1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

2 Preach the message,tn Or “the word.” be readytn Or “be persistent.” whether it is convenient or not,tn Grk “in season, out of season.” reprove, rebuke, exhorttn Or “encourage.” with complete patience and instruction.

3 For there will be a time when peopletn Grk “they”; the referent (the people in that future time) has been specified in the translation for clarity. will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires,tn Grk “in accord with.” they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.tn Grk “having an itching in regard to hearing,” “having itching ears.”

4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.sn These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and Titus 1:14.

5 You, however, be self-controlledtn Or “sober,” “temperate.” in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to departtn Grk “of my departure.” is at hand.

7 I have competed well;sn The expression I have competed well (Grk “I have competed the good competition”) uses words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.” I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!

8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection ontn Grk “all who have loved.” his appearing.

9 Make every effort to come to me soon.

10 For Demas deserted me, since he lovedtn Grk “having loved.” the present age, and he went to Thessalonica.map For location see JP1-C1; JP2-C1; JP3-C1; JP4-C1. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great helptn Grk “useful.” to me in ministry.tn Or “in serving me.”

12 Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.

13 When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm.tn Grk “showed me much evil.” The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds.sn An allusion to Ps 28:4.

15 You be on guard against himtn Grk “against whom,” as a continuation of the previous clause. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. too, because he vehemently opposed our words.

16 At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the messagetn Or “the preaching.” would be fully proclaimedtn Grk “might be completely fulfilled.” for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!

18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safelytn Grk “save me.” into his heavenly kingdom. To himtn Grk “to whom.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. be glory for ever and ever!tn Grk “unto the ages of the ages,” an emphatic way of speaking about eternity in Greek. Amen.

19 Greetings totn Grk “greet.” Prisca and Aquilasn On Prisca and Aquila see also Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:3-4; 1 Cor 16:19. In the NT “Priscilla” and “Prisca” are the same person. The author of Acts uses the full name Priscilla, while Paul uses the diminutive form Prisca. and the family of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth.map For location see JP1-C2; JP2-C2; JP3-C2; JP4-C2. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus.

21 Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

22 The Lordtc The reading ὁ κύριος (Jo kurio", “the Lord”) is well supported by א* F G 33 1739 1881 sa, but predictable expansions on the text have occurred at this point: A 104 614 pc read ὁ κύριος ᾿Ιησοῦς (Jo kurio" Ihsou", “the Lord Jesus”), while א2 C D Ψ Ï sy bo have ὁ κύριος ᾿Ιησοῦς Χριστός (Jo kurio" Ihsou" Cristo", “the Lord Jesus Christ”). As B. M. Metzger notes, although in a late book such as 2 Timothy, one might expect the fuller title for the Lord, accidental omission of nomina sacra is rare (TCGNT 582). The shorter reading is thus preferred on both external and internal grounds. be with your spirit. Grace be with you.tc Most witnesses (א2 D Ψ Ï lat sy) conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, there are several excellent witnesses of the Alexandrian and Western texts (א* A C F G 6 33 81 1739* 1881 sa) that lack the particle, rendering the omission the preferred reading.