2 Timothy 3
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul tells Timothy that hard times are coming in the last days, and he lists the ways people will act then. He warns Timothy to stay away from people who look godly on the outside but say no to God's power, and he reminds Timothy of the teaching, the way of life, and the suffering Timothy watched him go through. He then tells Timothy to keep holding on to what he learned as a small child, because all scripture comes from God and gets God's people ready for every good work.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
1Know this too. In the last days, very hard times will come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2People will love only themselves. They will love money. They will brag and act proud. They will say cruel things. They will not obey their parents. They will not say thank you. They will not care about holy things.
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
3They will not even love their own families. They will break their promises. They will tell lies about people. They will not control themselves. They will be rough and mean. They will hate what is good.
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
4They will turn against their own friends. They will rush ahead without thinking. They will think they are better than everyone. They will love fun more than they love God.
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
5On the outside they will look like people who follow God. But they say no to God's power. Stay away from people like that.
6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
6Some of them sneak into people's homes. There they take control of weak women who carry many sins. All kinds of wrong wants pull these women along.
In 1611, "silly" meant weak or easy to trick. It did not mean funny or foolish.
7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
7These women are always learning something new. But they never come to know the truth.
8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
8Long ago two men named Jannes and Jambres fought against Moses, God's leader. These men fight against the truth in the same way. Their thinking is spoiled. Their faith has not passed the test.
9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
9But they will not get much further. Everyone will see how foolish they are. That is what happened to Jannes and Jambres too.
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
10But you, Timothy, have watched me closely. You know what I teach and how I live. You know what I am living for. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and how I keep going.
The King James word here is "charity." In 1611 that word simply meant love, not giving money away.
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.
11You know the hard times people gave me. They hurt me in the cities of Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I went through so much! But the Lord rescued me from all of it.
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
12Everyone who wants to live God's way in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
13Evil men and fakers will get worse and worse. They fool other people, and they are fooled themselves.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
14But you must keep on with what you have learned. You are sure it is true. And you know the people who taught it to you.
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.
15You have known the holy scriptures since you were very small. They make you wise, so that you are saved. This comes by trusting Christ Jesus.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
16All scripture comes from God's own breath. It is good for teaching. It shows people where they are wrong. It helps them make things right. It trains them to live the way God wants.
17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
17So the person who belongs to God is ready and complete. He has everything he needs for every good work.
"Perfect" here means complete or finished, not "never making a mistake." "Throughly furnished" means fully supplied with what you need.
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