The Church at Laodicea as the New Davidic Covenant

Shema 

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

• John 1:1:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Historical Prologue

15 “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 

• Growing up, I understood this text to refer to individuals & churches who had grown complacent.  Laodicea as a church was cruising on mediocrity & in increasingly desperate need of revival.  
• That said, as the years have passed by here, I have come to understand Covenant Theology well enough to have reconsidered what I was taught long ago — a point of view that does have its merits, but, in my opinion isn’t as fully orbed an understanding as it could be.
• Does this text apply to individuals & churches who need reform & revival because they are cruising on mediocrity either because they are just plain tired, worn out by the endless grind & great travail in which our world seems mightily trapped &/or because they’ve just plain neglected the means of grace?  Absolutely it does!   
• However, in view of the logical & chronological order in which the LORD reveals both Himself and the truth about ourselves to us — along with His moral will for us & the objectively true state of affairs relative to faith & practice in every area of life, & also in light of what He has said about the Church @ Philadelphia, I think a more charitable reading relative to the Big Picture well stifles the Enemy, especially enemies who might read the text like this: 

“Because this text does apply to individuals, churches, & nations/governments who a striving in & with mediocrity, the same state of affairs applies to the Big Picture relative to the trajectory of the New Davidic administration.“   

• They would be wrong.

• A more charitable reading of the text leads to understanding the text as a description of a covenantal community & a church full of people who are *not* living in perpetual or semi-perpetual mediocrity.  Rather, they have imbibed & applied the Word of God & are pursuing the Narrow Way - the way of (hard fought) peace (Shalom).
• How so? The New Davidic Covenant is the Covenant of Conquest & Reconciliation. 
• Ergo, the churches’ lukewarm estate isn’t as bad as many Bible teachers, theologians, & others in both past & present allege.   
• Rather, even though they are surrounded by their enemies on every side, many of whom are false teachers, the Laodicean church has been paying attention to what’s going on in their church/synagogue/temple/house/garden & are capitalizing on the legacy of the Philadelphia generation.  

• “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.”  In other words the people living under the New Davidic Covenant are a people closely paracleted by the LORD.   The LORD knows their works the same way that He knew Israel’s travail in Egypt. 
• Maybe these people did start out in a negatively lukewarm stage or even worse — but so what?! This is the LORD’s covenant, & He has big plans for this generation.  
• The LORD knows that the church & society in the New Davidic age is going to take their lives back as well as help their neighbors do the same thing.  The LORD, in these last days , has purposed to raise up the New Davidic peoples & intends to equip them to get the job done and (O LORD, hear our prayer) do it the right (not the Righty) way. 
• The Laodicean Church is described as neither cold, nor hot.  We know Death & Hades can be destroyed by revival, reform, & redemption.  Reading the text more charitably reminds us that “lukewarmness” isn’t just a picturesque way of depicting an indecisive, exhausted, milquetoast people, it can also properly describe those who have navigated between Scylla & Charybdis, having found a via media, a middle way, between the two extremes.  

• Recall that every covenant cut between the LORD & His people encompasses both blessings & sanctionings.  The LORD threatens to move the negatively lukewarm toward exile by proverbing them, as He did in the days of Jeremiah & Ezekiel, while simultaneously He commends the positively lukewarm.  They are neither hot nor cold, they are “juust right,” either in their own eyes or the LORD’s. 
• They’re not too soft like the worthless men who constitute the lowest common denominator in their community,  & they’re not too hard like the crackers & razors hired by Demetrius in Thessalonica.  They’re the porridge that Goldilocks ate! 
• This reflects a spirit of reconciliation within them that is a response to the division present at the end of the period of declension at the close of the Philadelphia covenantal era. 

• This description also tells us something about these people from the perspective of their enemies, some of whom are probably among them in the wedding hall like the man cast into Outer Darkness in Matthew 22.  They probably view the people in the Laodicean age as easy marks — ripe for conquest on the one hand & on the other quite the conundrum. 
• For example, those steeped in Ecclesiastical Tradition might look at the Laodicean generation & feel threatened by those who have risen to the challenge, thus defying the expectations of the Establishment.   The Bible is full of power hungry, at times spiritually abusive members of the Civil & Ecclesiastical Establishment.  All you need to do is read about how Elijah & Jeremiah were treated, or how Sanballat & Tobiah sought to undermine the rebuilding of the temple & Jerusalem, or how members of the Sanhedrin sat on their judgment stools during Yeshua’s lifetime, or how the Baptists in what is now Great Britain were persecuted under the Clarenden Code. 
• Think about the articles here on our blog in which we have scrutinized Ecclesiastical Tradition & Liturgical Philosophy for the past 10 months & the manner in which theologically Evangelical people are assumed to be bigoted, homophobic, intolerant, conspiratorially minded ethnocentric/relgio-centric Christians, a great many of whom are ill taught people who are circling the wagons as they try their best to stave off or utterly crush the Encroaching liberal menace.   
• The Laodicean accusers would be wrong. 
• One day soon, I hope, the LORD will remove & retain 18 to 20 people, and place them in the Upstairs Ark. where He Himself will teach them everything they need to know in order for them to do the work of reform & reconciliation on & in the Pneumatic Estates above & on the Earth below where they will remain & await Yeshua’s return to make All Things New.  

• “Would that you were either cold or hot!”The LORD addresses them as adults, refusing to infantilize them, & expressing His desire that now, at the end of the age, He is looking for a few good men & women (and others) who are willing to go all in & take on the responsibility & duty to claim their inheritance & take back the Kingdom like the generation who conquered Canaan. 

• 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 
• Because this generation has decided to enter into Reconciliation with a view toward Conquest, the LORD will drink from their cup & simultaneously reject the bad by baptizing / rebaptizing them with their own words, thus holding them to account for their declarations & on the other, keeping in mind that this is HIS mouth doing the spewing, He baptizes the people with His words, which rain down onto them from His own mouth directly. 

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 

• I am reminded of Jude 4 — For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  
• These texts both apply not only to Christian churches but also the whole of humanity during the New Davidic Age who oppose the encroaching City of God/3rd Temple Menace. 

• Have you ever stopped to think that being wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked is not always a bad thing.  When we come to know & understand the truth of ourselves from God’s point of view, we are often revealed to think far too highly of ourselves. Nevertheless we need to hear, understand, & embrace the truth of ourselves if we are to make any headway out of the pitiable & poor naked estate in which the LORD finds us.  
• You can also hear the LORD paracleting His people by, ironically, repeating the accusations of their accusers.  Those accusers might be financially rich people on the Earth, but they are among most the wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked of all. 

• When you think about this in terms of spiritual warfare, the text echoes Paul’s sentiments in the Corinthian letters.  
• Hear 1 Corinthians 1: 
• Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

• 2 Corinthians 6:2: Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.  11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

General & Specific Stipulations

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, 

Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

• Hear the words of Jude.
• 17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 

• Hear the authors of Hebrews.
•  12:3 : Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

6  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

• Hear the Spirit of Reconciliation speak.
• 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 

• We live in a society driven by white noise.  Sometimes I wonder if Yeshua or one of the Prophets, or one of the angels came to the door & rang the bell, would any of us hear Him?  We need a 2nd Protestant Reformation. 
• John 14:23:  Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
• Luke 24:13:  That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Document Clause & Witnesses 

21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

• This covenant era is the one immediately prior to Christ’s return.  It is an Age of Conquest & Reconciliation.  Its Melchizedekian Prophet-Priest-King is the New David. 
• Rev. 22: 6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

The Church at Philadelphia as the Johannine Covenant

Shema 

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

• Matthew 16:19: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[a] in heaven.”

Historical Prologue 

8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 

• The Johannine/Reformational Covenant’s Transitional Prophet from the Davidic Era is John the Baptist.   The story begins in Luke with announcement of John’s birth to Zechariah & Elizabeth & Gabriel’s appearance to  Mary to announce Yeshua’s conception & birth.  They, like Simeon & Anna in the Temple’s courts watching & praying have kept the LORD’s word and not denied His name.  The angels prophesy a door that none can shut once open. 

• John 10:7: So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

• Matt. 28:16 - 20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

• John 21:15: When  they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

General & Specific Stipulations 

9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 

• After the New Testament was delivered, the churches wrote a Systematic Theology book based on Scripture.  They also wrote an Ethics Manual.  Along the way, they made many mistakes, but God was good. 
• He brought them safely through persecution, famine, & sword.  He protected His name & gave good people (and some not so good people) the intellect & the perseverance to think through all the major heads of doctrine in an orderly manner. 
• Along the way, the LORD chose to reform the churches, refine humanity as a whole, & the Law & Gospel went around the globe.   
• Zeus, Isis, Hera, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Apollo, Kali, Thor, & many others were conquered & reconquered. 
• The LORD periodically reconquered His own peoples.   
• Time after time, the events in the Pericope Adulterae played out over & over. 

10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 

• John 7:53 They went each to his own house, 
• John 8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Document Clause & Witnesses 

11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 

• 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

• 2 Thessalonians 2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
• The above text describes both the Antichrist & the Transitional Prophet to arise in the Last Days.  This is also a description of the overarching eschatological struggle between the Children of Cain & the Children of Abel.   
• One seeks Libertinism/Hedonism by way of Works Righteousness & chronic failure to love God exhaustively & perfectly first then neighbor & only then self.   
• The Children of Abel seek Libertinism / Hedonism (1 Corinthians 6:12) via laying down their Works Righteousness at its root & seeking to love God firstly exhaustively & perfectly, then neighbor the same way before themselves (and after God) & only then themselves.  

• 2 Timothy 2:3 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.

• 2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.