20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and pottery; and some for an honourable use, and others for baser service. 21If therefore a man preserve himself pure from these things, he shall be a vessel for honour, sanctified and highly useful to the master, ready for every good work.
22But flee youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and uninstructive disputes avoid, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24And a servant of the Lord ought not to quarrel; but to be gentle to all men, apt to teach, forbearing, 25with meekness correcting those who are opposers, if at last God may give unto them repentance so as to submit to the conviction of the truth; 26and that they may escape out of the snare of the devil, who have been captured by him for his will.
[CHAP. III.]
BUT this know, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, vainglorious, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3unnatural, implacable, slanderers, intemperate, inhuman, averse to goodness, 4treacherous, wilful, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; 5holding the form of godliness, but denying the power of it: from these men turn with aversion. 6For such are they who insinuate themselves into houses, and captivate weak women laden with accumulated sins, and actuated by a variety of passions, 7always learning, yet never able to attain unto the knowledge of truth. 8But in the same manner as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also set themselves in opposition to the truth; men corrupt in mind, reprobate respecting the faith. 9But they shall not proceed to the uttermost; for their infatuation shall be evident to all men, as theirs also was.
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, conduct, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, 11the persecutions, the sufferings, which beset me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, yet out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12And all indeed who will live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But wicked men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and deceived. 14But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and believed, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15and that from a child thou hast known the sacred writings, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. 16All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and advantageous for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 17that the man of God may be properly furnished, fully qualified for every good work.
[CHAP. IV.]
I ADJURE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2preach the word, be urgent, in season, out of season; reprove, enjoin, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own inclinations will set up a herd of teachers for themselves, having the itch of hearing; 4and will turn away their ears from the truth, and listen unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully discharge thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution approaches. 7I have struggled hard in the honourable contest, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith: 8henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: yet not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing.
9Hasten to come to me shortly: 10for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is gone unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. 11Luke alone is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is very useful to me in the ministry. 12But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
13The cloke which I left behind me at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest bring, and the books, especially the parchments.
14Alexander the brazier did me many ill offices: the Lord repay him according to his works: 15against whom be thou also on thy guard, for he hath greatly resisted our words.