1 THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, [ Or selfish, thinking of themselves first and only. ] , covetous, [ 1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; in a good sense; as covetous of wisdom, virtue or learning. 2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; directed to money or goods, avaricious. ] , boasters, [ 1. To brag, or vaunt one's self; to make an ostentatious display, in speech, of one's own worth, property, or actions. 2. To glory; to speak with laudable pride and ostentation of meritorious persons or things. 3. To exalt one's self. Again back to a selfish attitude.] , proud, [ 1. Having inordinate self-esteem; possessing a high or unreasonable conceit of one's own excellence, either of body or mind. 2. Arrogant; haughty; supercilious. 3. Daring; presumptuous. 5. Grand, lofty; splendid; magnificent. 6. Ostentatious; grand; as proud titles. 7. Splendid; exhibiting grandeur and distinction; exciting pride; as a proud day for Rome. ] , blasphemers, [ one who speaks of God in impious and irreverent terms. ] , disobedient to parents, [ ] , unthankful, [ Not thankful; ungrateful; not making acknowledgments for good received. ] , unholy, [ 1. Not holy; not renewed and sanctified. 2 Timothy 3:2. 2. Profane; not hallowed; not consecrated; common. Hebrews 10:29. 3. Impious; wicked. 4. Not ceremonially purified. Leviticus 10:10. So might we suggest that they are not willing to make covenants with God in regard to their actions? How do the unholy often treat the things which are Holy? ] ,

3  Without natural affection, [ ] , trucebreakers, [ ] , false accusers, [ ] , incontinent, [ ] , fierce, [ ] , despisers of those that are good, [ ] ,

4  Traitors, [ Where does their loyalty lie? ] , heady, [ ] , highminded, [ ] , lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [ ] ;

5  Having a form of godliness, [ What is their form of Godliness? ] , but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, [ Harut and Maru? has a ritual connection with an ancient literary legend--the legend of Harut and Marut. In the days of Enoch the Watchers came to the earth and started corrupting men. They started taking the sacred ordinances and claiming them, but perverting them. They claimed that they had the right gospel. They gave a false slant and a false teaching to it, and justified all sorts of immorality. Therefore, Harut and Marut [the Watchers] were hanged on a high hill because the earth would not accept them. They were the first to betray the law of God to men. There was plenty of wickedness and murder, etc., but they were doing it in the name of the gospel and the priesthood. They introduced the temple ordinances but falsified them. There is quite a story about the Watchers here. . . . They were hanged between heaven and earth because the earth wouldn't receive them, just as it wouldn't receive Cain. Remember, the earth refused her strength to Cain. And heaven wouldn't receive them. So what can you do? You can just leave them hanging there because neither would receive them. And they hang there until the Day of Judgment--that's the point. That's very widespread; everybody knows about the story of Harut and Marut suspended between heaven and earth because they were the first corrupters of the human race in the name of preaching religion. Hugh W. Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 2, pp. 219-220; English Orientalist and scholar David Samuel Margoliouth asserted that Harut and Marut were none other than Jannes and Jambres, the two magicians mentioned in II Timothy 3:8 as being the Egyptian magicians who withstood the Prophet Moses in the court of Pharaoh in Exodus 7:8-12. ] so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, [ True power from God is safeguarded by one attribute alone and that is charity. This is one of the foremost attribues of Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. So when we talk about charity what God is saying is in order to wield my power I need to know that you have an eye single to the glory of God - the immortality and eternal life of man. ] patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.