| Chapter 4 |
Chapter 4 |
Chapter 4 |
| 1 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, I give you this charge: |
1 I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, |
1 I CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: |
| 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. |
2 so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple. |
2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. |
| 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. |
3 You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. |
3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, |
| 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. |
4 They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. |
4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. |
| 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. |
5 But you—keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant. |
5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry. |
| 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. |
6 You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. |
6 For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free. |
| 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. |
7 This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. |
7 I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. |
| 8 Now there is in store 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 also to all who have longed for his appearing. |
8 All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming. |
8 [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return). |
| Personal Remarks |
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| 9 Do your best to come to me quickly, |
9 Get here as fast as you can. |
9 Make every effort to come to me soon. |
| 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. |
10 Demas, chasing fads, went off to Thessalonica and left me here. Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia. |
10 For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. |
| 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. |
11 Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he'll be my right-hand man |
11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry. |
| 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. |
12 since I'm sending Tychicus to Ephesus. |
12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. |
| 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. |
13 Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks. |
13 [When] you come, bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, also the books, especially the parchments. |
| 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. |
14 Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith. |
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great wrongs. The Lord will pay him back for his actions. |
| 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. |
15 Fiercely opposed to our Message, he caused no end of trouble. God will give him what he's got coming. |
15 Beware of him yourself, for he opposed and resisted our message very strongly and exceedingly. |
| 16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. |
16 At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn't matter— |
16 At my first trial no one acted in my defense [as my advocate] or took my part or [even] stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them! |
| 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. |
17 the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! |
17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion. |
| 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. |
18 God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes! |
18 [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it). |
| Final Greetings |
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| 19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. |
19 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila; also, the family of Onesiphorus. |
19 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila and to the household of Onesiphorus. |
| 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. |
20 Erastus stayed behind in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus sick in Miletus. |
20 Erastus stayed on at Corinth, but Trophimus I left ill at Miletus. |
| 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. |
21 Try hard to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings. |
21 Do hasten and try your best to come to me before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. |
| 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. |
22 God be with you. Grace be with you. |
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace (God’s favor and blessing) be with you. Amen (so be it). |