| 3:1 | I BUT you must realize that in the last days the times will be full of danger. |
| 3:2 | Men will become utterly selfcentered, greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and abusive, without any regard for what their parents taught them. They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, reverence |
| 3:3 | and normal human affections. They will be remorseless, scandalmongers, uncontrolled and violent and haters of all that is good. |
| 3:4 | They will be treacherous, reckless and arrogant, loving what gives them pleasure instead of loving God. |
| 3:5 | They will maintain a facade of "religion" but their life denies its truth. Keep clear of people like that. |
| 3:6 | From their number come those creatures who worm their way into people's houses, and find easy prey in silly woman with an exaggerated sense of sin and assorted desires |
| 3:7 | who are always anxious to learn and yet never able to grasp the truth. |
| 3:8 | These men are as much enemies to the truth as Jannes and Jambres were to Moses. Their minds are distorted, and they are traitors to the faith. |
| 3:9 | But in the long ran they won't get very far. Their folly will become as obvious to everybody as did that of Moses' opponents. |
| 3:10 | But you, Timothy, have closely followed my teaching and my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my endurance; my love and courage |
| 3:11 | in all those persecutions and difficulties at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. And you know how the Lord brought me safely through them all. |
| 3:12 | Persecution is inevitable for those who are determined to live really Christian lives, |
| 3:13 | while wicked and deceitful men will go from bad to worse, deluding others and deluding themselves. |
| 3:14 | Yet you must go on steadily in those things that you have learned and which you know are true. Remember from whom your knowledge has come, |
| 3:15 | and how from early childhood your mind has been familiar with the holy scriptures, which can open the mind to the salvation which comes through believing in Christ Jesus. |
| 3:16 | All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man's life and training him in good living. |
| 3:17 | The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God, and fit him fully for all branches of his work. |
2 Timothy 3 - Philips NT in Modern English
