4:1
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I charge you, in the name of his appearing and of his kingdom:
4:2
proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, give encouragement -- but do all with patience and with care to instruct.
4:3
The time is sure to come when people will not accept sound teaching, but their ears will be itching for anything new and they will collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes;
4:4
and then they will shut their ears to the truth and will turn to myths.
4:5
But you must keep steady all the time; put up with suffering; do the work of preaching the gospel; fulfil the service asked of you.
4:6
As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart.
4:7
I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith;
4:8
all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.
4:9
Make every effort to come and see me as soon as you can.
4:10
As it is, Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to Thessalonica, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia;
4:11
only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you; I find him a useful helper in my work.
4:12
I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
4:13
When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones.
4:14
Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him as his deeds deserve.
4:15
Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say.
4:16
The first time I had to present my defence, no one came into court to support me. Every one of them deserted me -- may they not be held accountable for it.
4:17
But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed for all the gentiles to hear; and so I was saved from the lion's mouth.
4:18
The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
4:19
Greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and the family of Onesiphorus.
4:20
Erastus stayed behind at Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill at Miletus.
4:21
Make every effort to come before the winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.
4:22
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
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