1 I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom: 2 that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine. 3 For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears, 4 and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables. 5 But as for you, truly, be vigilant, laboring in all things. Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfilling your ministry. Show self-restraint. 6 For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith. 8 As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon. 9 For Demas has abandoned me, out of love for this age, and he has departed for Thessalonica. 10 Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you; for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you return, bring with you the supplies that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith has shown me much evil; the Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 And you should also avoid him; for he has strongly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion. 18 The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca, and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth. And Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 21 Hurry to arrive before winter. Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers greet you. 22 May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. May grace be with you. Amen.
2 Timothy · Catholic Public Domain Version
2 Timothy 4 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Alexander
A coppersmith who did Paul great harm; a man of the same name was also handed over to Satan with Hymenaeus, possibly the same person.
Cited in the guide: 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 4:14
Carpus
The man at Troas with whom Paul left his cloak.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 4:13
Claudia
A woman who sends greetings to Timothy from Paul in Rome.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 4:21
Crescens
A coworker who had gone to Galatia during Paul's last imprisonment.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 4:10
Demas
A coworker of Paul who sends greetings from Rome, but later deserted him because he loved the present world.
Cited in the guide: Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:10; Philemon 24
Erastus
Named as the city treasurer who sends greetings in Romans, as a helper Paul sent into Macedonia with Timothy, and as one who stayed at Corinth; these are probably the same man.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:22; Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20
Eubulus
One who sends greetings to Timothy from Paul in Rome.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 4:21
Linus
One who sends greetings to Timothy from Paul in Rome.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 4:21
Luke
Paul's beloved physician and coworker who stayed with him when others had left him in his final imprisonment.
Cited in the guide: Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24
Onesiphorus
A man who often refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of his chains, searching for him eagerly in Rome; Paul greets his household.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:19
Pudens
One who sends greetings to Timothy from Paul in Rome.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 4:21
Trophimus
An Ephesian who accompanied Paul; Jews at Jerusalem falsely claimed Paul had brought him into the temple, and Paul later left him sick at Miletus.
Cited in the guide: Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29; 2 Timothy 4:20
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 16:27; 2 Timothy 2:14
- 2 1 Timothy 4:15–16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Revelation 3:19; 1 Timothy 4:13; Titus 2:15
- 3 2 Peter 2:1–3; 2 Timothy 3:1–6; 1 Timothy 4:1–3; 1 Timothy 1:10; Galatians 4:16
- 4 Zechariah 7:11; Acts 7:57; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 4:7
- 5 2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:3; 1 Peter 1:13; Colossians 4:17; 2 Timothy 3:10–12
- 6 Philippians 1:23; Philippians 2:17; 2 Peter 1:14–15; Joshua 23:14; Genesis 48:21
- 7 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Hebrews 12:1–2; Acts 20:24; Philippians 3:13–14
- 8 James 1:12; Revelation 2:10; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 Peter 1:4; Matthew 6:19–20
- 9 2 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:21
- 10 1 John 2:15–16; 2 Timothy 1:15; Colossians 4:14–15; 1 John 5:4–5; Acts 16:6
- 11 Acts 12:12; Acts 12:25; Philemon 24; Acts 15:39; 2 Timothy 1:15
- 12 Ephesians 6:21; Acts 20:4; Titus 3:12; Colossians 4:7; 1 Timothy 1:3
- 13 Acts 16:11; 2 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 4:11; Acts 16:8; Acts 20:5–12
- 14 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Psalm 28:4; 1 Samuel 24:12; Acts 19:33–34
- 15 2 Timothy 3:8; Philippians 3:2; Matthew 10:16–17
- 16 Acts 7:60; John 16:32; Mark 14:50; Psalm 31:11–13; Philippians 1:17
- 17 1 Peter 5:8; Philippians 1:12–14; Psalm 22:21; 1 Samuel 17:37; Daniel 6:22
- 18 Psalm 121:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Jude 24–25; Matthew 6:13; John 10:28–30
- 19 Acts 18:2; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:3–4; 2 Timothy 1:16–18; Acts 18:26
- 20 Acts 20:4; Acts 19:22; Philippians 2:26–27; Acts 21:29; Acts 20:15
- 21 2 Timothy 4:9; Philippians 4:22; Romans 16:21–23; 2 Timothy 1:4; 3 John 14
- 22 Philemon 25; Galatians 6:18; Colossians 4:18; Romans 1:7; Revelation 22:21
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
It is worth while to enquire why he calls Timothy to him, inasmuch as he was intrusted with a Church, and a whole nation. It was not from arrogance.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me." From this he shows that he was always attached to and inseparable from him.
… doth he grieve for certain trees, which did not afford him the fruit due unto him, when he saith, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." For these fruits are due to those who minister spiritual doctrine, through their understanding of …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
How then doth He say elsewhere, "Reprove, rebuke, exhort," and, "Them that sin rebuke before all?" And Christ too to Peter, "Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone," and if he neglect to hear, add to thyself another also; and if not even so doth he yield, declare it to the church likewise?" And how hath …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For, being slain by them, He has risen again, and has requited them meanwhile by temporary discipline, save that for those who are not corrected He keeps it in store for the time when He shall judge the quick and the dead. For the Lord Jesus Himself, in pointing out that very man to the apostles as His betrayer, quoted …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)