Bible History
Bible History

2 Timothy 3 - New English Translation (NET)

You are here: Home New English Translation (NET) 2 Timothy 3

Ministry in the Last Days

3 But understand this, that in the last days difficult[a] times will come. 2 For people[b] will be lovers of themselves,[c] lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. 5 They will maintain the outward appearance[d] of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.[e] 6 For some of these insinuate themselves[f] into households and captivate weak women[g] who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. 7 Such women are always seeking instruction,[h] yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 And just as Jannes and Jambres[i] opposed Moses, so these people—who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith[j]—also oppose the truth. 9 But they will not go much further,[k] for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.[l]

Continue in What You Have Learned

10 You, however,[m] have followed my teaching, my[n] way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, 11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings[o] that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra.[p] I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all. 12 Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse,[q] deceiving others and being deceived themselves.[r] 14 You, however, must continue[s] in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know[t] who taught you[u] 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture[v] is inspired by God[w] and useful for teaching, for reproof,[x] for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God[y] may be capable[z] and equipped for every good work.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:1 tn Or perhaps, “dangerous,” “fierce.”
  2. 2 Timothy 3:2 tn Grk “men,” but here ἄνθρωποι (anthrōpoi) is generic, referring to both men and women.
  3. 2 Timothy 3:2 tn Or “self-centered.” The first two traits in 2 Tim 3:2 and the last two in 3:4 are Greek words beginning with the root “lovers of,” and so bracket the list at beginning and end.
  4. 2 Timothy 3:5 tn Or “form.”sn Outward appearance. Paul’s contrast with power in 3:5b shows that he regards this “form” to be outward, one of appearance rather than reality (cf. 1 Cor 4:19-20; 1 Thess 1:5).
  5. 2 Timothy 3:5 tn Grk “and avoid these,” with the word “people” implied.
  6. 2 Timothy 3:6 tn Grk “For from these are those who sneak.”
  7. 2 Timothy 3:6 tn Or “silly women.”
  8. 2 Timothy 3:7 tn Grk “always learning,” continuing the description of the women from v. 6. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  9. 2 Timothy 3:8 sn Jannes and Jambres were the traditional names of two of Pharaoh’s magicians who opposed Moses at the time of the Exodus.
  10. 2 Timothy 3:8 tn Grk “disapproved concerning the faith.”
  11. 2 Timothy 3:9 tn Grk “for they will not progress any more.”
  12. 2 Timothy 3:9 tn Grk “as theirs came to be,” referring to the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres. The referent of “theirs” (Jannes and Jambres) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  13. 2 Timothy 3:10 sn There is a strong emphasis on the pronoun you in contrast to the people described in vv. 2-9.
  14. 2 Timothy 3:10 tn The possessive “my” occurs only at the beginning of the list but is positioned in Greek to apply to each of the words in the series.
  15. 2 Timothy 3:11 tn Grk “persecutions, sufferings,” as a continuation of the series from v. 10.
  16. 2 Timothy 3:11 sn In Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. See Acts 13-14 for the account of these persecutions.
  17. 2 Timothy 3:13 tn Grk “will advance to the worse.”
  18. 2 Timothy 3:13 tn Grk “deceiving and being deceived.”
  19. 2 Timothy 3:14 tn Grk “but you, continue,” a command.
  20. 2 Timothy 3:14 tn Grk “knowing,” giving the reasons for continuing as v. 14 calls for.
  21. 2 Timothy 3:14 tn Grk “those from whom you learned.”
  22. 2 Timothy 3:16 tn Or “All scripture.”sn There is very little difference in sense between every scripture (emphasizing the individual portions) and “all scripture” (emphasizing the composite whole). The former option is preferred, because it fits the normal use of the word “all/every” in Greek (πᾶς, pas) as well as Paul’s normal sense for the word “scripture” in the singular without the article, as here. So every scripture means “every individual portion of scripture.”
  23. 2 Timothy 3:16 sn Inspired by God. Some have connected this adjective in a different way and translated it as “every inspired scripture is also useful.” But this violates the parallelism of the two adjectives in the sentence, and the arrangement of words makes clear that both should be taken as predicate adjectives: “every scripture is inspired…and useful.”
  24. 2 Timothy 3:16 tn Or “rebuke,” “censure.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
  25. 2 Timothy 3:17 tn Grk “the man of God,” but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is most likely used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.
  26. 2 Timothy 3:17 tn This word is positioned for special emphasis; it carries the sense of “complete, competent, able to meet all demands.”

You Might Also Like:

2 Timothy 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 And this know thou, that in the last days there shall come perilous times, 2 for men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, evil-speakers, to parents disobedient, unthankful, unkind, 3 without natural affection, implacable, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, not lovers ...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 But know thou this thing, that in the last days perilous times shall approach [shall nigh], 2 and men shall be loving themselves, covetous, high of bearing, proud, blasphemers, not obedient to father and mother, unkind, cursed, 3 without affection, without peace, false blamers, uncontinent, unmi...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

3 Be sure of this. In the last days hard times will come. 2 People will love themselves. They will love money. They will talk about themselves and be proud. They will say wrong things about people. They will not obey their parents. They will not be thankful. They will not keep anything holy. 3 They ...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, ...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

3 And know this: in the last days, times will be hard. 2 You see, the world will be filled with narcissistic, money-grubbing, pretentious, arrogant, and abusive people. They will rebel against their parents and will be ungrateful, unholy, 3 uncaring, coldhearted, accusing, without restraint, savag...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Opposition in the Last Days3 But understand this, that in the last days[a] hard times will come— 2 for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 hardhearted, unforgiving, backbiting, without self-control, brutal, h...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Godlessness in the Last Days3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Godlessness in the Last Days3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

3 Also know this: that perilous times shall come in the last days. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 hard-hearted, trucebreakers, slanderers, out of control, brutal, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, rash...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Opponents of the Truth3 You need to know this: bad times are coming in the last days. 2 People will be in love with themselves, you see, and with money too. They will be boastful, arrogant, abusive, haters of parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unfeeling, implacable, accusing, dissolute, savage, haters...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Godlessness in the Last Days3 You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brut...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Godlessness in the Last Days3 You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,(A)3 unfeeling, implacable, slanderers, profligates, br...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He prophesies of the perilous times. He describes the traits of hypocrites, and tells us what they are within for all their fair faces outwardly. Persecution for the gospel. 3 This understand: in the last days, perilous times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boaste...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Dangers of the Last Days3 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sa...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

Things That Will Happen in the Last Days3 You must understand that in the last days there will come times of much trouble. 2 People will love themselves and money. They will have pride and tell of all the things they have done. They will speak against God. Children and young people will not obey th...
Read More

2 Timothy 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Perilous Times and Perilous Men3 But know this, that (A)in the last days [a]perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, bru...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags