1But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.3:1 Jn 6:39; Php 1:6; 1Pt 1:5; 2Pt 3:3; Jd 18

2For people will be lovers of self,3:2 Php 2:21; 1Tm 6:4 lovers of money,3:2 Lk 16:14; 1Tm 3:3; 6:10 boastful, proud,3:2 Pr 16:18; Lk 1:51; Rm 1:30 demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,3:2 1Tm 1:9

3unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers,3:3 Jn 14:6 without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,3:3 Ti 1:8

4traitors,3:4 Lk 6:16; Ac 7:52 reckless,3:4 Ac 19:36 conceited,3:4 1Tm 3:6; 6:4 lovers of pleasure3:4 Php 3:19 rather than lovers of God,

5holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.3:5 1Co 4:20; 2Co 13:4; Ti 1:16 Avoid these people.3:5 Mt 7:15; 2Th 3:6

10But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose,3:10 Pr 19:21; Ac 11:23 faith, patience, love,3:10 1Co 13:1; 1Jn 4:16 and endurance,

11along with the persecutions and sufferings3:11 Gl 5:24; Php 3:10 that came to me in Antioch,3:11 Ac 13:14; 14:19,21 Iconium,3:11 Ac 13:51; 16:2 and Lystra.3:11 Ac 14:6,8; 27:5 What persecutions I endured — and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

12In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.3:12 Jn 15:20; Ac 14:22; 2Co 4:9–10

13Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving3:13 Rv 20:10 and being deceived.

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,3:14 2Tm 1:13

15and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,3:15 Mt 26:54; 2Pt 1:20–21 which are able to give you wisdom for salvation3:15 Ac 4:12; 2Co 7:10; Heb 5:9 through faith in Christ Jesus.

16All Scripture is inspired by God3:16 Lit breathed out by God3:16 2Pt 1:20–21 and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

17so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.3:17 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10; 1Tm 5:10; 2Tm 2:21