2 Timothy 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
Solemn Charge.[a] 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power:(A) 2 proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.(B) 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,[b] will accumulate teachers(C) 4 and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.(D) 5 But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.
Reward for Fidelity. 6 [c](E)For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 [d]I have competed well; I have finished the race;(F) I have kept the faith. 8 [e]From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day,(G) and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
IV. Personal Requests and Final Greetings
Paul’s Loneliness. 9 [f]Try to join me soon, 10 for Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia,[g] and Titus to Dalmatia.(H) 11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry.(I) 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.(J) 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.(K)
14 Alexander[h] the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.(L) 15 You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching.
16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!(M) 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.(N) 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.(O)
Final Greeting. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila[i] and the family of Onesiphorus.(P) 20 Erastus[j] remained in Corinth, while I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.(Q) 21 Try to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus,[k] Claudia, and all the brothers send greetings.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.(R)
Footnotes
- 4:1–5 The gravity of the obligation incumbent on Timothy to preach the word can be gauged from the solemn adjuration: in the presence of God, and of Christ coming as universal judge, and by his appearance and his kingly power (2 Tm 4:1). Patience, courage, constancy, and endurance are required despite the opposition, hostility, indifference, and defection of many to whom the truth has been preached (2 Tm 4:2–5).
- 4:3 Insatiable curiosity: literally, “with itching ears.”
- 4:6 The apostle recognizes his death through martyrdom to be imminent. He regards it as an act of worship in which his blood will be poured out in sacrifice; cf. Ex 29:38–40; Phil 2:17.
- 4:7 At the close of his life Paul could testify to the accomplishment of what Christ himself foretold concerning him at the time of his conversion, “I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16).
- 4:8 When the world is judged at the parousia, all who have eagerly looked for the Lord’s appearing and have sought to live according to his teachings will be rewarded. The crown is a reference to the laurel wreath placed on the heads of victorious athletes and conquerors in war; cf. 2 Tm 2:5; 1 Cor 9:25.
- 4:9–13 Demas either abandoned the work of the ministry for worldly affairs or, perhaps, gave up the faith itself (2 Tm 4:10). Luke (2 Tm 4:11) may have accompanied Paul on parts of his second and third missionary journeys (Acts 16:10–12; 20:5–7). Notice the presence of the first personal pronoun “we” in these Acts passages, suggesting to some that Luke (or at least some traveling companion of Paul’s) was the author of Acts. Mark, once rejected by Paul (Acts 13:13; 15:39), is now to render him a great service (2 Tm 4:11); cf. Col 4:10; Phlm 24. For Tychicus, see Eph 6:21; cf. also Acts 20:4; Col 4:7.
- 4:10 Galatia: some manuscripts read “Gaul” or “Gallia.”
- 4:14–18 Alexander: an opponent of Paul’s preaching (2 Tm 4:14–15), perhaps the one who is mentioned in 1 Tm 1:20. Despite Paul’s abandonment by his friends in the province of Asia (cf. 2 Tm 1:15–16), the divine assistance brought this first trial to a successful issue, even to the point of making the gospel message known to those who participated in or witnessed the trial (2 Tm 4:16–17).
- 4:19 Prisca and Aquila: they assisted Paul in his ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:2–3) and Ephesus (Acts 18:19, 26; 1 Cor 16:19). They risked death to save his life, and all the Gentile communities are indebted to them (Rom 16:3–5).
- 4:20 Erastus: he was the treasurer of the city of Corinth (Rom 16:24); cf. also Acts 19:22. Trophimus: from the province of Asia, he accompanied Paul from Greece to Troas (Acts 20:4–5).
- 4:21 Linus: Western tradition sometimes identified this Linus with the supposed successor of Peter as bishop of Rome, and Claudia as the mother of Linus (Apostolic Constitutions, fourth century).
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
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;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For 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;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth 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.
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 At 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.
17 Notwithstanding 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.
18 And 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.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
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