2 Timothy 4

Preach the word

solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom:a ²Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.b ³For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.c

⁴They will reject the truth and chase after myths.d ⁵But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.e ⁶As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.f

⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.g ⁸And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.h

I have finished the race

⁹Timothy, please come as soon as you can. ¹⁰Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.i ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.

¹²I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.j

¹⁵Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.

The Lord stood by me

¹⁶The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.k ¹⁸Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.l

Final greetings

¹⁹Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. ²¹Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

²²May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.

Commentary

2 Timothy 4 is Paul’s final charge to Timothy and his own last recorded words. The chapter opens with a solemn, almost judicial commission: preach the word, whether convenient or not, because a time is coming when people will reject sound teaching. Paul then speaks with the quiet

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Bible Dictionary· 2 Timothy 4(10)

Amen Corinth Galatia Grace Miletus Spirit Strength Thessalonica Winter Word

Bible Characters· 2 Timothy 4(12)

Aquila Crescens Demas Erastus Jesus Luke Mark Onesiphorus Priscilla Pudens Timothy Titus

References· 2 Timothy 4

a: v.1 — Acts 10:42, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Timothy 5:21, Matthew 16:27, 2 Timothy 2:14, 1 Peter 5:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Titus 2:13, John 5:22-27, Romans 2:16
b: v.2 — 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 1 Timothy 4:15-16, Revelation 3:19, 1 Timothy 4:13, Titus 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:21, Titus 1:13, Galatians 6:6, Romans 12:12, Colossians 1:28-29
c: v.3 — 2 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-6, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 1:10, Galatians 4:16, John 3:19-21, Jeremiah 23:16-17, Jeremiah 6:16-17, Jeremiah 5:31, Micah 2:11
d: v.4 — Zechariah 7:11, 1 Timothy 1:4, Acts 7:57, 2 Peter 1:16, 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:20, Titus 1:14, 2 Timothy 1:15, Proverbs 1:32, Hebrews 13:25
e: v.5 — 2 Timothy 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:3, 1 Peter 1:13, Colossians 4:17, 2 Timothy 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 4:15, 1 Timothy 4:12, Acts 21:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Ephesians 4:11
f: v.6 — Philippians 1:23, Philippians 2:17, 2 Peter 1:14-15, Joshua 23:14, Genesis 48:21, Numbers 27:12-17, Deuteronomy 31:14, Genesis 50:24
g: v.7 — 1 Timothy 6:12, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-2, Acts 20:24, Philippians 3:13-14, John 4:34, Revelation 3:8, Luke 8:15, Luke 11:28, Revelation 3:10
h: v.8 — James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, 1 Peter 5:4, Matthew 6:19-20, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 2 Timothy 1:12, Colossians 1:5, Psalms 31:19, Revelation 1:7
i: v.10 — 1 John 2:15-16, 2 Timothy 1:15, Colossians 4:14-15, 1 John 5:4-5, Philemon 1:24, Acts 16:6, 2 Corinthians 2:13, Luke 14:26-27, 2 Timothy 4:16, Philippians 2:21
j: v.14 — 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:6, Psalms 28:4, 1 Samuel 24:12, Romans 12:19, Jeremiah 15:15, Acts 19:33-34, Jeremiah 18:19-23, Psalms 109:5-20, Revelation 18:6
k: v.17 — 1 Peter 5:8, Philippians 1:12-14, Psalms 22:21, 1 Samuel 17:37, Daniel 6:22, Acts 18:9-10, Acts 9:15, Acts 23:11, Hebrews 11:33, Psalms 109:31
l: v.18 — Psalms 121:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Jude 1:24-25, Matthew 6:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 1:5, John 10:28-30, Psalms 73:24, 2 Timothy 1:12, 2 Corinthians 1:10

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