1 B ut know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.

You must understand that in the last days there will come times of much trouble.

2 F or men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

People will love themselves and money. They will have pride and tell of all the things they have done. They will speak against God. Children and young people will not obey their parents. People will not be thankful and they will not be holy.

3 w ithout natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,

They will not love each other. No one can get along with them. They will tell lies about others. They will not be able to keep from doing things they know they should not do. They will be wild and want to beat and hurt those who are good.

4 t raitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

They will not stay true to their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think too much of themselves. They will love fun instead of loving God.

5 h olding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.

They will do things to make it look as if they are Christians. But they will not receive the power that is for a Christian. Keep away from such people.

6 F or of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,

These are the kind of people who go from house to house. They talk to foolish women who are loaded down with sins and all kinds of sinful desires.

7 e ver learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Such women are always listening to new teaching. But they are never able to understand the truth.

8 A nd even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.

Jannes and Jambres fought against Moses. So do these teachers fight against the truth today. Their minds think only of sinful things. They have turned against the Christian teaching.

9 B ut they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.

They will not get very far. Their foolish teaching will be seen by everyone. That was the way it was with the two who worked against Moses. Teach the Truth

10 B ut thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

But you know what I teach and how I live. You know what I want to do. You know about my faith and my love. You know how long I am willing to wait for something. You know how I keep on working for God even when it is hard for me.

11 p ersecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

You know about all the troubles and hard times I have had. You have seen how I suffered in the cities of Antioch and Iconium and Lystra. Yet the Lord brought me out of all those troubles.

12 Y ea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Yes! All who want to live a God-like life who belong to Christ Jesus will suffer from others.

13 B ut evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Sinful men and false teachers will go from bad to worse. They will lead others the wrong way and will be led the wrong way themselves.

14 B ut abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

But as for you, hold on to what you have learned and know to be true. Remember where you learned them.

15 A nd that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

You have known the Holy Writings since you were a child. They are able to give you wisdom that leads to being saved from the punishment of sin by putting your trust in Christ Jesus.

16 E very scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.

All the Holy Writings are God-given and are made alive by Him. Man is helped when he is taught God’s Word. It shows what is wrong. It changes the way of a man’s life. It shows him how to be right with God.

17 T hat the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

It gives the man who belongs to God everything he needs to work well for Him.