Paul's Charge to Timothy (continued)
4:1I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 4:2preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4:4and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. 4:5But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
4:6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:4:8henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
Personal Instruction
4:9Give diligence to come shortly unto me: 4:10for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 4:11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering. 4:12But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.4:13The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments. 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works: 4:15of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words.
4:16At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account. 4:17But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might me fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 4:18The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings and Benediction
4:19Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 4:20Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick. 4:21Give diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
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