Preach the Word

1I earnestly testify† before God and Christ Jesus, the One being about to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; convict, rebuke, exhort, in all patience and teaching.

3For there will be a season when they will not bear with sound teaching, but according to their own passions, having an itching ear, they will heap up teachers to themselves, 4and indeed they will turn away from hearing the truth, and they will be turned aside to myths.

5But you, be sober in all things, suffer hardships, do the work of an evangelist, fully carry out your ministry. 6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me in that day; but not only to me, but also to all those loving His appearing.

Personal Concerns

9Be diligent to come to me quickly, 10for Demas deserted me, having loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Luke alone is with me. Having taken Mark, bring him with you, for he is useful to me for the ministry. 12But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13Upon coming, bring the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

14Alexander the coppersmith did much harm to me. The Lord will repay† to him according to his works, 15of whom you also beware, for exceedingly he opposed our word.

The Lord Remains Faithful

16In my first defense, no one came beside me, but all deserted me. May it not be reckoned to them! 17But the Lord stood by me and empowered me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully carried out, and all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom, to whom is the glory unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Final Greetings
(Ephesians 6:21–24; Philippians 4:21–23)

19Greet Prisca† and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

20Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left being sick in Miletus.

21Be diligent to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.

22The Lord† be with your spirit. Grace be with you⁺ all.†

Footnotes:

1 BYZ and TR include therefore
14 BYZ and TR May the Lord repay
19 Prisca is a variant of Priscilla; see Acts 18:2.
22 BYZ and TR The Lord Jesus Christ
22 BYZ and TR include Amen.