2 Timothy 4

Fulfill Your Ministry

¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:²³Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.⁴⁵For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.⁶⁷They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.⁸⁹But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.¹⁰

¹¹For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.¹²¹³I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.¹⁴¹⁵There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.¹⁶

Final Instructions

¹⁷Make every effort to come to me soon,¹⁸¹⁹because Demas has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.²⁰²¹Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.²²²³I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.²⁴²⁵When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.²⁶²⁷Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.²⁸²⁹Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.³⁰

³¹At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.³²³³But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.³⁴³⁵The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.³⁶

Benediction

³⁷Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.³⁸³⁹Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.⁴⁰⁴¹Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.⁴²

⁴³The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.⁴⁴