1 I charge you therefore in the sight of God, and the Lord Christ Jesus, Who is about to judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and teaching.
3 For the season will be when they will not endure the sound teaching; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, itching in regard to hearing;
4 And they shall turn away their hearing from the truth, and shall be turned to myths.
5 But watch you in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelist, fully accomplish your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall repay (or recompense) me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love His appearing.
B t 9. Charge to come speedily.
u 10. Desertion and absences.
v 11-13. Helpers.
v 14,15. Opponents.
u 16-20. Salutations.
t 21-. Charge to come before winter.
9 Hasten to come speedily to me:
10 For Demas (see Col. 4:14. Philem. 24) forsook me, having loved the age that is now, and is departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia (he is not mentioned elsewhere, and perhaps had gone to Galatia at his own instance and with the apostle's consent. The same may be said of Titus. There is no condemnation of them, as of Demas, but they are not said to have been sent, as Tychicus was), Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me (This faithful and devoted companion, sharer of Paul's labors and afflictions for so many years, always modestly keeping himself in the background, must have been a comfort indeed). Take up Mark (i.e. on the way. Cp. Acts 20:13,14), and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for ministering.
12 And Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the copper-smith did me many evil things (see Acts 19:33,34, a Kenite): the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be you also aware; for he has greatly withstood our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me (see Acts 22:1), but all men forsook me: may it not be reckoned to them.
17 But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; in order that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (This may mean that Paul established his claim, as a Roman citizen, not to meet his death in the amphitheater; or it may be a metaphor for Nero.)
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will save me to His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca (elsewhere called Priscilla) and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. (Paul's authority to heal had ceased. Cp. Phil. 2:25-27. 1 Tim. 5:23.)
21 Do your diligence to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, and Pudens (Pudens and Claudia are supposed by some to be man and wife, and have been identified with Titus Claudius and Claudia Quinctilia, whose inscriptions over a child they lost has been discovered near Rome), and Linus (probably a bishop of Rome), and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.