1. Godlessness in the last days (1-10)

When people love themselves, love money and love pleasure, they become proud, ungrateful and disobedient. When people yield to their physical passions, they become depraved in their minds. They always seem to learn, but never make a commitment to truth, so they become opponents of truth. But they never get very far. God's people must not get discouraged by people's godlessness but understand the root and foresee the outcome.

2. Thoroughly equipped for every good work (11-17)

We have Paul's example of living by faith -- and being persecuted. Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted. Evil people oppose God's work by deception and lies. They go from bad to worse. But when we hold to the truth of God's word, we become wise to salvation in Christ. We experience that the Word is God-breathed and useful to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness. Though we are weak, the Word equips us for every good work to lead others to salvation. Godless times are not the problem, but rather it is how much do I trust that the Word is God-breathed and useful?