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2 Timothy 4

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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;

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Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

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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;

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And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

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But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

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For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

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I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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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.

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Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

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For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

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Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

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And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

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The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

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Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

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Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

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Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

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Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

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The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.

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2 Timothy 4

Paul's final chapter combines personal farewell with apostolic charge, declaring I have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith—a summary of apostolic perseverance positioning his imprisonment and approaching martyrdom as the culmination of faithful service. The promise awaiting the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award on that day assures Paul of eschatological vindication, his suffering now transformed into eternal reward. Paul's warning that people will accumulate teachers suited to their own passions, turning away from listening to the truth and wandering off into myths anticipates the popularization of false teaching, making doctrinal faithfulness increasingly countercultural. The note that Demas, in love with the present world, has deserted Paul illustrates the danger he describes, while the affirmation that only Luke remains demonstrates the rarity of faithful companionship in suffering. The personal request to bring his cloak left at Troas and his books, and especially the parchments, humanizes the imprisoned apostle while suggesting that his apostolic work continues even in incarceration. The doxology—the Lord will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom—expresses unshakable confidence in Christ's preservation despite imminent earthly death, making the heavenly kingdom the true destination and final vindication. Paul's parting blessing—May the Lord be with your spirit—entrusts Timothy to divine care, closing the mentorship relationship with the assurance that Timothy is no longer Paul's responsibility but the Lord's charge.

2 Timothy 4:12

Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. — The notation: Paul has appointed Tychicus as messenger (presumably carrying this letter), sent (apostellō) to Ephesus. Communication flows through trusted intermediaries.

2 Timothy 4:14

Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. — The warning: Alexander's brass-worker antagonism (hypenantios) toward Paul will face divine retaliation (apodidōmi kata ta erga autou). Justice rests with God.

2 Timothy 4:15

Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. — Timothy receives protective warning against Alexander's continued opposition (anthistēmi) to the apostolic logos (message). Vigilance against adversaries proves necessary.

2 Timothy 4:13

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the parchments. — Paul's practical requests: a cloak for warmth, books (biblia) and parchments (membranai) for reading. These details humanize Paul's imprisonment and intellectual engagement.

2 Timothy 4:1

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge both the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom — Paul's charge (diamarturomai) invokes dual witness: God and Christ (the future judge of living and dead), grounding Timothy's subsequent obligation in eschatological reality. Christ's parousia (appearing) and basileia (kingdom) establish ultimate accountability.

2 Timothy 4:2

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. — Timothy's core mandate: kēryssō (preach) the logos (word) with temporal flexibility (eukairos akairō). His methodology includes three corrective acts (elegchō, epitimaō, parakaleoō) undergirded by makrothumia (patience) and didaskalia (instruction).

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions — Paul prophesies declining receptivity: believers will refuse (anechō) hygiainontes didaskalia (sound teaching), instead seeking teachers accommodating their knēthomenoi (itching) ears and epithymiai (desires). Consumer religion replaces transformative truth.

2 Timothy 4:4

and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. — The trajectory: apostrephō (turn away) from alētheia (truth), planaō (wandering) into mythoi (myths). Rejected truth gives way to spiritual delusion.

2 Timothy 4:5

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. — Timothy's counter-call: nēphō (be sober), paschō (endure suffering), poieō (accomplish) the erga euaggelistou (work of evangelist), plerophoreō (fully complete) the diakonia (ministry). Steadfast perseverance marks authentic pastoral fidelity.

2 Timothy 4:6

For I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. — Paul announces his imminent martyrdom: spendō (poured out) as libation (spondeion), the time of his analusis (departure) approaching. The cultic metaphor transforms execution into sacred offering.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. — Paul's retrospective affirmation of apostolic completion: agōn (contest) waged well, dromos (race) finished, pistis (faith) maintained. Life's trajectory reaches its appointed end.

2 Timothy 4:8

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. — The eschatological reward: stephanos dikaiosynēs (crown of righteousness) awaits, distributed by the righteous judge (ho dikaios kritēs) to all loving (agapaō) Christ's epiphaneia (appearing). Faithfulness yields eternal honor.

2 Timothy 4:9

Do your best to come to me soon — Paul's urgent request (spoudazō) reflects both personal longing and practical need: Timothy's presence becomes necessary.

2 Timothy 4:10

For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. — The painful roster: Demas's apostasy motivated by kosmou agapē (love of world) and philo-proxenia (desertion), while Crescens and Titus pursue apostolic assignments. Mixed fidelities mark the end time.

2 Timothy 4:11

Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. — Amidst departures, Luke monaios (alone) remains. Timothy must retrieve John Mark, now deemed euchrēstos (useful) for the diakonia (ministry) despite earlier conflict (Acts 15:37-39). Restoration and redemption occur.

2 Timothy 4:16

At my first defense, no one came to support me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them. — Paul's courtroom abandonment (pantes me enkataleipsan): all allies failed to provide legal hypomnēsis (support). His magnanimity (praying it not be counted against them) reflects Christ-like forgiveness.

2 Timothy 4:17

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully made and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. — Theological reversal: though abandoned by humans, kyrios (the Lord) stood beside Paul, endunamoousa (strengthening) him so the kerygma (proclamation) be teleiotis (completely made) to all ethnē (nations). The lion's mouth (satanic opposition) yielded to divine rescue.

2 Timothy 4:18

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. — Final affirmation: God will rhuomai (rescue) Paul from all evil works, preserving him unto the heavenly basileia (kingdom). The doxology (doxa aionas aiōnōn) and amen provide eschatological closure to Paul's martyrological confidence.

2 Timothy 4:19

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. — Timothy receives greetings to transmit to key colleagues: Priscilla and Aquila (fellow apostolic workers) and the household of Onesiphorus (faithful during persecution). Personal connections maintain community cohesion.

2 Timothy 4:20

Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill at Miletus. — The logistical notes: Erastus's Corinthian stay and Trophimus's illness at Miletus explain Paul's personnel distribution. The inability to heal Trophimus humanizes Paul's apostolic limitations.

2 Timothy 4:21

Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens, Linus, and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. — Paul's final urging (spoudazō): Timothy must arrive before winter (travel becomes perilous). The roster of greeters (Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, all adelphoi) attests to the faithful remnant maintaining community despite persecution.

2 Timothy 4:22

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. — The closing benediction: kyrios (the Lord) extends parakolouthia (his presence) to Timothy's pneuma (spirit), while charis (grace) encompasses the community (you plural). The epistolary farewell promises divine sustenance for the ministry ahead.