Preach the Word 1 UST God and Jesus the Messiah are listening right now{ and agreeing with me} as I command you{ to do what I am about to tell you}.{ Remember that} Jesus will soon decide whether everyone who is alive and everyone who has died is guilty or innocent.{ You should focus on what I am about to command you} as much as you expect Jesus to return{ to this world} and to rule over everything. BSB BSB: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
2 UST { Here is what I want you to do}: you must proclaim the good news. Be ready to do that when it is a good time to do so and also when it is not a good time to do so. When people have done what is wrong, confront them. Warn them{ not to sin}. Encourage them{ to do what is right}.{ As you do all those things,} never become angry quickly, and always instruct people. BSB BSB: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 UST { I tell you to do those things} because later on people will refuse to listen when others teach them what is right. Rather, they will do what they want by collecting many instructors. They will be eager to listen to what pleases them. BSB BSB: For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 UST They will stop listening to what is true. Instead, they will focus on legends. BSB BSB: So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 UST In contrast, as for you, you must control yourself at all times. You must{ be willing to} allow bad things to happen to you. You must do what you have to do in order to proclaim the good news. You must complete everything you must do to serve{ Jesus}. BSB BSB: But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
7 UST I am like a soldier who has battled his enemies. I am like a runner who has finished his race.{ I mean that} I have persisted in trusting in{ Jesus}. BSB BSB: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 UST I can now expect the reward for doing what is right, which God has ready for me. The Lord{ Jesus}, who always evaluates people justly, will give me that reward when he returns{ to this world}. However, I will not be the only one whom he rewards. Rather, he will reward everyone who rejoices when he returns{ to this world}. BSB BSB: From now on 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 to all who crave His appearing.
Personal Concerns 9 UST Please try to visit me{ here} soon. BSB BSB: Make every effort to come to me quickly,
10 UST { I ask you to do that} because Demas has abandoned me since he cares{ too much} about living in this present world. He has left for{ the city of} Thessalonica. Crescens{ has left} for{ the province of} Galatia. Titus{ has left} for{ the province of} Dalmatia. BSB BSB: because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
11 UST Luke is the only one who is still{ here} with me. When you visit, bring Mark with you.{ I ask for him} because he serves{ others} with me well. BSB BSB: Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
12 UST As for Tychicus, I told him to go to{ the city of} Ephesus. BSB BSB: Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
13 UST I left an outer garment with Carpus in{ the city of} Troas. Please bring it with you when you visit me. Also{, please bring with you} my books, particularly the ones with leather pages. BSB BSB: When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 UST Alexander, who makes things out of metal, did many bad things to me. The Lord{ Jesus} will punish him for what he has done. BSB BSB: Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
15 UST He tried very hard to keep us from proclaiming the good news. So, you too need to watch out for him. BSB BSB: You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.
The Lord Remains Faithful 16 UST The first time I defended myself{ in court}, no believers came to support me. Instead, they all abandoned me. I pray that God will forgive them for that. BSB BSB: At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
17 UST However, the Lord{ Jesus} supported me and made me strong. That way, I could complete proclaiming{ the good news}, and many non- Jews could listen to it. Also, God delivered me from people who would have killed me. BSB BSB: But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
18 UST { I am sure that} the Lord{ Jesus} will deliver me whenever people do anything bad to me. He will rescue me so that I can participate in his kingdom, which is in heaven. Let us honor him forever! May it be so! BSB BSB: And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings (Ephesians 6:21–24; Philippians 4:21–23)
19 UST Say hello for me to Prisca, Aquila, and Onesiphorus and his family. BSB BSB: Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.
20 UST Erastus stayed in{ the city of} Corinth. As for Trophimus, he stayed behind in{ the city of} Miletus because he was ill. BSB BSB: Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
21 UST Please try to visit{ me here} before the winter season. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and{ the rest of} the fellow believers{ here} say hello to you. BSB BSB: Make every effort to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22 UST { I pray that} the Lord{ Jesus} will be with you{, Timothy}.{ I pray that God will} be kind to you all. BSB BSB: The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.