II Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
As Paul begins his final chapter of this letter, he wants to make sure Timothy does not get discouraged. His statement is not either extreme: heartless nor hopeless. Times are going to be tough, because people are going to be hard-hearted towards God and others. Some will claim to be godly (like the false teachers Timothy was dealing with), but will deny the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rather than disturb the peace, he was to avoid them turn away from them. Their sin was running away with them and those who followed after them; they were on a path that led to emptiness. Paul's reminder was simple: "But they will not get very far." Eventually people would see their emptiness, their selfishness, and their ungodliness. When that happens, people will be wide open to the truth, to the love of God, and the power of the Gospel.
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