2 Timothy 4:1-8
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 4
The Preaching of a Man of God[a]
The Charge To Preach. 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead,[b] and by his appearing and his kingdom, I charge you: 2 preach the message; be persistent in doing so, whether in season or out of season; convince, reprove, and encourage, but with great patience and instruction.
The Need for Preaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not accept sound doctrine, but they will follow their own desires and accumulate teachers who will preach to their itching ears. 4 They will shut their ears to the truth and be captivated by myths. 5 As for you, always be sober. Endure hardships, do the work of preaching the gospel, and carry out your ministry to the fullest extent.[c]
The Triumphs of a Man of God[d]
Reward for Fidelity. 6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 Now waiting for me is the crown[e] of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who have eagerly longed for his appearance.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Timothy 4:1 Apostles, missionaries, and pastors are first of all men of the Gospel and evangelization. The project that animates their existence is to awaken human beings to the true worship of the living God. This is a much more pressing task when a swarm of vain ideas sows confusion. Such a time has come, says Paul.
- 2 Timothy 4:1 Living and the dead: Christ will return to judge both the living and the dead (see Mt 25:31; Jn 5:26-29; 1 Thes 4:15-17). This was doubtless an early teaching (see Acts 10:42; 1 Pet 4:5), and it became part of the Creed.
- 2 Timothy 4:5 At the end of this verse, the Vulgate adds the words “Be sober.”
- 2 Timothy 4:6 In these last moments Paul affirms that his blood is about to be shed as a sacrifice to God (it was Jewish practice to pour oil or wine on a burnt offering: see Ex 29:40; Phil 2:17). He then uses images from sports to express his certainty of having remained steadfast in the faith. Although his fate had recently been a sad one and he was abandoned and betrayed, his gaze remains fixed on the Lord to announce the Gospel of salvation to the very end and to enter into his Kingdom.
- 2 Timothy 4:8 Crown: probably a reference taken from the laurel wreath that was customarily placed on the head of a winning athlete or a victorious soldier (see 2 Tim 2:5; 1 Cor 9:25).
