2 Timothy 4
4
Solemn Charge.#The gravity of the obligation incumbent on Timothy to preach the word can be gauged from the solemn adjuration: in the presence of God, and of Christ coming as universal judge, and by his appearance and his kingly power (2 Tm 4:1). Patience, courage, constancy, and endurance are required despite the opposition, hostility, indifference, and defection of many to whom the truth has been preached (2 Tm 4:2–5). 1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power:#1 Tm 5:21; 6:14 / Acts 10:42; Rom 14:9–10; 1 Pt 4:5. 2proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.#Acts 20:20, 31; 1 Tm 5:20. 3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,#Insatiable curiosity: literally, “with itching ears.” will accumulate teachers#1 Tm 4:1. 4and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.#1 Tm 1:4; 4:7; Ti 1:14. 5But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.
Reward for Fidelity. 6#The apostle recognizes his death through martyrdom to be imminent. He regards it as an act of worship in which his blood will be poured out in sacrifice; cf. Ex 29:38–40; Phil 2:17.#Phil 2:17.For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7#At the close of his life Paul could testify to the accomplishment of what Christ himself foretold concerning him at the time of his conversion, “I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16).I have competed well; I have finished the race;#1 Tm 1:18; 6:12; Jude 3 / Acts 20:24; 1 Cor 9:24; Heb 12:1. I have kept the faith. 8#When the world is judged at the parousia, all who have eagerly looked for the Lord’s appearing and have sought to live according to his teachings will be rewarded. The crown is a reference to the laurel wreath placed on the heads of victorious athletes and conquerors in war; cf. 2 Tm 2:5; 1 Cor 9:25.From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day,#2:5; Wis 5:16; 1 Cor 9:25; Phil 3:14; Jas 1:12; 1 Pt 5:4; Rev 2:10. and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
IV. PERSONAL REQUESTS AND FINAL GREETINGS
Paul’s Loneliness. 9#Demas either abandoned the work of the ministry for worldly affairs or, perhaps, gave up the faith itself (2 Tm 4:10). Luke (2 Tm 4:11) may have accompanied Paul on parts of his second and third missionary journeys (Acts 16:10–12; 20:5–7). Notice the presence of the first personal pronoun “we” in these Acts passages, suggesting to some that Luke (or at least some traveling companion of Paul’s) was the author of Acts. Mark, once rejected by Paul (Acts 13:13; 15:39), is now to render him a great service (2 Tm 4:11); cf. Col 4:10; Phlm 24. For Tychicus, see Eph 6:21; cf. also Acts 20:4; Col 4:7.Try to join me soon, 10for Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia,#Galatia: some manuscripts read “Gaul” or “Gallia.” and Titus to Dalmatia.#Col 4:14; Phlm 24 / 2 Cor 2:13; 7:6–7; 8:23; Gal 2:3; Ti 1:4. 11Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry.#Col 4:14; Phlm 24 / Col 4:10; Phlm 24. 12I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.#Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7. 13When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.#Acts 16:8; 20:6.
14Alexander#Alexander: an opponent of Paul’s preaching (2 Tm 4:14–15), perhaps the one who is mentioned in 1 Tm 1:20. Despite Paul’s abandonment by his friends in the province of Asia (cf. 2 Tm 1:15–16), the divine assistance brought this first trial to a successful issue, even to the point of making the gospel message known to those who participated in or witnessed the trial (2 Tm 4:16–17). the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.#1 Tm 1:20 / 2 Sm 3:39; Ps 28:4; 62:12; Prv 24:12; Rom 2:6. 15You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching.
16At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!#1:15. 17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.#Acts 23:11; 27:23; Phil 4:13 / 1 Mc 2:60; Ps 22:22; Dn 6:23. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.#2 Cor 1:10 / Rom 16:27.
Final Greeting. 19Greet Prisca and Aquila#Prisca and Aquila: they assisted Paul in his ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:2–3) and Ephesus (Acts 18:19, 26; 1 Cor 16:19). They risked death to save his life, and all the Gentile communities are indebted to them (Rom 16:3–5). and the family of Onesiphorus.#Acts 18:2; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19 / 2 Tm 1:16. 20Erastus#Erastus: he was the treasurer of the city of Corinth (Rom 16:24); cf. also Acts 19:22. Trophimus: from the province of Asia, he accompanied Paul from Greece to Troas (Acts 20:4–5). remained in Corinth, while I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.#Acts 19:22; Rom 16:24 / Acts 20:4; 21:29. 21Try to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus,#Linus: Western tradition sometimes identified this Linus with the supposed successor of Peter as bishop of Rome, and Claudia as the mother of Linus (Apostolic Constitutions, fourth century). Claudia, and all the brothers send greetings.
22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.#Gal 6:18; Phil 4:23; Col 4:18; 1 Tm 6:21; Ti 3:15.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
2 Timothy 4
4
Preach the Word
1 # ch. 2:14; 1 Tim. 5:21; 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, #See Acts 10:42 who is to judge the living and the dead, and by #ver. 8; See 2 Thess. 2:8his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; #1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 1:13; 2:15 reprove, rebuke, and #1 Tim. 4:13exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3#ch. 3:1 For the time is coming when people will not endure #See 1 Tim. 1:10sound#4:3 Or healthy teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and #See 1 Tim. 6:20 will turn away from listening to the truth and #See 1 Tim. 1:4, 6wander off into myths. 5As for you, #1 Pet. 1:13 always be sober-minded, #ch. 1:8; 2:3, 9 endure suffering, do the work of #Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11 an evangelist, #Col. 4:17fulfill your ministry.
6For #Phil. 2:17 I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my #Phil. 1:23; [2 Pet. 1:14]departure has come. 7#See 1 Tim. 6:12 I have fought the good fight, #Acts 20:24I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Henceforth there is #Col. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:4 laid up for me #See James 1:12 the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, #Ps. 7:11 the righteous judge, will award to me on #ch. 1:12 that day, and not only to me but also to all #[Rev. 22:20]who have loved his appearing.
Personal Instructions
9 # ch. 1:4 Do your best to come to me soon. 10For #Col. 4:14; Philem. 24 Demas, #See 1 John 2:15 in love with #1 Tim. 6:17; Titus 2:12 this present world, #[ch. 1:15] has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,#4:10 Some manuscripts Gaul #[Titus 3:12]Titus to Dalmatia. 11#[See ver. 10 above] Luke alone is with me. Get #See Acts 12:12Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12#Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; Titus 3:12Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14#See 1 Tim. 1:20 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; #Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12; [Neh. 6:14; 13:29; Ps. 28:4; Rev. 18:6]the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. #[Acts 7:60]May it not be charged against them! 17But #Acts 23:11; 27:23; [Matt. 10:19] the Lord stood by me and #See 1 Tim. 1:12 strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and #See Acts 9:15 all the Gentiles might hear it. So #ch. 3:11 I was rescued #Ps. 22:21; [1 Sam. 17:37]from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. #See Rom. 11:36To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19Greet #See Acts 18:2 Prisca and Aquila, and #ch. 1:16the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left #Acts 20:4; 21:29Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21#ver. 9Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.#4:21 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
22The Lord be #Gal. 6:18; Philem. 25 with your spirit. #See Col. 4:18Grace be with you.#4:22 The Greek for you is plural
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