Second Letter to Timothy 4

¹ Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom:

² proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching.

³ The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes;

⁴ and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths.

⁵ Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trials; make the preaching of the Good News your life’s work, in thoroughgoing service.

⁶ As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone.

⁷ I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith;

⁸ all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.

⁹ Do your best to come and see me as soon as you can.

¹⁰ As it is, Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to Thessalonika, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia;

¹¹ only Luke is with me. Get Mark to come and bring him with you; I find him a useful helper in my work.

¹² I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

¹³ When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him for what he has done.[*a]

¹⁵ Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say.

¹⁶ The first time I had to present my defence, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.[*b]

¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹ Greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and the family of Onesiphorus.

²⁰ Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill at Miletus.

²¹ Do your best to come before the winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.

²² The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.