Single lesson
2 Timothy 3: Evil in the Last Days
2 Timothy 3:1–9; 2 Timothy 3:10–17
This lesson helps children notice the clear contrast in 2 Timothy 3 between people who oppose the truth and the one addressed, who is urged to remain in what has been learned from the holy Scriptures.
Before you teach
2 Timothy 3:1-9 warns about grievous times and describes attitudes and actions that oppose the truth. Then 2 Timothy 3:10-17 turns to a different pattern: teaching, faith, love and steadfastness, followed by a strong statement about the holy Scriptures and their purpose.
Students will identify the passage’s contrast and explain that the one addressed is urged to remain in the holy Scriptures, which equip God’s people for every good work.
Welcome: Listen for two patterns
4 minTell the children they will hear two very different patterns in this chapter. One pattern shows people who oppose the truth. The other shows teaching, faith, love, steadfastness and the holy Scriptures. Ask them to listen for words that belong to each pattern as the passage is read aloud.
2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16
Read and explain: Grievous times
7 minRead 2 Timothy 3:1-9. Explain that “grievous times” means difficult times. Notice the long list of attitudes and actions, including lovers of self, unthankful, slanderers and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Some hold a form of godliness while denying its power, and the passage says, “Turn away from these, also.”
2 Timothy 3:1, 2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:3, 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Timothy 3:5
Discuss: Opposing the truth or following what is good
6 minPoint out that some of these people mislead others and oppose the truth. Then read 2 Timothy 3:10-13 and notice the contrast. The one addressed had followed teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love and steadfastness. The passage also says that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:7, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:12, 2 Timothy 3:13
Make and respond: Reminder card
9 minRead 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Explain that the instruction is to remain in what has been learned and assured of. The holy Scriptures make people wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16
Closing: Equipped for good works
4 minFinish by asking children to say the big idea in their own words. Review the chapter’s contrast once more: some oppose the truth and deceive, but the one addressed is urged to remain in what has been learned from Scripture. Scripture equips the person who belongs to God for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 Timothy 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:17
Questions to explore
Which words from verses 2 to 4 show what these grievous times are like?
Choose exact words from the passage, such as lovers of self, unthankful, slanderers, fierce, or lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:3, 2 Timothy 3:4
What is different in verse 10 from the pattern at the start of the chapter?
Compare the list in verses 2 to 4 with the words in verse 10, such as teaching, faith, patience, love and steadfastness.
2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:3, 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Timothy 3:10
What does this passage say the holy Scriptures are able to do?
Answer with the passage’s own words about making people wise for salvation, teaching, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness and equipping for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:17
Make, think or respond
Scripture Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- colours or markers
- a Bible or the passage written where children can see it
Try it together
- Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17 together and ask each child to choose a short phrase from the passage.
- Give each child a small card or folded piece of paper to decorate.
- On the front, write the chosen phrase, such as 'remain in the things which you have learned' or 'Every Scripture is God-breathed'.
- On the back, write one response linked to the passage, such as listening carefully to Scripture or remembering that Scripture prepares God’s people for good works.
- Invite children to show their card to a partner or the group.
The card helps children remember the passage’s instruction to remain in what has been learned and to value the holy Scriptures.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pause after each short section and ask them to repeat one key word they heard, such as truth, love, Scripture or good works.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to sort words from verses 2 to 4 and verse 10 into two groups before making their reminder card.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: 'God, please help us remain in what we learn from the holy Scriptures and be ready for every good work.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Timothy 3
1 But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.
6 For some of these are people who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith are rejected.
9 But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
10 But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
11 persecutions, and sufferings—those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
15 From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
17 that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.