2 Timothy 4:1-18

New King James Version

Preach the Word

4 I ^(A)charge you ^[a]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(B)who will judge the living and the dead ^[b]at His appearing and His kingdom: ²Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(C)Convince, ^(D)rebuke, ^(E)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³^(F)For the time will come when they will not endure ^(G)sound doctrine, ^(H)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ^(I)be turned aside to fables. ⁵But you be watchful in all things, ^(J)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(K)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶For ^(L)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(M)my departure is at hand. ⁷^(N)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me ^(O)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(P)Judge, will give to me ^(Q)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰for ^(R)Demas has forsaken me, ^(S)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Get ^(T)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹²And ^(U)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

¹⁴^(V)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(W)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

¹⁷^(X)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(Y)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(Z)out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸^(AA)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^(AB)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!