Aa
Fulfill Your Ministry
1I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge4:1 Jn 5:22–30; Rm 5:18; 1Pt 4:5 the living and the dead,4:1 Jn 5:25; Rm 14:9; 1Pt 4:5; Rv 18:8; 19:11 and because of his appearing and his kingdom:4:1 Mk 1:15; Ac 20:25
2Preach 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,4:3 Rm 15:4 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.4:4 1Tm 1:4; 4:7; Ti 1:14; 2Pt 1:16
5But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,4:5 Ac 21:8; Eph 4:11 fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,4:6 Gn 35:14; Php 2:17 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 crown4:8 Jn 15:17; Rv 12:1 of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,4:8 Lk 18:2,6; Jn 5:22–30; Ac 10:42; Heb 12:23 will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.4:8 Or have longed for his appearing4:8 Ti 2:13; 1Jn 2:28
Final Instructions
9Make every effort to come to me soon,4:9 Ti 3:12
10because Demas4:10 Col 4:14; Phm 24 has deserted me,4:10 2Tm 1:15 since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.4:10 Ac 17:1 Crescens has gone to Galatia,4:10 Gl 1:2 Titus4:10 Ti 1:4 to Dalmatia.
11Only Luke4:11 Col 4:14; Phm 24 is with me. Bring Mark4:11 Ac 15:37–39 with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.
12I have sent Tychicus4:12 Ac 20:4; Ti 3:12 to Ephesus.
13When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas4:13 Ac 16:8 with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.
14Alexander4:14 1Tm 1:20 the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.
15Watch out4:15 2Tm 1:14; 2Pt 3:17 for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.
16At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.4:16 2Tm 1:15 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.4:18 Mk 1:15; Ac 20:25 To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
Benediction
19Greet Prisca and Aquila,4:19 Ac 18:2 and the household of Onesiphorus.4:19 2Tm 1:16
20Erastus4:20 Ac 19:22; Rm 16:23 has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus4:20 Ac 20:4; 21:29 sick at Miletus.4:20 Ac 20:15,17
21Make 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.