2 Timothy 4

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.

{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. \*

{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.

They will stop listening to what is true. Instead, they will focus on legends.

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}. \*

{I tell you to do those things} because I will soon die. God is even now treating me as if I were wine that someone was pouring out to honor him.

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}.

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}. \*

Please try to visit me {here} soon.

{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. \*

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.

As for Tychicus, I told him to go to {the city of} Ephesus.

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. \*

Alexander, who makes things out of metal, did many bad things to me. The Lord {Jesus} will punish him for what he has done.

He tried very hard to keep us from proclaiming the good news. So, you too need to watch out for him.

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. \*

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.

{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! \*

Say hello for me to Prisca, Aquila, and Onesiphorus and his family.

Erastus stayed in {the city of} Corinth. As for Trophimus, he stayed behind in {the city of} Miletus because he was ill.

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.

{I pray that} the Lord {Jesus} will be with you{, Timothy}. {I pray that God will} be kind to you all.