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2 Timothy 3-4
The Message
2 Timothy 3-4
The Message
Difficult Times Ahead
3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
6-9 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.
Keep the Message Alive
10-13 You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.
14-17 But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
4 1-2 I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.
3-5 You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.
6-8 You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.
* * *
9-13 Get here as fast as you can. Demas, chasing fads, went off to Thessalonica and left me here. Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia. Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he’ll be my right-hand man since I’m sending Tychicus to Ephesus. Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks.
14-15 Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith. Fiercely opposed to our Message, he caused no end of trouble. God will give him what he’s got coming.
16-18 At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn’t matter—the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! God’s looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!
19-20 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila; also, the family of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed behind in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus sick in Miletus.
21 Try hard to get here before winter.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings.
22 God be with you. Grace be with you.
2 Timothy 3-4
New International Version
2 Timothy 3-4
New International Version
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.(A) 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,(B) boastful, proud,(C) abusive,(D) disobedient to their parents,(E) ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous,(F) rash, conceited,(G) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness(H) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.(I)
6 They are the kind who worm their way(J) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.(K) 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,(L) so also these teachers oppose(M) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,(N) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,(O) their folly will be clear to everyone.
A Final Charge to Timothy
10 You, however, know all about my teaching,(P) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,(Q) Iconium(R) and Lystra,(S) the persecutions I endured.(T) Yet the Lord rescued(U) me from all of them.(V) 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,(W) 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,(X) deceiving and being deceived.(Y) 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,(Z) 15 and how from infancy(AA) you have known the Holy Scriptures,(AB) which are able to make you wise(AC) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed(AD) and is useful for teaching,(AE) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,(AF) 17 so that the servant of God[a](AG) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(AH)
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,(AI) and in view of his appearing(AJ) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:(AK) 2 Preach(AL) the word;(AM) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke(AN) and encourage(AO)—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.(AP) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.(AQ) 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(AR) 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(AS) do the work of an evangelist,(AT) discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(AU) and the time for my departure is near.(AV) 7 I have fought the good fight,(AW) I have finished the race,(AX) I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me(AY) the crown of righteousness,(AZ) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day(BA)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(BB)
Personal Remarks
9 Do your best to come to me quickly,(BC) 10 for Demas,(BD) because he loved this world,(BE) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.(BF) Crescens has gone to Galatia,(BG) and Titus(BH) to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke(BI) is with me.(BJ) Get Mark(BK) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus(BL) to Ephesus.(BM) 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,(BN) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander(BO) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.(BP) 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(BQ) 17 But the Lord stood at my side(BR) and gave me strength,(BS) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(BT) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(BU) 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack(BV) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.(BW) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(BX)
Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscilla[b] and Aquila(BY) and the household of Onesiphorus.(BZ) 20 Erastus(CA) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus(CB) sick in Miletus.(CC) 21 Do your best to get here before winter.(CD) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.[c]
22 The Lord be with your spirit.(CE) Grace be with you all.(CF)
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 3:17 Or that you, a man of God,
- 2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
- 2 Timothy 4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
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Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
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