4 Therefore, I Charge you before God and before the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the living and dead at His appearing and in His Kingdom -
2 preach the word! Be ready, in season and out of season. Convict, rebuke, encourage, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But having itching ears, they shall gather a heap of teachers according to their own lusts
4 and shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be given to fables.
5 But you, be sober in all things. Suffer adversity. Do the work of an evangelist. Carry out your ministry fully.
6 For I am already being offered. And the time of my departing is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight and have finished my course. I have kept the faith.
8 Hereafter, the crown of righteousness - which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me on that Day - is laid up for me. And not only to me but also to all those who love His appearing.
9 Hurry to come to me at once!
10 For Demas has forsaken me, and has embraced this present world, and has departed to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you. For he is useful to me for ministry.
12 And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak with you which I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books (especially the parchments).
14 Alexander, the coppersmith, has done me much evil. May the Lord reward him according to his works.
15 You beware of him also. For he greatly opposes our preaching.
16 At my first defense, no one stood by me. But, all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
17 But the Lord assisted me and strengthened me; so that by me the preaching might be fully believed, and that all the Gentiles should hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for His Heavenly Kingdom. To Him be praise for ever and ever! Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed at Corinth. I left Trophimus at Miletus, sick.
21 Hurry to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
(The second Epistle written from Rome to Timothy, the first Bishop elected of the Church of Ephesus, when Paul was presented the second time before the Emperor Nero)