1 Before God and Jesus Christ I give you a command. Christ Jesus is the One who will judge the people who are living and the people who have died. Jesus has a kingdom, and he is coming again. So I give you this command: 2 Tell people God’s message. Be ready at all times. Tell people the things they need to do, tell them when they are wrong, and encourage them. Do these things with great patience and careful teaching. 3 The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching. But people will find more and more teachers that please them. People will find teachers that say the things those people want to hear. 4 People will stop listening to the truth. They will begin to follow the teaching in false stories. 5 But you should control yourself at all times. When troubles come, accept those troubles. Do the work of telling the Good News. Do all the duties of a servant of God. 6 My life is being given as an offering for God. The time has come for me to leave this life here. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8 Now, a crown ˻(reward)˼ is waiting for me. I will get that crown for being right with God. The Lord is the judge who judges rightly. He will give me the crown on that Day. Yes! He will give that crown to me. He will give that crown to all people who have wanted him to come again and have waited for him. 9 Do your best to come to me as soon as you can. 10 Demas loved this world too much. That is why he left me. He went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia. And Titus went to Dalmatia. 11 Luke is the only one still with me. Get Mark and bring him with you when you come. He can help me in my work here. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When I was in Troas, I left my coat there with Carpus. So when you come, bring it to me. Also, bring my books. The books written on parchment are the ones I need. 14 Alexander the metalworker did many bad things against me. The Lord will punish Alexander for the things he did. 15 You should be careful that he doesn’t hurt you too. He fought strongly against our teaching. 16 The first time I defended myself, no person helped me. Every person left me. I pray that God will forgive them. 17 But the Lord stayed with me. The Lord gave me strength so that I could tell the Good News everywhere. The Lord wanted all the non-Jews to hear that Good News. So I was saved from the lion’s ˻(enemy’s)˼ mouth. 18 The Lord will save me when any person tries to hurt me. The Lord will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be the Lord’s. 19 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila and to the family of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. And I left Trophimus in Miletus—he was sick. 21 Try as hard as you can to come to me before winter. Eubulus says hello to you. Also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers in Christ say hello to you. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace ˻(kindness)˼ be with you.
