1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (徒10:42; 帖后2:8; 提前5:21; 提前6:13; 提后2:14; 提后4:8)2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (提前4:13; 提前5:20; 多1:13; 多2:15)3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[1] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (提前1:10; 提后3:1)4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (提前1:4; 提前1:6; 提前6:20)5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (徒21:8; 弗4:11; 西4:17; 提后1:8; 提后2:3; 提后2:9; 彼前1:13)6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (腓1:23; 腓2:17; 彼后1:14)7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (徒20:24; 提前6:12)8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (诗7:11; 西1:5; 提后1:12; 雅1:12; 彼前1:4; 启22:20)
Personal Instructions
9Do your best to come to me soon. (提后1:4)10For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,[2] Titus to Dalmatia. (西4:14; 提前6:17; 提后1:15; 多2:12; 多3:12; 门1:24; 约一2:15)11Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. (徒12:12; 提后4:10)12Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. (徒20:4; 弗6:21; 西4:7; 多3:12)13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.14Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. (尼6:14; 尼13:29; 诗28:4; 诗62:12; 箴24:12; 提前1:20; 启18:6)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. May it not be charged against them! (徒7:60)17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (撒上17:37; 诗22:21; 太10:19; 徒9:15; 徒23:11; 徒27:23; 提前1:12; 提后3:11)18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (羅11:36)
Final Greetings
19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. (徒18:2; 提后1:16)20Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. (徒20:4; 徒21:29)21Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.[3] (提后4:9)22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.[4] (加6:18; 西4:18; 门1:25)