New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Timothy 3
2
People will love themselves. They will love money. They will brag and be proud. They will tear others down. They will not obey their parents. They won't be thankful or holy.
Reference
3
They won't love others. They won't forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control. They will be wild. They will hate what is good.
Reference
4
They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will love what pleases them instead of loving God.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 3:6
Romans 16:18
Jude 1:19
Romans 11:20
1 Timothy 5:6
References God
Jude 1:4
1 Timothy 6:17
5
They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God's power. Have nothing to do with those people.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 29:13
1 Timothy 5:8
Matthew 7:15
Titus 3:10
2 Timothy 2:23
Ephesians 4:14
2 Thessalonians 3:6
References God
Titus 1:16
2 Timothy 2:16
1 Timothy 6:5
6
They are the kind who worm their way into the homes of silly women. They get control over them. Women like that are loaded down with sins. They give in to all kinds of evil longings.
Reference
7
They are always learning. But they never come to know the truth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:14
Hebrews 5:11
Proverbs 14:6
Matthew 13:11
John 5:44
Deuteronomy 29:4
Truth
1 Timothy 2:4
2 Timothy 2:25
8
Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. In the same way, the teachers I'm talking about oppose the truth. Their minds are twisted. As far as the faith is concerned, God doesn't accept them.
Reference
People
Faith
1 John 4:1
1 Timothy 1:19
Parallel theme
Revelation 2:20
Exodus 7:11
Titus 1:16
2 Peter 2:14
Ephesians 4:14
2 Timothy 4:15
Romans 16:18
Truth
1 Timothy 6:5
9
They won't get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.
Reference
10
But you know all about my teaching. You know how I live and what I live for. You know about my faith and love. You know how patient I am. You know I haven't given up.
Reference
Faith
1 Timothy 6:11
1 Timothy 4:6
Parallel theme
Titus 2:7
Philippians 2:22
Hebrews 13:9
Acts 11:23
11
You know that I was treated badly. You know that I suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know how badly I have been treated. But the Lord saved me from all of my troubles.
Reference
12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Peter 3:14
Mark 10:30
John 16:33
References Christ
1 Corinthians 15:19
References God
Acts 14:22
John 16:2
2 Peter 3:11
Titus 2:12
References Jesus
Matthew 16:24
13
Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.
Reference
14
But I want you to continue to follow what you have learned. Don't give up what you are sure of. You know the people you learned it from.
Reference
15
You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.
Reference
Faith
2 Timothy 1:5
Acts 10:43
Parallel theme
Proverbs 22:6
Luke 2:40
Psalm 71:17
Proverbs 8:17
Word
Luke 24:45
Matthew 22:29
Luke 24:27
Psalm 19:7
16
God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.
Reference
Summary of 2 Timothy 3
2 Timothy 3 warns Timothy about moral corruption, false religion, deceptive teachers, increasing opposition to godliness, and the certainty of persecution while directing him to remain faithful to the truth he has learned and to rely upon the God-inspired Scriptures that teach, correct, restore, train, and equip believers for righteous living and every good work.
Paul begins by warning Timothy that difficult times will come in the last days, describing people whose lives become increasingly dominated by self-love, greed, pride, arrogance, disobedience, ingratitude, impurity, hostility, lack of self-control, betrayal, recklessness, and an excessive love of pleasure.
The problem is especially serious because some of these people will maintain an outward appearance of godliness while denying its transforming power, demonstrating that religious appearance alone does not prove genuine faith.
Paul warns Timothy about teachers who exploit vulnerable people, constantly pursue knowledge without arriving at the truth, and spread ideas that corrupt rather than strengthen the faith of others.
He compares these false teachers with Jannes and Jambres, traditionally understood as Egyptian opponents of Moses, explaining that although false teachers may appear influential for a time, their foolishness will eventually become evident.
Paul then contrasts these deceptive teachers with his own example, reminding Timothy that Timothy has personally observed Paul's teaching, character, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, and willingness to endure persecution.
Paul specifically recalls suffering at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, but emphasizes that the Lord rescued him from all these trials, providing Timothy with an example of perseverance rather than a promise of a trouble-free ministry.
Paul makes the broader point that everyone who genuinely desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus should expect opposition and persecution, while evil and deceptive people will continue becoming more corrupt as they deceive others and become increasingly deceived themselves.
Against this growing spiritual danger, Paul commands Timothy to continue in the truth he has learned, remembering the trustworthy people who taught him and remaining firmly grounded in the Scriptures he has known since childhood.
Paul emphasizes that the sacred Scriptures are able to make people wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, demonstrating that Scripture is not merely a source of information but a means through which people are directed toward saving faith and transformed living.
The chapter reaches its theological climax with Paul's declaration that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness, giving Timothy the essential foundation for faithful ministry.
Scripture therefore equips God's servant to become mature and prepared for every good work, connecting biblical truth directly with practical Christian character, ministry, discernment, and obedience.
The central message of 2 Timothy 3 is that Christians must remain faithful to God when society becomes increasingly self-centered, morally corrupt, deceptive, and hostile toward godliness, recognizing that outward religion without spiritual transformation is dangerous, while continuing firmly in the truth learned from trustworthy teachers and relying upon the God-inspired Scriptures to provide wisdom for salvation, correct error, develop righteousness, and completely equip God's people for every good work.
Paul begins by warning Timothy that difficult times will come in the last days, describing people whose lives become increasingly dominated by self-love, greed, pride, arrogance, disobedience, ingratitude, impurity, hostility, lack of self-control, betrayal, recklessness, and an excessive love of pleasure.
The problem is especially serious because some of these people will maintain an outward appearance of godliness while denying its transforming power, demonstrating that religious appearance alone does not prove genuine faith.
Paul warns Timothy about teachers who exploit vulnerable people, constantly pursue knowledge without arriving at the truth, and spread ideas that corrupt rather than strengthen the faith of others.
He compares these false teachers with Jannes and Jambres, traditionally understood as Egyptian opponents of Moses, explaining that although false teachers may appear influential for a time, their foolishness will eventually become evident.
Paul then contrasts these deceptive teachers with his own example, reminding Timothy that Timothy has personally observed Paul's teaching, character, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, and willingness to endure persecution.
Paul specifically recalls suffering at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, but emphasizes that the Lord rescued him from all these trials, providing Timothy with an example of perseverance rather than a promise of a trouble-free ministry.
Paul makes the broader point that everyone who genuinely desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus should expect opposition and persecution, while evil and deceptive people will continue becoming more corrupt as they deceive others and become increasingly deceived themselves.
Against this growing spiritual danger, Paul commands Timothy to continue in the truth he has learned, remembering the trustworthy people who taught him and remaining firmly grounded in the Scriptures he has known since childhood.
Paul emphasizes that the sacred Scriptures are able to make people wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, demonstrating that Scripture is not merely a source of information but a means through which people are directed toward saving faith and transformed living.
The chapter reaches its theological climax with Paul's declaration that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness, giving Timothy the essential foundation for faithful ministry.
Scripture therefore equips God's servant to become mature and prepared for every good work, connecting biblical truth directly with practical Christian character, ministry, discernment, and obedience.
The central message of 2 Timothy 3 is that Christians must remain faithful to God when society becomes increasingly self-centered, morally corrupt, deceptive, and hostile toward godliness, recognizing that outward religion without spiritual transformation is dangerous, while continuing firmly in the truth learned from trustworthy teachers and relying upon the God-inspired Scriptures to provide wisdom for salvation, correct error, develop righteousness, and completely equip God's people for every good work.