Dual Panel1I SOLEMNLY charge you, Timothy, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, by his appearing and his kingdom, to
2preach the Word. Never lose your sense of urgency, in season or out of season. Reprove, correct, and encourage, using the utmost patience in your teaching.
3For the time is coming when men will not tolerate wholesome teaching. They will want something to tickle their own fancies, and they will collect teachers who will speak what they want to hear.
4They will no longer listen to the truth, but will wander off after manmade myths.
5For yourself, keep your mind sane and balanced, meeting whatever suffering this may involve. Go on steadily preaching the gospel and carry out to the full the commission that God gave you.
6As for me, I feel that the last drops of my life are being poured out for God. The time for my departure has arrived.
7The glorious fight that God gave me I have fought, the course that I was set I have finished, and I have kept the faith.
8The future for me holds the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the true judge, will give to me in that dayand not, of course, only to me but to all those who have loved what they have seen of him.
9Do your best to come to me as soon as you can.
10Demas, loving present world, I fear, has left me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus is away in Dalmatia.
11Only Luke is with me now. When you come, pick up Mark and bring him with you. I can certainly find a ministry for him here.
12(I had to send Tychicus off to Ephesus.)
13And please bring with you the cloak I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the manuscripts.
14Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harmthe Lord will reward him for what he did
15and I should be very careful of him if I were you. He has been a bitter opponent of our teaching.
16The first time I had to defend myself no one was on my sidethey all deserted me, God forgive them!
17Yet the Lord himself stood by me and gave me the strength to proclaim the message clearly and fully, so that the gentiles could hear it, and I was rescued "from the lion's mouth".
18I am sure the Lord will rescue me from every evil plot, and will keep me safe until I reach his heavenly kingdom. Glory be to him for ever and ever, amen!
19Give my love to Prisca and Aquila and Onesiphorus and his family.
20Erastus is still staying on at Corinth, and Trophimus I had to leave sick at Miletus.
21Do your best to get here before the winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all here send their greetings to you.
22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.