2 Timothy 4
1 Christ Jesus [is going to come back and] judge those who are living [when he comes] and those who will have died. He will judge them [concerning what rewards they deserve, and] he will rule everyone. So, [knowing that] he and God are watching [everything that we do], I solemnly/earnestly command you
διαμαρτυρομαι ενωπιον του θεου και χριστου ιησου του μελλοντος κρινειν ζωντας και νεκρους και την επιφανειαν αυτου και την βασιλειαν αυτου
2 that you proclaim the [true] message to people. Always be ready/prepared [to proclaim it], whether people want to hear it or not. [Some people are saying things that are not correct]; (refute their teaching/show why their teaching is wrong). Rebuke them when they are doing wrong. Tell them what they ought to do. Be very patient while you teach them.
κηρυξον τον λογον επιστηθι ευκαιρως ακαιρως ελεγξον επιτιμησον παρακαλεσον εν παση μακροθυμια και διδαχη
3 [Do these things] because there will be a time when people will not listen to good teaching. Instead, they will bring in many teachers for themselves who will tell them just what they want to hear [IDM]. [The reason that they will bring in such teachers is] that they want to do the evil things that they desire.
εσται γαρ καιρος οτε της υγιαινουσης διδασκαλιας ουκ ανεξονται αλλα κατα τας ιδιας επιθυμιας εαυτοις επισωρευσουσιν διδασκαλους κνηθομενοι την ακοην
4 That is, they will not listen to [MTY] what is true, but will listen instead to [strange] stories from our ancestors.
και απο μεν της αληθειας την ακοην αποστρεψουσιν επι δε τους μυθους εκτραπησονται
5 [Furthermore, I command that] you always control what you think and do. [Be willing] to endure hardships/suffering. Your work should be telling people the message [about Christ Jesus]. As you serve [the Lord], do everything that [God has told] you to do.
συ δε νηφε εν πασιν κακοπαθησον εργον ποιησον ευαγγελιστου την διακονιαν σου πληροφορησον
6 [Timothy, I say these things to] you because as for me, [it is as though] [MET] [they are now about to kill me. It is as though my blood will] be poured out {they will kill me} [as a sacrifice on the altar]; that is, [I know] that it is the time for me to die [EUP].
εγω γαρ ηδη σπενδομαι και ο καιρος της αναλυσεως μου εφεστηκεν
7 [And as to telling people the] good [message and defending it], I have (exerted myself thoroughly/done it with all my energy) [MET], [like a boxer does. As to doing] the work that God gave me to do, I have completed it, [like a runner who finishes] [MET] the race. [As to] what we believe, I (have been loyal to it/continue to believe it).
τον καλον αγωνα ηγωνισμαι τον δρομον τετελεκα την πιστιν τετηρηκα
8 [So, like people award] a prize [MET] [to the winner of a race], the Lord, who judges rightly, will give me a reward [because I have lived] righteously. He will give me that reward when [MTY] [he judges people]. And not only [will he reward] me, but he will also reward all those who very much want him to come back.
λοιπον αποκειται μοι ο της δικαιοσυνης στεφανος ον αποδωσει μοι ο κυριος εν εκεινη τη ημερα ο δικαιος κριτης ου μονον δε εμοι αλλα και πασιν τοις ηγαπηκοσιν την επιφανειαν αυτου
9 (Do your best/Try hard) to come to me soon.
σπουδασον ελθειν προς με ταχεως
10 [I say that] because Demas has left me. He wanted very much [the good things that he might enjoy] [MTY] in this world [right now], and so he went to Thessalonica [city]. Crescens [went to serve the Lord] in Galatia [province], and Titus went to Dalmatia [district]. (aiōn g165)
δημας γαρ με {VAR1: εγκατελειπεν } {VAR2: εγκατελιπεν } αγαπησας τον νυν αιωνα και επορευθη εις θεσσαλονικην κρησκης εις γαλατιαν τιτος εις δαλματιαν (aiōn g165)
11 Luke is the only one who is still with me [of those who were helping me. And when you come], bring Mark with you, because he is useful to help me in my work.
λουκας εστιν μονος μετ εμου μαρκον αναλαβων αγε μετα σεαυτου εστιν γαρ μοι ευχρηστος εις διακονιαν
12 Tychicus [cannot help me because] I sent him to Ephesus [city].
τυχικον δε απεστειλα εις εφεσον
13 And when you come, bring the coat that I left with Carpus in Troas [city]. Also, bring the books, but (most of all/especially) [I want] (the parchments/the animal skins) [on which important things are written].
τον φαιλονην ον {VAR1: απελειπον } {VAR2: απελιπον } εν τρωαδι παρα καρπω ερχομενος φερε και τα βιβλια μαλιστα τας μεμβρανας
14 Alexander, the man who makes things from metal, did many evil/harmful things to me. The Lord will punish him for what he did.
αλεξανδρος ο χαλκευς πολλα μοι κακα ενεδειξατο αποδωσει αυτω ο κυριος κατα τα εργα αυτου
15 So you, too, must beware of him. [He will try to destroy your work if he can], because he very much opposes the message that we [proclaim].
ον και συ φυλασσου λιαν γαρ αντεστη τοις ημετεροις λογοις
16 When I first defended myself [in court here], no one came along [to help defend] me. Instead, they all left me. [I pray] that it will not be counted against {[God] will forgive} them [LIT] [for leaving me].
εν τη πρωτη μου απολογια ουδεις μοι παρεγενετο αλλα παντες με {VAR1: εγκατελειπον } {VAR2: εγκατελιπον } μη αυτοις λογισθειη
17 Nevertheless, the Lord was with me and strengthened me. He enabled me to fully preach the message, and all the non-Jewish people [in the court] (OR, people from many nations) heard it. And I was rescued [by the Lord] {[the Lord] rescued me} [from great danger, as if I were taken] [MET] out of a lion’s (OR, wild animal’s) mouth.
ο δε κυριος μοι παρεστη και ενεδυναμωσεν με ινα δι εμου το κηρυγμα πληροφορηθη και ακουσωσιν παντα τα εθνη και ερρυσθην εκ στοματος λεοντος
18 [Therefore, I am sure that] the Lord will rescue me from everything that is truly evil and will bring me safely to heaven, where he rules. Praise him forever! (Amen!/May it be so!) (aiōn g165)
ρυσεται με ο κυριος απο παντος εργου πονηρου και σωσει εις την βασιλειαν αυτου την επουρανιον ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην (aiōn g165)
19 Greet [for me] Priscilla and [her husband] Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.
ασπασαι πρισκαν και ακυλαν και τον ονησιφορου οικον
20 Erastus stayed in Corinth [city]. Trophimus, I left in Miletus [city] because he was sick.
εραστος εμεινεν εν κορινθω τροφιμον δε {VAR1: απελειπον } {VAR2: απελιπον } εν μιλητω ασθενουντα
21 (Do your best/Try hard) to come to me before (the stormy season/winter). Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and many other fellow believers [in this city] (send their greetings to/say that they are thinking affectionately about) you.
σπουδασον προ χειμωνος ελθειν ασπαζεται σε ευβουλος και πουδης και λινος και κλαυδια και οι αδελφοι {VAR1: [παντες] } {VAR2: παντες }
22 [I pray that] the Lord will [help you in] your spirit, [Timothy, and] that [he] will act kindly toward all of you [believers who are there].
ο κυριος μετα του πνευματος σου η χαρις μεθ υμων
