Preach the Word
- I solemnly charge you in the sight of God and Jesus the Anointed – the One about to judge the living and the dead – and by His appearing and His kingdom:
- preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season: convict with evidence, rebuke, and admonish in all patience and instruction.
- For there will be a time when they won’t endure sound teaching. But with an itching ear they will gather heaps of teachers to themselves according to their own cravings,
- and they will indeed turn away from hearing the truth and will be turned aside to myths.
- But you: be sober in all things, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fully complete your ministry.
- For I’m already poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is *at hand.
- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- From now on, a crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord – the righteous judge – will repay to me in that day. And not only to me, but also to all the men who have ^loved His appearing.
Final instructions and greetings
- Make haste to come to me quickly,
- for having ^loved the present age, Demas deserted me and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Only Luke is with me. And having taken Mark along, bring him with yourself for he’s useful to me in the ministry.
- But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
- When coming to me, bring the cloak that I left behind in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
- Alexander the coppersmith did much harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds,
- whom also you must watch carefully, for he greatly opposed our words.
- No one was beside me in my first defense, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
- Yet the Lord stood beside me and strengthened me, so that through me, the proclamation might be fully accomplished and all the gentiles might hear. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
- The Lord will deliver me from every wicked deed and will preserve me for His heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory through the ages of the ages. Amen.
- Greet Prisca and Aquila, also the household of Onesiphorus.
- Erastus remained in Corinth. And with Trophimus being sick, I left him in Miletus.
- Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.
- The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all. [Amen]