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“I Solemnly Charge You”
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and Messiah Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his Kingdom:
2 Proclaim the message, keep at it no matter how favorable or unfavorable the season, reprove, warn, and exhort, teaching with the utmost patience.
3 The time is coming, you see, when people will refuse to put up with teaching that is sound, and will instead gather to themselves a great many teachers to suit their own desires, eager to hear nothing except what they want to hear;
4 they will turn their ears, on the one hand, away from the truth, and will stray, on the other, into myths.
5 You, however, must be self-controlled in all situations. Endure hardship. Do the work of an evangelist. Your ministry carry out.
6 I, you see, am already being poured out like a drink offering, and now upon me is the time appointed for me to depart this life.
7 I have run the good race, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.
8 For the future there is stored away safely for me the victor’s crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the just Judge, will award to me in that Day, and not only to me, but indeed to all who have set their hearts on his appearing.
9 Do everything you can to visit me soon.
10 Demas, you see, has deserted me, having set his heart on this present age, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Luke is the only one still with me. Get Mark and bring him along with you, for he is of valuable use to me in the work.
12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
13 When you come, please be sure to bring these: The cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a very great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
15 You, too, must watch out for him yourself, for he opposed our message vehemently.
16 At my first defense not a single person came to my help; they all deserted me. May it not be held against them.
17 The Lord, however, himself came to my aid and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me with salvation into his Kingdom from heaven. To him be the glory forever into the ages of the ages. Amen.
19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus remained in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus, because he was sick.
21 Do everything you can to come before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and the other brothers and sisters, all of them.
22 The Lord be with ˢyour spirit. Grace be with all of ᵖyou.