Proclaim the Word!

1Now then, in the presence of God and the Lord ⁵¹Jesus Christ, who is about to judge both living and dead, with a view to His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: ⁵²

2Proclaim the Word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and exhort, with lots of patience and teaching. ⁵³

3Because the time will come when they will not tolerate the sound doctrine; rather, they will accumulate for themselves a great many teachers who will tickle their ears according to their lusts

4—yes, they will turn their ears away from the Truth and be turned aside to fables. ⁵⁴

5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ⁵⁵

Timothy will no longer have Paul to help him

6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁵⁶

7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8Now the crown of the righteousness is reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day; and not only to me, but also to all those who have longed for His appearing. ⁵⁷

“Please come quickly”

9Do your best to come to me quickly;

10for Demas, loving this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica—Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ⁵⁸

11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ⁵⁹

12Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.

13Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. ⁶⁰

14Alexander the coppersmith did me a lot of harm; may the Lord repay him according to his deeds. ⁶¹

15You also guard against him, because he strongly opposed our words.

People will disappoint you

16At my first defense no one came to help me, but all deserted me. May it not be held against them. ⁶²

17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the nations might hear. ⁶³Also, I was delivered out of a lion's mouth; ⁶⁴

18and the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and save me into His heavenly Kingdom; ⁶⁵to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Farewell

19Greet Prisca ⁶⁶and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20Erastus stayed in Corinth, while I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. ⁶⁷

21Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.

22The Lord Jesus Christ ⁶⁸be with your spirit. The Grace ⁶⁹be with you. ⁷⁰Amen.