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 [^Lall 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 [^Lturn 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 [^Lan evangelist], and ·complete all the duties of a servant of God [^Lfulfill your service/ministry].

⁶ [^LFor] My life is being ·given as an offering to God [^Lpoured out as a drink offering; Num. 28:24; Phil. 2:17], and the time has come for ·me to leave this life [^Lmy 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 [^Lof righteousness]. The Lord, the ·judge who judges rightly [^Lrighteous/just judge], will give the ·crown [victor’s wreath] to me on that day [^Cthe final day of judgment and reward]—not only to me but to all those who have ·waited with love for him to come again [^Lloved 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 [^Lpresent age], ·left [deserted] me and went to Thessalonica [^Ca city in Macedonia, present-day northern Greece; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:1]. Crescens went to Galatia [^Ca 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 [^Ca 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 [^Ca 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 [^Cwriting 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 [^Lon 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 [^Lit 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; ^Lproclamation] for all the ·Gentiles [nations] to hear. So I was ·saved [rescued; delivered] from the lion’s mouth [^Ca 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 [^Lfrom every evil deed], and he will ·bring me safely [^Lsave me] to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be ·the Lord’s [^Lto him]. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹⁹ Greet ·Priscilla [^LPrisca] 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 [^Ca 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 [^Ca 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.