¹⁷ Tell Archippus:^(A) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(B)

² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus^(A) our fellow soldier^(B)—and to the church that meets in your home:^(C)

¹⁷ He was one of our number^(A) and shared in our ministry.”^(B)

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) 2} 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. ³ 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) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(J) 5} 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.

² And the things you have heard me say^(A) in the presence of many witnesses^(B) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

²³ They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common^(A) and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.^(B)

²⁴ “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges^(C) and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,^(D) and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.^(E)

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.^(A)

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted^(A) to your care. Turn away from godless chatter^(B) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

Final Charge to Timothy

¹¹ But you, man of God,^(A) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,^(B) faith, love,^(C) endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight^(D) of the faith. Take hold of^(E) the eternal life^(F) to which you were called when you made your good confession^(G) in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate^(H) made the good confession,^(I) I charge you^{(J) 14} to keep this command without spot or blame^(K) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(L)