1 But you should know this: There will be terrible times in the last days [of the Christian age].
2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive talkers, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 lacking in natural affection, unwilling to be reconciled [to their enemies], slanderers, lacking self-control, brutal, haters of what is good,
4 treacherous [i.e., betrayers], reckless, conceited, [and] lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
5 [These people] maintain an appearance of being godly, but they have denied its power; [you should] turn away from such people.
6 They are the kind of people who enter homes and influence [morally] weak-willed women, loaded down with sins, [and] led on by all kinds of evil desires.
7 They are constantly learning and [yet] never able to arrive at a [full] knowledge of the truth.
8 These people oppose the truth just like Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have corrupt minds and are worthless as far as the faith is concerned.
9 But they will not advance any farther [in their sin] because their foolish ways will become obvious to everyone, just as those of Jannes and Jambres were.
10 But you have followed [Note: These words mean "to observe closely, have a keen interest in"] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions and sufferings. You know what kind of things happened to me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra [See Acts 13:13-14:23], and what [severe] persecutions I experienced [there]. But the Lord rescued me from all of them.
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in [the service of] Christ will be persecuted.
13 But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse [in their behavior], deceiving people and being deceived by them.
14 But you should continue [to believe and practice] what you have learned and been convinced of, knowing those from whom you learned it. [Note: These persons would include Lois and Eunice (See 1:5), as well as Paul himself].
15 And [remember] that, from childhood, you have known the sacred Scriptures which are able to make you wise [enough] to be saved through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God [Note: Literally, this word means "breathed out by God"] and is useful for teaching [truth], rebuking [wrongdoing], correcting [error] and for providing instruction [i.e., training] on how to live right,
17 so that the man of God will be thoroughly equipped for [doing] every good deed.