2 Timothy 4

King James Version

4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

⁶For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

⁷I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

⁹Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

¹⁰For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

¹¹Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

¹²And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

¹³The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

¹⁵Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

¹⁶At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

¹⁸And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

²⁰Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

²¹Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

²²The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Timothy 4

New International Version

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(A) and in view of his appearing^(B) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^(C) ²Preach^(D) the word;^(E) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(F) and encourage^(G)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(H) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^(I) ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^(J) ⁵But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(K) do the work of an evangelist,^(L) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^(M) and the time for my departure is near.^(N) ⁷I have fought the good fight,^(O) I have finished the race,^(P) I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me^(Q) the crown of righteousness,^(R) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^(S)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^(T)

Personal Remarks

⁹Do your best to come to me quickly,^(U) ¹⁰for Demas,^(V) because he loved this world,^(W) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.^(X) Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(Y) and Titus^(Z) to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke^(AA) is with me.^(AB) Get Mark^(AC) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹²I sent Tychicus^(AD) to Ephesus.^(AE) ¹³When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,^(AF) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴Alexander^(AG) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.^(AH) ¹⁵You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^(AI) ¹⁷But the Lord stood at my side^(AJ) and gave me strength,^(AK) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^(AL) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^(AM) ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack^(AN) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.^(AO) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(AP)

Final Greetings

¹⁹Greet Priscilla^[a] and Aquila^(AQ) and the household of Onesiphorus.^(AR) ²⁰Erastus^(AS) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus^(AT) sick in Miletus.^(AU) ²¹Do your best to get here before winter.^(AV) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^[b]

²²The Lord be with your spirit.^(AW) Grace be with you all.^(AX)

Footnotes

2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
2 Timothy 4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

2 Timothy 4

Amplified Bible

“Preach the Word”

4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: ²preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching. ³For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, ⁴and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. ⁵But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.

⁶For I am already being ^[a]poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^[b]my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free.^(A) ⁷I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. ⁸In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

Personal Concerns

⁹Make every effort to come to me soon; ¹⁰for Demas, having loved [the pleasures of] this present ^[c]world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry. ¹²But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³When you come bring the coat that I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; [but that is no concern of mine, for] the Lord will repay him according to his actions. ¹⁵Be on guard against him yourself, because he vigorously opposed our message.

¹⁶At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God]. ¹⁷But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me, so that through me the [gospel] message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the ^[d]mouth of the lion. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil assault, and He will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and to the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus stayed on at Corinth, but I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. ²¹Try your best to come [to me] before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the ^[e]brothers and sisters.

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

Footnotes

2 Timothy 4:6 The drink offering (wine) was required as part of the sacrificial system of the old covenant.
2 Timothy 4:6 This is Paul’s last inspired letter and was written toward the end of his second Roman imprisonment. During his first imprisonment he was under house arrest, but this time (about five years later) it is believed that he was held in chains in the Tullianum, the lower chamber of the Mamertine dungeon. The Roman historian, Sallust, described the Tullianum as a horrible dungeon “...repulsive and terrible.” It was originally excavated as a cistern for a natural spring. It would have been cold, damp, and incredibly filthy. Both lower and upper chambers served as places of torture and as holding places for those awaiting execution. Paul would have known that there was no hope of release and that his execution was imminent. Nero ruled Rome during both imprisonments.
2 Timothy 4:10 Or age.
2 Timothy 4:17 Figurative language—probably a reference to the favorable outcome of his first trial (v 16).
2 Timothy 4:21 Lit brethren.

2 Timothy 4

Contemporary English Version

4 When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you ²to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. ³The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. ⁴They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories. ⁵But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard, telling the good news and to do your job well.

⁶Now the time has come for me to die. My life is like a drink offering^[a] being poured out on the altar. ⁷I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful. ⁸So a crown will be given to me for pleasing the Lord. He judges fairly, and on the day of judgment he will give a crown to me and to everyone else who wants him to appear with power.

Personal Instructions

⁹Come to see me as soon as you can. ¹⁰^(A) Demas loves the things of this world so much that he left me and went to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. ¹¹^(B) Only Luke has stayed with me.

Mark can be very helpful to me, so please find him and bring him with you. ¹²^(C) I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

¹³^(D) When you come, bring the coat I left at Troas with Carpus. Don't forget to bring the scrolls, especially the ones made of leather.^[b]

¹⁴^(E) Alexander, the metalworker, has hurt me in many ways. But the Lord will pay him back for what he has done. ¹⁵Alexander opposes what we preach, so you had better watch out for him.

¹⁶When I was first put on trial, no one helped me. In fact, everyone deserted me. I hope it won't be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood beside me. He gave me the strength to tell his full message, so that all Gentiles would hear it. And I was kept safe from hungry lions. ¹⁸^(F) The Lord will always keep me from being harmed by evil, and he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Praise him forever and ever! Amen.

Final Greetings

¹⁹^(G) Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and to the family of Onesiphorus.

²⁰^(H) Erastus stayed at Corinth.

Trophimus was sick when I left him at Miletus.

²¹Do your best to come before winter.

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia send you their greetings, and so do the rest of the Lord's followers.

²²I pray that the Lord will bless your life and will be kind to you.

Footnotes

4.6 drink offering: Water or wine was sometimes poured out as an offering when an animal sacrifice was made.
4.13 the ones made of leather: A scroll was a kind of rolled up book, and it could be made out of paper (called “papyrus”) or leather (that is, animal skin) or even copper.

2 Timothy 4

New American Standard Bible

Preach the Word

4 ^(A)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(B)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(C)appearing and His kingdom: ²preach ^(D)the word; be ready ^[a]in season and out of season; ^(E)correct, rebuke, and ^[b]exhort, with ^[c]great ^(F)patience and instruction. ³For ^(G)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(H)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴and they ^(I)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(J)will turn aside to myths. ⁵But as for you, ^(K)use self-restraint in all things, ^(L)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(M)evangelist, fulfill your ^(N)ministry.

⁶For I am already being ^(O)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(P)my departure has come. ⁷^(Q)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(R)the course, I have kept ^(S)the faith; ⁸in the future there ^(T)is reserved for me ^(U)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(V)that day; and not only to me, but also to ^(W)all who have loved His ^(X)appearing.

Personal Concerns

⁹^(Y)Make every effort to come to me soon; ¹⁰for ^(Z)Demas, having loved ^(AA)this present ^[d]world, has deserted me and gone to ^(AB)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ^[e]^(AC)Galatia, ^(AD)Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹^(AE)Only ^(AF)Luke is with me. Take along ^(AG)Mark and bring him with you, ^(AH)for he is useful to me for service. ¹²But I have sent ^(AI)Tychicus to ^(AJ)Ephesus. ¹³When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at ^(AK)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴^(AL)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^(AM)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our ^[f]teaching.

¹⁶At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; ^(AN)may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and ^(AO)strengthened me, so that through me ^(AP)the proclamation might ^[g]be ^(AQ)fully accomplished, and that all ^(AR)the Gentiles might hear; and I was ^(AS)rescued out of ^(AT)the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^[h]^(AU)bring me safely to His ^(AV)heavenly kingdom; ^(AW)to ^[i]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹Greet Prisca and ^(AX)Aquila, and ^(AY)the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰^(AZ)Erastus remained at ^(BA)Corinth, but I left ^(BB)Trophimus sick at ^(BC)Miletus. ²¹^(BD)Make every effort to come before ^(BE)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

²²^(BF)The Lord be with your spirit. ^(BG)Grace be with you.

Footnotes

2 Timothy 4:2 I.e., whether it is convenient or not
2 Timothy 4:2 Or encourage
2 Timothy 4:2 Lit all
2 Timothy 4:10 Or age
2 Timothy 4:10 One early ms Gaul
2 Timothy 4:15 Lit words
2 Timothy 4:17 Or be fulfilled
2 Timothy 4:18 Or save me for
2 Timothy 4:18 Lit Whom

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

New International Version (NIV)

2 Timothy 4

King James Version