4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.

4:3 For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;

4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.

4:5 But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.

4:6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.

4:7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.

4:8 From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

4:9 Be diligent to come to me soon,

4:10 for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministering.

4:12 But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

4:13 Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.

4:14 Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works,

4:15 of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.

4:16 At my first defense, no one took my part, but all left me. May it not be held against them.

4:17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me to his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

4:20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.

4:21 Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.