2 Timothy 3:2-12

2 For people will be 1lovers of self, 2lovers of money, 3proud, 4arrogant, abusive, 5disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 6heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, 7not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, 8swollen with conceit, 9lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but 10denying its power. 11Avoid such people.
6 For among them are 12those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to 13arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as 14Jannes and Jambres 15opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, 16men corrupted in mind and 17disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, 18as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 19You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me 20at Antioch, 21at Iconium, and 22at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet 23from them all 24the Lord rescued me.
12 Indeed, all who desire to 25live a godly life in Christ Jesus 26will be persecuted,

2 Timothy 3:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 3

In this chapter the apostle delivers out a prophecy of the last days, showing how perilous the times will be, describing the persons that will live in them, and what will be their end; and in opposition to these men, proposes himself an example in doctrine and sufferings; and encourages Timothy to persevere, and highly commends the sacred writings. The prophecy begins 2Ti 3:1 the description it gives of hypocrites, formal professors, and false teachers, that should rise up in the last days, and perilous times spoken of, is in 2Ti 3:2-7. And these are compared to the magicians of Egypt for the corruption of their minds, the badness of their principles, and their opposition to truth, and for their exit, and the issue of things; they will be stopped in their progress, and their folly exposed, 2Ti 3:8,9 and as the reverse of these men, the apostle gives an account of his own doctrine, conversation, and sufferings; which he proposes to Timothy for imitation, as being well known to him, and as also the common state of all godly persons in this life, being a suffering one, 2Ti 3:10-12 nor can it be expected that it should be otherwise, since false teachers, who are wicked and deceitful men, grow worse and worse, 2Ti 3:13. And then the apostle exhorts Timothy to abide by, and continue in the doctrines of the Gospel, from the assurance he had of the truth of them, from the consideration of his having learned them of the apostle, and especially from their agreement with the holy Scriptures, which he had knowledge of from a child, 2Ti 3:14,15 which Scriptures are commended, partly from the useful effect of them, making men wise unto salvation; and chiefly from the author of them, being by the inspiration of God; and also from the profitableness of them, both for doctrine and manners, and especially to furnish a Gospel minister for the work he is called unto, 2Ti 3:15-17.

Cross References 26

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.