Preach the Word

1I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign -- 2preach the word; be earnest in season, out of season, convict, rebuke, exhort, in all long-suffering and teaching, 3for there shall be a season when the sound teaching they will not suffer, but according to their own desires to themselves they shall heap up teachers -- itching in the hearing, 4and indeed, from the truth the hearing they shall turn away, and to the fables they shall be turned aside. 5And thou -- watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; of thy ministration make full assurance,

6for I am already being poured out, and the time of my release hath arrived; 7the good strife I have striven, the course I have finished, the faith I have kept, 8henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of the righteousness that the Lord -- the Righteous Judge -- shall give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those loving his manifestation.

Personal Concerns

9Be diligent to come unto me quickly, 10for Demas forsook me, having loved the present age, and went on to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, 11Lukas only is with me; Markus having taken, bring with thyself, for he is profitable to me for ministration; 12and Tychicus I sent to Ephesus; 13the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, coming, bring thou and the books -- especially the parchments. 14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; may the Lord repay to him according to his works, 15of whom also do thou beware, for greatly hath he stood against our words;

The Lord Remains Faithful

16in my first defence no one stood with me, but all forsook me, (may it not be reckoned to them!) 17and the Lord stood by me, and did strengthen me, that through me the preaching might be fully assured, and all the nations might hear, and I was freed out of the mouth of a lion, 18and the Lord shall free me from every evil work, and shall save me -- to his heavenly kingdom; to whom is the glory to the ages of the ages! Amen.

Final Greetings

19Salute Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household; 20Erastus did remain in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus infirm; 21be diligent to come before winter. Salute thee doth Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

22The Lord Jesus Christ is with thy spirit; the grace is with you! Amen.