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 [L all 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 [L turn 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 [L an evangelist], and ·complete all the duties of a servant of God [L fulfill your service/ministry].
6 [L For] My life is being ·given as an offering to God [L poured out as a drink offering; Num. 28:24; Phil. 2:17], and the time has come for ·me to leave this life [L my 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 [L of righteousness]. The Lord, the ·judge who judges rightly [L righteous/just judge], will give the ·crown [victor’s wreath] to me on that day [C the final day of judgment and reward]—not only to me but to all those who have ·waited with love for him to come again [L loved 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 [L present age], ·left [deserted] me and went to Thessalonica [C a city in Macedonia, present-day northern Greece; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:1]. Crescens went to Galatia [C a 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 [C a 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 [C a 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 [C writing 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 [L on 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 [L it 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; L proclamation] for all the ·Gentiles [nations] to hear. So I was ·saved [rescued; delivered] from the lion’s mouth [C a 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 [L from every evil deed], and he will ·bring me safely [L save me] to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be ·the Lord’s [L to him]. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet ·Priscilla [L Prisca] 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 [C a 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 [C a 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.