2 Timothy 4
1 This is what I instruct you to do before God and Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead when he comes to establish his kingdom.
I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Speak God's word whether it is convenient or not, tell people where they're going wrong, warn them, encourage them. Do this with a great deal of patient teaching.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time is coming when people won't bother to listen to true teaching. Instead they will be curious to listen to something different, and will surround themselves with teachers who'll tell them what they want to hear.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 They will stop listening to the truth and wander off following myths.
And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 You need to keep your wits about you at all times. Put up with troubles, do the work of sharing the good news, fulfill your ministry.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I'm about to be sacrificed—the time of my death is approaching.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept my trust in God.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:
8 Now there's a prize reserved for me—the crown for a life lived according to what is good and right. The Lord, (who is the judge that always does what's right), will give that to me on that Day. And not just to me, but to everyone who longs for his coming.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
9 Please try to come to me as soon as you can.
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 Demas has abandoned me because he loves the things of this world more, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. (aiōn g165)
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (aiōn g165)
11 Only Luke is here with me. Bring Mark with you, because he can help me with my work.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 When you come please bring the cloak I left behind with Carpus in Troas—and the books, especially the parchments.
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring [with thee], and the books, [but] especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith caused me a lot of trouble—may God judge him for what he did.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 You watch out for him too, because he was very much against what we were saying.
Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 When it came to my first defense, no-one stood up for me—everyone abandoned me. May they not be blamed for this.
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all [men] forsook me: [I pray God] that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could declare the whole of the message so that all the foreigners could hear it. I was rescued out of the lion's mouth!
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 The Lord will rescue me from all the evil things done against me, and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. His is the glory forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
19 My greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and to Onesiphorus's family.
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed on in Corinth. I left Trophimus behind in Miletus because he was sick.
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Please try to come before winter. Eubulus sends his best wishes—and Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters too.
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord be with you. May his grace be with you all.
The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen.
