Chapter II

THE LAST TIME, HIS APPROACHING MARTYRDOM, ETC.

1 [3:1]AND know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [3:2] Men will be selfish, avaricious, vain, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3:3]without natural affection, covenant breakers, slanderers, intemperate, ungentle, despisers of the good, [3:4]traitors, rash, boasters, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, [3:5]having a form of piety but denying its power; and these avoid. [3:6]Of these are those who go into the houses and take captive foolish women loaded with sins, and led by various desires, [3:7]always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. [3:8]As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, men of no judgment, reprobate in respect to the faith. [3:9]But they shall proceed no further; for their foolishness shall become manifest to all, as theirs also was. [3:10]But you have followed my instruction,--mode of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, [3:11]persecutions, sufferings, which befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; the great persecutions which I suffered, and the Lord delivered me from all. [3:12]And all who will live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted. [3:13]But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. [3:14]But do you continue in what you learned and understood, knowing from whom you learned, [3:15]and that from a child you have known the sacred Scriptures, which can make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [3:16]All Scripture is divinely inspired and is profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, for education in righteousness, [3:17]that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fitted for every good work.

2 [4:1]I earnestly charge you before God and Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and dead, and [by] his appearing and his kingdom, [4:2]preach the word, press it in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and instruction; [4:3]for the time will come when they will not endure sound instruction, but will accumulate for themselves teachers according to their desires, pleasing their ear, [4:4]and they will turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned to myths. [4:5]But do you be sober in all things, endure evil, do the work of an evangelist, perform fully your ministry. [4:6] For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. [4:7]I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; [4:8]henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give me in that day, and not me only but all who love his appearing.

3 [4:9]Make haste to come to me quickly; [4:10]for Demas forsook me having loved the present life and went to Thessalonica, Cresces to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia; [4:11]Luke only is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you; for [he will be] useful to me for service. [4:12]But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. [4:13] The cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring, and the books, especially the parchments.

4 [4:14]Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; may the Lord reward him according to his work. [4:15]And do you beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words. [4:16]At my first defense no one stood by me, but all forsook me; may it not be set to their account; [4:17]but the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that the word should be fully declared by me, and all the nations should hear, and I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. [4:18]The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever; amen.

5 [4:19]Salute Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila and the house of Onesiphorus. [4:20]Erastus remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. [4:21] Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia, and all the brothers, salute you. [4:22]The Lord be with your spirit. The grace be with you.

THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES.

THE EPISTLE OF JAMES.

JERUSALEM, A.D. 61-66.