2 Timothy 4

Fulfill Your Ministry

¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge ^a the living and the dead, ^b and because of his appearing and his kingdom: ^{c 2}Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. ³For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, ^d but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. ⁴They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. ^{e 5}But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, ^f fulfill your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, ^g and the time for my departure is close. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸There is reserved for me the crown ^h of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, ⁱ will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing. ^j,^k

Final Instructions

⁹Make every effort to come to me soon, ^{l 10}because Demas ^m has deserted me, ⁿ since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. ^o Crescens has gone to Galatia, ^p Titus ^q to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke ^r is with me. Bring Mark ^s with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. ¹²I have sent Tychicus ^t to Ephesus. ¹³When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas ^u with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander ^v the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. ¹⁵Watch out ^w for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

¹⁶At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. ^x May it not be counted against them. ¹⁷But 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. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. ^y To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Benediction

¹⁹Greet Prisca and Aquila, ^z and the household of Onesiphorus. ^{aa 20}Erastus ^ab has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus ^ac sick at Miletus. ^{ad 21}Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

²²The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.