2 Timothy 4

1 Christ Jesus [is going to come back and] judge those who are living [when he comes] and those who will have died. He will judge them [concerning what rewards they deserve, and] he will rule everyone. So, [knowing that] he and God are watching [everything that we do], I solemnly/earnestly command you

I fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge [the] living and dead at His appearing and His Kingdom—

2 that you proclaim the [true] message to people. Always be ready/prepared [to proclaim it], whether people want to hear it or not. [Some people are saying things that are not correct]; (refute their teaching/show why their teaching is wrong). Rebuke them when they are doing wrong. Tell them what they ought to do. Be very patient while you teach them.

preach the word; be earnest in season, out of season; convict, rebuke, exhort, in all long-suffering and teaching,

3 [Do these things] because there will be a time when people will not listen to good teaching. Instead, they will bring in many teachers for themselves who will tell them just what they want to hear [IDM]. [The reason that they will bring in such teachers is] that they want to do the evil things that they desire.

for there will be a season when they will not endure the sound teaching, but they will heap up teachers according to their own desires—having an itching ear,

4 That is, they will not listen to [MTY] what is true, but will listen instead to [strange] stories from our ancestors.

and, indeed, they will turn away from hearing the truth, and they will be turned aside to the fables.

5 [Furthermore, I command that] you always control what you think and do. [Be willing] to endure hardships/suffering. Your work should be telling people the message [about Christ Jesus]. As you serve [the Lord], do everything that [God has told] you to do.

But you—watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; make full assurance of your ministry,

6 [Timothy, I say these things to] you because as for me, [it is as though] [MET] [they are now about to kill me. It is as though my blood will] be poured out {they will kill me} [as a sacrifice on the altar]; that is, [I know] that it is the time for me to die [EUP].

for I am already being poured out, and the time of my release has arrived;

7 [And as to telling people the] good [message and defending it], I have (exerted myself thoroughly/done it with all my energy) [MET], [like a boxer does. As to doing] the work that God gave me to do, I have completed it, [like a runner who finishes] [MET] the race. [As to] what we believe, I (have been loyal to it/continue to believe it).

I have striven the good strife, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

8 [So, like people award] a prize [MET] [to the winner of a race], the Lord, who judges rightly, will give me a reward [because I have lived] righteously. He will give me that reward when [MTY] [he judges people]. And not only [will he reward] me, but he will also reward all those who very much want him to come back.

from now on there is laid up for me the garland of righteousness that the LORD—the Righteous Judge—will give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those loving His appearing.

9 (Do your best/Try hard) to come to me soon.

Be diligent to come to me quickly,

10 [I say that] because Demas has left me. He wanted very much [the good things that he might enjoy] [MTY] in this world [right now], and so he went to Thessalonica [city]. Crescens [went to serve the Lord] in Galatia [province], and Titus went to Dalmatia [district]. (aiōn g165)

for Demas forsook me, having loved the present age, and went on to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia; (aiōn g165)

11 Luke is the only one who is still with me [of those who were helping me. And when you come], bring Mark with you, because he is useful to help me in my work.

only Lucas is with me; having taken Mark, bring [him] with you, for he is profitable to me for ministry;

12 Tychicus [cannot help me because] I sent him to Ephesus [city].

and I sent Tychicus to Ephesus;

13 And when you come, bring the coat that I left with Carpus in Troas [city]. Also, bring the books, but (most of all/especially) [I want] (the parchments/the animal skins) [on which important things are written].

coming, bring the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus and the scrolls—especially the parchments.

14 Alexander, the man who makes things from metal, did many evil/harmful things to me. The Lord will punish him for what he did.

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; may the LORD repay to him according to his works,

15 So you, too, must beware of him. [He will try to destroy your work if he can], because he very much opposes the message that we [proclaim].

of whom you also beware, for he has greatly stood against our words;

16 When I first defended myself [in court here], no one came along [to help defend] me. Instead, they all left me. [I pray] that it will not be counted against {[God] will forgive} them [LIT] [for leaving me].

no one stood with me in my first defense, but all forsook me (may it not be reckoned to them),

17 Nevertheless, the Lord was with me and strengthened me. He enabled me to fully preach the message, and all the non-Jewish people [in the court] (OR, people from many nations) heard it. And I was rescued [by the Lord] {[the Lord] rescued me} [from great danger, as if I were taken] [MET] out of a lion’s (OR, wild animal’s) mouth.

but the LORD stood by me, and strengthened me, that the preaching might be fully assured through me, and all the nations might hear, and I was freed out of the mouth of a lion,

18 [Therefore, I am sure that] the Lord will rescue me from everything that is truly evil and will bring me safely to heaven, where he rules. Praise him forever! (Amen!/May it be so!) (aiōn g165)

and the LORD will free me from every evil work, and will save [me]—to His heavenly kingdom; to whom [is] the glory through the ages of the ages! Amen. (aiōn g165)

19 Greet [for me] Priscilla and [her husband] Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.

Greet Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus’ household;

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth [city]. Trophimus, I left in Miletus [city] because he was sick.

Erastus remained in Corinth, and I left Trophimus ailing in Miletus;

21 (Do your best/Try hard) to come to me before (the stormy season/winter). Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and many other fellow believers [in this city] (send their greetings to/say that they are thinking affectionately about) you.

be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.

22 [I pray that] the Lord will [help you in] your spirit, [Timothy, and] that [he] will act kindly toward all of you [believers who are there].

The Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit. The grace [is] with you! Amen.