3:1

in the last days: Paul uses the future tense in this verse, saying that “in the last days critical times . . . will be here.” (See also 2Ti 3:2, 13.) So he was referring to a time still to come​—“the last days” of the system of things existing at the time of Jesus’ invisible presence. (See Glossary, “Last days.”) These “last days” would occur only after the foretold apostasy had come and “the man of lawlessness” had been revealed, as prophesied at 2Th 2:3-12. (See study notes on 2Th 2:3; 1Ti 4:1.) Paul goes on to list ungodly traits that would dominate human society at that time. (2Ti 3:1-5; see study note on 2Ti 3:5.) The great apostasy would contribute to the spread of those undesirable characteristics.

critical times hard to deal with: This expression renders two Greek terms that Paul uses to describe a time of crisis that he calls “the last days.” The Greek word kai·rosʹ often refers to a distinct or marked period of time and can also be rendered “appointed time.” (See study note on Ac 1:7.) Paul combines the term with the Greek word kha·le·posʹ, here rendered “hard to deal with.” Lexicons define this word as “difficult,” “dangerous,” or “stressful.” At Mt 8:28, the same word is used to describe two demon-possessed men as being unusually “fierce.” Paul warns that because of the bad characteristics of people (2Ti 3:2-5, 13), “the last days” would be, as various reference works put it, “times of stress” or “difficult to endure, difficult to get through, and difficult to deal with.”