Tap any verse number for what that verse means.
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Understand This
2 Timothy 3, explained
What 2 Timothy 3 is saying
Paul describes the moral landscape of ‘the last days’ with a vice list of eighteen characteristics: lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, and others. These people maintain a form of godliness (morphōsin eusebeias) while denying its power. Paul warns against those who infiltrate households and captivate vulnerable people. He contrasts Timothy’s faithful following of Paul’s teaching, conduct, and suffering—noting persecutions endured in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—and declares that all who desire to live godly lives will be persecuted. The chapter culminates in the famous affirmation of Scripture’s inspiration: all Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos) and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.
The background behind it
The persecutions in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra (Acts 13–14) were among Paul’s earliest and most dramatic sufferings, occurring near Timothy’s home region. Timothy may have witnessed or heard firsthand accounts of these events, making Paul’s appeal particularly personal.
Themes running underneath
The concept of theopneustos (God-breathed) has been foundational for Christian doctrines of biblical inspiration. Paul’s concern is not merely theoretical but functional: Scripture equips the person of God for every good work. The contrast between outward religious form and inner spiritual power addresses a perennial danger in organized religion.
Why it still matters
The theopneustos declaration establishes Scripture’s authority as rooted in its divine origin, not human opinion. The warning against religious form without power challenges every tradition to evaluate whether institutional maintenance has replaced transformative encounter with God.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.