2 Timothy 4
Good News Translation
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as King, I solemnly urge you 2 to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience. 3 The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends. 5 But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.
6 As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. 7 I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith.[a] 8 And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.
Personal Words
9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 (A)Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 (B)Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he can help me in the work. 12 (C)I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 (D)When you come, bring my coat that I left in Troas with Carpus; bring the books too, and especially the ones made of parchment.
14 (E)Alexander the metalworker did me great harm; the Lord will reward him according to what he has done. 15 Be on your guard against him yourself, because he was violently opposed to our message.
16 No one stood by me the first time I defended myself; all deserted me. May God not count it against them! 17 But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength, so that I was able to proclaim the full message for all the Gentiles to hear; and I was rescued from being sentenced to death. 18 And the Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
Final Greetings
19 (F)I send greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and to the family of Onesiphorus. 20 (G)Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus, because he was sick. 21 Do your best to come before winter.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia send their greetings, and so do all the other Christians.
22 The Lord be with your spirit.
God's grace be with you all.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 4:7 kept the faith; or been true to my promise.
2 Timothy 4
Expanded Bible
4 I ·give you a command [solemnly charge you] in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, the One who will judge the living and the dead, and by his ·coming [appearing] and his kingdom: 2 Preach the ·Good News [Gospel]. Be ready ·at all times [whether it is convenient or inconvenient; in season or out of season], and ·tell people what they need to do [correct; reprove]. ·Tell them when they are wrong [Rebuke]. ·Encourage [Comfort; Exhort] them with ·great patience and careful teaching [L all patience and teaching], 3 because the time will come when people will not ·listen to [put up with; endure] the ·true [sound; healthy] teaching but will ·find many more [gather around themselves; accumulate] teachers who ·please them [meet their needs/desires] by saying the things ·they want to hear [their ears itch for]. 4 They will ·stop listening to [L turn their ears/hearing away from] the truth and will ·begin to follow [wander/turn aside to] ·false stories [myths]. 5 But you should ·control yourself [be sober-minded] at all times, ·accept troubles [endure hardships], do the work of ·telling the Good News [L an evangelist], and ·complete all the duties of a servant of God [L fulfill your service/ministry].
6 [L For] My life is being ·given as an offering to God [L poured out as a drink offering; Num. 28:24; Phil. 2:17], and the time has come for ·me to leave this life [L my departure]. 7 I have ·fought the good fight [or competed well], I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now, a ·crown [victor’s wreath] is ·being held [reserved] for me—a ·crown [victor’s wreath] ·for being right with God [L of righteousness]. The Lord, the ·judge who judges rightly [L righteous/just judge], will give the ·crown [victor’s wreath] to me on that day [C the final day of judgment and reward]—not only to me but to all those who have ·waited with love for him to come again [L loved his appearing].
Personal Words
9 ·Do your best [Make every effort; Be diligent] to come to me as soon as you can, 10 because Demas [Col. 4:14; Philem. 24], who loved this ·world [L present age], ·left [deserted] me and went to Thessalonica [C a city in Macedonia, present-day northern Greece; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:1]. Crescens went to Galatia [C a Roman province in present-day central Turkey; Gal. 1:2], and Titus [2 Cor. 2:13; Gal. 2:1–3; Titus 1:1] went to Dalmatia [C a Roman province, mostly in present-day Croatia]. 11 Luke [Col. 4:14; Philem. 24] is the only one still with me. Get Mark [Acts 12:25; 13:13; 15:37–39; Col. 4:10] and bring him with you when you come, because he can help me in my work here. 12 I sent Tychicus [Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; Titus 3:12] to Ephesus [1:18; 1 Tim. 1:3]. 13 When I was in Troas [C a city in northwest Asia Minor; Acts 16:8, 11; 20:5–6], I left my ·coat [cloak] there with Carpus. So when you come, bring it to me, along with my ·books [or scrolls], particularly the ones written on parchment [C writing material made from animal skins].
14 Alexander the ·metalworker [or coppersmith; 1 Tim. 1:20] did many ·harmful [evil] things against me. The Lord will ·punish [repay] him for what he did [Ps. 28:4]. 15 You also should be ·careful that he does not hurt you [L on your guard], because he ·fought strongly against [strongly opposed] our ·teaching [message; words].
16 ·The first time I defended myself [or At my first defense/court hearing], no one ·helped me [appeared on my behalf]; everyone ·left [deserted] me. May ·they be forgiven [L it not be counted/reckoned against them]. 17 But the Lord ·stayed [stood] with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the ·Good News [Gospel; L proclamation] for all the ·Gentiles [nations] to hear. So I was ·saved [rescued; delivered] from the lion’s mouth [C a reference to literal or, more likely, figurative death; the lion may represent the Roman emperor Nero]. 18 The Lord will ·save [rescue; deliver] me ·when anyone tries to hurt me [L from every evil deed], and he will ·bring me safely [L save me] to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be ·the Lord’s [L to him]. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet ·Priscilla [L Prisca] and Aquila [Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom. 16:3–4; 1 Cor. 16:19] and the family of Onesiphorus [1:17]. 20 Erastus [Acts 19:22; Rom. 16:23] stayed in Corinth [C a major city in Achaia, present-day southern Greece; Acts 18; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1], and I left Trophimus [Acts 20:4; 21:29] sick in Miletus [C a coastal city near Ephesus; Acts 20:15, 17]. 21 ·Try as hard as you can [Make every effort; Do your best] to come to me before winter.
Eubulus sends greetings to you. Also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters in Christ greet you.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
2 Timothy 4
New King James Version
Preach the Word
4 I (A)charge you [a]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, (B)who will judge the living and the dead [b]at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. (C)Convince, (D)rebuke, (E)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 (F)For the time will come when they will not endure (G)sound doctrine, (H)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and (I)be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, (J)endure afflictions, do the work of (K)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Paul’s Valedictory
6 For (L)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of (M)my departure is at hand. 7 (N)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me (O)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous (P)Judge, will give to me (Q)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The Abandoned Apostle
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for (R)Demas has forsaken me, (S)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get (T)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And (U)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
14 (V)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. (W)May it not be charged against them.
The Lord Is Faithful
17 (X)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, (Y)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered (Z)out of the mouth of the lion. 18 (AA)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. (AB)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
Come Before Winter
19 Greet (AC)Prisca and Aquila, and the household of (AD)Onesiphorus. 20 (AE)Erastus stayed in Corinth, but (AF)Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
21 Do your utmost to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
Farewell
22 The Lord [c]Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 4:1 NU omits therefore
- 2 Timothy 4:1 NU and by
- 2 Timothy 4:22 NU omits Jesus Christ
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: 2 preach (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. 3 For (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, 4 and they (I)will turn their ears away from the truth and (J)will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, (K)use self-restraint in all things, (L)endure hardship, do the work of an (M)evangelist, fulfill your (N)ministry.
6 For 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; 8 in 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; 10 for (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. 12 But I have sent (AI)Tychicus to (AJ)Ephesus. 13 When 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. 15 Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our [f]teaching.
16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; (AN)may it not be counted against them. 17 But 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. 18 The 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.
19 Greet 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
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
