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2 Timothy 3
2 Timothy 3:1
Connecting Statement:
Paul lets Timothy know that in the future people will stop believing the truth, but he should continue trusting God's word even when he is persecuted.
In the last days
Possible meanings are 1) this is a time later than Paul's time. Alternate translation: "in the future just before Jesus returns" or 2) this refers to the Christian age, including Paul's time. Alternate translation: "during this period of time before the end"
difficult times
These will be days, months, or even years when Christians will endure suffering and danger.
2 Timothy 3:2
lovers of themselves
Here "lovers" refers to brotherly love or love for a friend or family member, a natural human love between friends or relatives. This is not the kind of love that comes from God. Alternate translation: "self-centered"
2 Timothy 3:3
without natural affection
"unloving even to their own families"
unable to reconcile
"unwilling to live peacefully with others"
not lovers of good
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "haters of good"
2 Timothy 3:4
reckless
doing things either without thinking about what bad things could happen or without even knowing that bad things could happen
conceited
thinking they are better than other people
2 Timothy 3:5
They will have a shape of godliness, but they will deny its power
Paul speaks of godliness, the habit of honoring God, as if it were a physical object that had a shape and had physical power. Alternate translation: "They will appear to honor God, but they way they act will show that they do not really believe in God's power" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
have a shape of godliness
"appear to have godliness" or "appear to honor God"
Turn away from these people
"Turn away" here is a metaphor for avoiding someone. Alternate translation: "Avoid these people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
2 Timothy 3:6
enter into households and captivate
"enter into houses and greatly influence"
foolish women
"women who are spiritually weak." These women may be spiritually weak because they fail to work at becoming godly or because they are idle and have many sins.
who are loaded up with sins
Paul speaks of the attraction of sin as if sin were loaded on the backs of these women. Possible meanings are 1) "who sin often" or 2) "who feel terrible guilt because they continue to sin." The idea is that these men can easily influence these women because the women are unable to stop sinning. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
are led away by various desires
Paul speaks about these various desires as if they could lead another person away. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they desire to sin in various ways rather than obey Christ" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
2 Timothy 3:7
General Information:
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2 Timothy 3:8
Connecting Statement:
Paul gives an example of two false teachers from the time of Moses—men who are not mentioned in the Old Testament—and applies it to the way people will be. Paul encourages Timothy to follow his own example and stay in God's word.
Jannes and Jambres
These are names of men. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
stood against
Paul speaks of those who argued against Moses as if they had stood against him. Alternate translation: "opposed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
stand against the truth
"oppose the gospel of Jesus"
They are men corrupt in mind
"Their minds are corrupt" or "They cannot think rightly"
and with regard to the faith they are proven to be false
They have been tested in how well they trust in Christ and obey him, and they have failed the test. Alternate translation: "and without sincere faith" or "and they have shown that their faith is not genuine"
2 Timothy 3:9
they will not advance very far
Paul uses an expression about physical movement to mean that the false teachers will not have much success among the believers. Alternate translation: "they will not have much success" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
obvious to all
"easily seen by all" or "something everyone will see"
of those men
"of Jannes and Jambres"
2 Timothy 3:10
you have followed my teaching
Paul speaks of giving close attention to these things as if one were physically following them as they moved. Alternate translation: "you have observed my teaching" or "you have paid close attention to my teaching" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
my teaching
"what I have taught you to do"
conduct
the way a person lives his life
longsuffering
one person being patient with those people who do things of which he does not approve
2 Timothy 3:11
Out of them all, the Lord rescued me
Paul speaks of God having stopped him from suffering these hardships and dangers as if God had carried him out of a physical location. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
2 Timothy 3:12
to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus
"to live godly lives as followers of Jesus"
will be persecuted
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "will certainly have to endure persecution" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
2 Timothy 3:13
impostors
An imposter is a person who wants other people to think he is someone other, usually more important, than who he is.
will go from bad to worse
"will become even more evil"
leading others astray and being led astray
Here, to lead someone astray is a metaphor for persuading someone to believe something that is not true. Alternate translation: "deceiving and being deceived" or "teaching lies and believing lies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
2 Timothy 3:14
remain in the things that you have learned
Paul speaks of biblical instruction as if it were a place that Timothy could stay in. Alternate translation: "do not forget what you learned" or "continue doing what you have learned" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
2 Timothy 3:15
the sacred writings. These are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus
Paul speaks of the message contained in the sacred writings as if it were the writings themselves and of those writings as if they were a person whose words could make a person wise. Alternate translation: "what is in the sacred writings. When you read the word of God, you can become wise so as to receive salvation from Christ Jesus by faith" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture has been inspired by God
Some Bibles translate this as "All scripture is God-breathed." This means God produced the scripture through his Spirit by telling people what to write. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has spoken all scripture by his Spirit" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
It is profitable
"It is useful" or "It is beneficial"
for conviction
"for pointing out errors"
for correction
"for fixing errors"
for training in righteousness
"for training people to be righteous"
2 Timothy 3:17
the man of God
This means any believer in God whether male or female. Alternate translation: "all believers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-gendernotations)
may be competent, equipped
"may be completely prepared"