New Testament

2 Timothy 4

Charge, Crown, and Farewell

6 passages

Overview

Writing from prison on the threshold of martyrdom, Paul solemnly charges Timothy to preach the Gospel without compromise, reflects on his completed race with confidence in the heavenly reward awaiting all who love Christ's appearing, warns against the opposition of Alexander the coppersmith, and closes with personal requests, news of scattered companions, and greetings that reveal the Church as a communion of beloved, named persons sustained by the Lord's unfailing presence.

Passages

1–5The Solemn Charge to Preach and Persevere 6–8The Crown Awaiting the Faithful: Paul's Farewell Testament 9–13The Apostle's Loneliness and the Weight of the Word 14–15The Coppersmith's Opposition: Witness, Warning, and Divine Justice 16–18Abandoned by Men, Sustained by God 19–22Farewell at the Edge of Eternity

Study Resources

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2 Timothy 4

¹I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: ²preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. ³For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, ⁴and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. ⁵But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.

⁶For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. ⁸From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

⁹Be diligent to come to me soon, ¹⁰for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. ¹²But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵Beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words.

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick. ²¹Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

²²The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Timothy 3