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 command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living 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 urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching.
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 listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts,
4 They will stop listening to the truth and wander off following myths.
and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to 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 you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
6 For I'm about to be sacrificed—the time of my death is approaching.
For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept my trust in God.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the 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.
From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
9 Please try to come to me as soon as you can.
Be diligent to come to me soon,
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 left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to 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 you, for he is useful to me for service.
12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come please bring the cloak I left behind with Carpus in Troas—and the books, especially the parchments.
Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come—and the books, 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 much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
15 You watch out for him too, because he was very much against what we were saying.
Beware of him, for he greatly opposed 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 defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.
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!
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear. So 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 will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
19 My greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and to Onesiphorus's family.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed on in Corinth. I left Trophimus behind in Miletus because he was sick.
Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.
21 Please try to come before winter. Eubulus sends his best wishes—and Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters too.
Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with you. May his grace be with you all.
The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
