II Timothy 3

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive ...” (1-2). Paul warned Timothy to watch out for self-absorbed, profit-driven false teachers who loved pleasure more than God. These weren’t obvious pagans, but insiders who had “a form of godliness” yet were spiritually dead (4-5). Instead, Paul told Timothy to imitate his way of life, which wasn’t about charismatic preaching and crowds but “faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings” (10).

False teachers twist the Bible to suit the agenda of the moment or for personal gain. But God gives us the Scriptures to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (15).