Letters to the Churches

without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,

traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.

For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,

ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.

But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness:

that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

I chargetheein the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;

and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.

But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.

For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:

henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

Give diligence to come shortly unto me:

for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.