Answer: Everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted, (verse 12).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Even as Paul encourages Timothy by telling him that the Lord rescued him from all of the persecutions and sufferings that his determination to continue in his work for God must bring, he also warns Timothy that everyone who is determined to live a godly life must anticipate persecution:
John 15:18-21: [Jesus said,] "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the Words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One Who sent Me."
Acts 14:21-22: "They [Paul and Barnabas] preached the good news in that city [Derbe] and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said."
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4: "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the Gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know."
Revelation 2:2-3: [The Lord speaking to the church in the city of Ephesus:] "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My Name, and have not grown weary."
