \*

{You know} how Jannes and Jambres{, Pharaoh’s magicians,} tried to stop Moses {from freeing the Israelites}. Much like that, the {false teachers I am speaking about} try to stop others from learning what is true. These false teachers are people who can no longer think properly. When they claim to believe in {Jesus}, God does not approve of them.

However, they will not be able to convince many more people. {That is} because everyone will realize that they are foolish. That is just what happened to Pharaoh’s magicians. \*

In contrast, as for you, you know what I do, and you imitate me. I teach {others}. I live {to please God}. I focus on what {God has called me} to do. I trust in {Jesus}. I do not easily become angry. I love {others}. I persevere {when bad things happen to me}.

People hurt me. I experience painful things. I experienced those kinds of painful things when I was in {the cities of} Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Even when people hurt me in those ways, I persisted {in serving God}. When any of those bad things happened to me, the Lord {Jesus} delivered me.

Indeed, people will hurt all men and women who desire to live in a way that honors God as God unites them to Jesus the Messiah.

On the other hand, people who do what is wrong and people who try to trick others will become more and more evil. They will deceive others, and people will deceive them. \*

In contrast, as for you, you realize who taught you what you have learned and what you are sure about. So, you should persist in {believing} those things.

Further, {you should persist in believing those things because you realize} that you have heard what God says in the Scriptures from the time when you were a young child. The Scriptures enable you to think wisely. That way, when you trust in Jesus the Messiah, God rescues you. \*

All the Scriptures come from God’s Spirit. They are useful for teaching people. {They are useful} for telling people that they have done what is wrong. {They are useful} for telling people what is actually true. {They are useful} for instructing people in how to do what is right.

As a result, people who serve God have everything that they need. They are ready to do everything that is right. \*