2 Timothy 4

Chapter context

What is happening in 2 Timothy 4?

endurancescripturecouragefaithfulness

2 Timothy 4 belongs to the closing movement of the book, especially the section often described as farewell and personal notes. Second Timothy is a final appeal to courage, endurance, sound teaching, and fidelity to Scripture under suffering. Read this chapter with the wider themes of endurance, scripture, and courage in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. ⁹ Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: ¹⁰ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. ¹² And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. ¹³ The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: ¹⁵ Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. ¹⁶ At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. ¹⁷ Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ¹⁹ Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. ²¹ Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. ²² The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Study helps

Glossary

Dalmatia Place v. 10: Biblical region. Modern identification: Dalmatia.
Galatia Place v. 10: Biblical region. Modern identification: Galatia.
Thessalonica Place v. 10: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Thessaloniki.
Ephesus Place v. 12: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Ephesus.
Troas Place v. 13: A city on the coast of Mysia, in the north-west of Asia Minor, named after ancient Troy, which was at some little distance from it (about 4 miles) to the north. Modern identification: Alexandria Troas.
Alexander Person v. 14: Man-defender. (1. ) A relative of Annas the high priest, present when Peter and John were examined before the Sanhedrim ( Acts 4:6 ). (2. ) A man whose father, Simon the Cyrenian, bore the cross of Christ ( Mark 15:21 ).
Corinth Place v. 20: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Corinth.
Erastus Person v. 20: Beloved. (1. ) The “chamberlain” of the city of Corinth ( Rom. 16:23 ), and one of Paul’s disciples.
Miletus Place v. 20: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Miletus.
Claudia Person v. 21: A female Christian mentioned in 2 Tim. 4:21 .