尽力传福音

我在神、基督耶稣[a]面前,就是将要审判活人、死人的那一位面前,藉着他的显现和他的国度郑重地劝诫你: 你要传福音[b],无论得时不得时,总要坚持;要以极大的耐心和各样的教导责备人、告诫人、鼓励人, 因为时候将到,人们容忍不了健全的教义,反要顺着自己的欲望,为自己的耳朵能被呵痒得舒服,去召聚许多教师。 他们将掩耳不听真理,却转向编造的故事。 至于你,要在一切事上谨慎,忍受苦难,做传福音者的工作,完成你的服事。

事实上,我已经在被浇奠了;我离开世界[c]的时候已经临到了。 那美好的仗,我已经打过了;该跑的路程,我已经跑尽了[d];当守的[e]信仰,我已经持守了。[f] 此后,有那公义的冠冕为我存留,就是主——公义的审判者要在那一天回报给我的;不仅给我,也要给所有爱慕他显现的人。

结尾的教导

你要尽快到我这里来, 10 因为迪马斯爱上了现今的世代,就离弃我到帖撒罗尼迦去了;克勒斯克加拉太[g]去,提多达尔马提亚去了, 11 只有路加与我在一起。你要接上马可,带他一起来,因为他在服事工作上对我很有帮助。 12 我派特其库斯以弗所去了。 13 你来的时候,要把我在特罗阿斯时留在卡尔坡家里的那件外衣带来,还有那些书卷,尤其是那些羊皮卷,也要带来。 14 铜匠亚历山大对我做了很多恶事;主将照着他的行为回报他。 15 你也要提防他,因为他极力抵挡我们的话。

16 我第一次为自己辩护的时候,没有一个人来支持我,大家都离弃了我;愿这事不算在他们身上。 17 但是主站在我身边,使我刚强,为要藉着我使传道得以完成,让所有外邦人都能听见;我也从狮子口里被救了出来。 18 主将会救我脱离一切凶恶之事,并且救我进入他属天的国度。愿荣耀归于他,直到永永远远!阿们。

祝福

19 请问候普茜拉阿奎拉,还有奥尼斯弗罗的家人。 20 以拉斯托哥林多住下了;特罗费摩患了病,我就留他在米利都 21 你要在冬天以前尽快赶来。犹布罗斯普迪斯利诺斯克劳迪娅,以及所有的弟兄都问候你。

22 愿主[h]与你的灵同在。愿恩典与你们同在![i]

Footnotes

  1. 提摩太后书 4:1 基督耶稣——有古抄本作“主耶稣基督”。
  2. 提摩太后书 4:2 福音——原文直译“话语”或“道”。
  3. 提摩太后书 4:6 世界——辅助词语。
  4. 提摩太后书 4:7 该跑的路程,我已经跑尽了——原文直译“那赛程,我已经完成了”。
  5. 提摩太后书 4:7 当守的——辅助词语。
  6. 提摩太后书 4:7 那美好的仗,我已经打过了;该跑的路程,我已经跑尽了;当守的信仰,我已经持守了。——或译作“我已打了那美好的仗,跑完了这路程,守住了这信仰。”
  7. 提摩太后书 4:10 加拉太——有古抄本作“高卢”。
  8. 提摩太后书 4:22 主——有古抄本作“主耶稣基督”。
  9. 提摩太后书 4:22 有古抄本附“阿们。”

Preach the Word

(A)I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, (B)who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (C)his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; (D)reprove, rebuke, and (E)exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (F)For the time is coming when people will not endure (G)sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and (H)will turn away from listening to the truth and (I)wander off into myths. As for you, (J)always be sober-minded, (K)endure suffering, do the work of (L)an evangelist, (M)fulfill your ministry.

For (N)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my (O)departure has come. (P)I have fought the good fight, (Q)I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is (R)laid up for me (S)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, (T)the righteous judge, will award to me on (U)that day, and not only to me but also to all (V)who have loved his appearing.

Personal Instructions

(W)Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For (X)Demas, (Y)in love with (Z)this present world, (AA)has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,[b] (AB)Titus to Dalmatia. 11 (AC)Luke alone is with me. Get (AD)Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 (AE)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 (AF)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; (AG)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. (AH)May it not be charged against them! 17 But (AI)the Lord stood by me and (AJ)strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and (AK)all the Gentiles might hear it. So (AL)I was rescued (AM)from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. (AN)To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Greet (AO)Prisca and Aquila, and (AP)the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left (AQ)Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 (AR)Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.[c]

22 The Lord be (AS)with your spirit. (AT)Grace be with you.[d]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 4:3 Or healthy
  2. 2 Timothy 4:10 Some manuscripts Gaul
  3. 2 Timothy 4:21 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
  4. 2 Timothy 4:22 The Greek for you is plural

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) Preach(D) the word;(E) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke(F) and encourage(G)—with great patience and careful instruction. For 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) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(J) But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(K) do the work of an evangelist,(L) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(M) and the time for my departure is near.(N) I have fought the good fight,(O) I have finished the race,(P) I have kept the faith. Now 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

Do your best to come to me quickly,(U) 10 for 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. 11 Only Luke(AA) is with me.(AB) Get Mark(AC) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus(AD) to Ephesus.(AE) 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,(AF) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

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

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(AI) 17 But 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) 18 The 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

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

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

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
  2. 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.