2 Timothy 4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lord Iesus Christ, which shall iudge the quicke and dead at that his appearing, and in his kingdome,
I solemnly charge you – in the sight of God and of Christ Jesus, who will one day judge the living and the dead – I charge you by his appearing and by his kingdom:
2 Preach the worde: be instant, in season and out of season: improue, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Proclaim the message, be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, encourage, never failing to instruct with forbearance.
3 For the time will come, when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine: but hauing their eares itching, shall after their owne lustes get them an heape of teachers,
For a time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching. They will follow their own wishes, and, in their itching for novelty, procure themselves a crowd of teachers.
4 And shall turne their eares from the trueth, and shalbe giuen vnto fables.
They will turn a deaf ear to the truth, and give their attention to legends instead.
5 But watch thou in all thinges: suffer aduersitie: doe the worke of an Euangelist: cause thy ministerie to be throughly liked of.
But you, Timothy, must always be temperate. Face hardships; do the work of a missionary; discharge all the duties of your office.
6 For I am nowe readie to be offered, and the time of my departing is at hand.
As for me, my life blood is already being poured out; the time of my departure is close at hand.
7 I haue fought a good fight, and haue finished my course: I haue kept the faith.
I have run the great race; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith.
8 For hence foorth is laide vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous iudge shall giue me at that day: and not to me onely, but vnto all them also that loue that his appearing.
And now the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will give me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have loved his appearing.
9 Make speede to come vnto me at once:
Do your utmost to come to me soon,
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, and hath embraced this present world, and is departed vnto Thessalonica. Crescens is gone to Galatia, Titus vnto Dalmatia. (aiōn g165)
for Demas, in his love for the world, has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. (aiōn g165)
11 Onely Luke is with me. Take Marke and bring him with thee: for he is profitable vnto me to minister.
There is no one but Luke with me. Pick up Mark on your way, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in my work.
12 And Tychicus haue I sent to Ephesus.
I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou commest, bring with thee, and the bookes, but specially the parchments.
Bring with you, when you come, the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith hath done me much euill: the Lord rewarde him according to his workes.
Alexander, the coppersmith, showed much ill feeling towards me. The Lord will give him what his actions deserve.
15 Of whome be thou ware also: for he withstoode our preaching sore.
You must also be on your guard against him, for he is strongly opposed to our teaching.
16 At my first answering no man assisted me, but all forsooke me: I pray God, that it may not be laide to their charge.
At my first trial no one stood by me. They all deserted me. May it never be counted against them!
17 Notwithstanding the Lord assisted me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully beleeued, and that al the Gentiles should heare: and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the lion.
But the Lord came to my help and strengthened me, in order that, through me, the proclamation should be made so widely that all the Gentiles should hear it; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.
18 And the Lord will deliuer me from euery euil worke, and will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome: to whome be praise for euer and euer, Amen. (aiōn g165)
The Lord will rescue me from all evil, and bring me safe into his Heavenly kingdom. All glory to him for ever and ever! Amen. (aiōn g165)
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the householde of Onesiphorus.
Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, and to the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinthus: Trophimus I left at Miletum sicke.
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Thophimus ill at Miletus.
21 Make speede to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia send you their greetings, and so do the rest of the Lord’s followers.
22 The Lord Iesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you, Amen. ‘The second Epistle written from Rome vnto Timotheus, the first Bishop elected of the Church of Ephesus, when Paul was presented the second time before the Emperour Nero.’
May the Lord be with your soul. God bless you all.
