Προς Τιμοθεον Β΄ 4

1 διαμαρτυρομαι ουν εγω ενωπιον του θεου και του κυριου ιησου χριστου του μελλοντος κρινειν ζωντας και νεκρους κατα την επιφανειαν αυτου και την βασιλειαν αυτου

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

2 κηρυξον τον λογον επιστηθι ευκαιρως ακαιρως ελεγξον επιτιμησον παρακαλεσον εν παση μακροθυμια και διδαχη

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.

3 εσται γαρ καιρος οτε της υγιαινουσης διδασκαλιας ουκ ανεξονται αλλα κατα τας επιθυμιας τας ιδιας εαυτοις επισωρευσουσιν διδασκαλους κνηθομενοι την ακοην

[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.

4 και απο μεν της αληθειας την ακοην αποστρεψουσιν επι δε τους μυθους εκτραπησονται

That is, they will not listen to [MTY] what is true, but will listen instead to [strange] stories from our ancestors.

5 συ δε νηφε εν πασιν κακοπαθησον εργον ποιησον ευαγγελιστου την διακονιαν σου πληροφορησον

[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.

6 εγω γαρ ηδη σπενδομαι και ο καιρος της εμης αναλυσεως εφεστηκεν

[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].

7 τον αγωνα τον καλον ηγωνισμαι τον δρομον τετελεκα την πιστιν τετηρηκα

[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).

8 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

[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.

9 σπουδασον ελθειν προς με ταχεως

(Do your best/Try hard) to come to me soon.

10 δημας γαρ με εγκατελιπεν αγαπησας τον νυν αιωνα και επορευθη εις θεσσαλονικην κρησκης εις γαλατιαν τιτος εις δαλματιαν (aiōn g165)

[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)

11 λουκας εστιν μονος μετ εμου μαρκον αναλαβων αγε μετα σεαυτου εστιν γαρ μοι ευχρηστος εις διακονιαν

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.

12 τυχικον δε απεστειλα εις εφεσον

Tychicus [cannot help me because] I sent him to Ephesus [city].

13 τον φελονην ον απελιπον εν τρωαδι παρα καρπω ερχομενος φερε και τα βιβλια μαλιστα τας μεμβρανας

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].

14 αλεξανδρος ο χαλκευς πολλα μοι κακα ενεδειξατο αποδωη αυτω ο κυριος κατα τα εργα αυτου

Alexander, the man who makes things from metal, did many evil/harmful things to me. The Lord will punish him for what he did.

15 ον και συ φυλασσου λιαν γαρ ανθεστηκεν τοις ημετεροις λογοις

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].

16 εν τη πρωτη μου απολογια ουδεις μοι συμπαρεγενετο αλλα παντες με εγκατελιπον μη αυτοις λογισθειη

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].

17 ο δε κυριος μοι παρεστη και ενεδυναμωσεν με ινα δι εμου το κηρυγμα πληροφορηθη και ακουση παντα τα εθνη και ερρυσθην εκ στοματος λεοντος

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.

18 και 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)

[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)

19 ασπασαι πρισκαν και ακυλαν και τον ονησιφορου οικον

Greet [for me] Priscilla and [her husband] Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.

20 εραστος εμεινεν εν κορινθω τροφιμον δε απελιπον εν μιλητω ασθενουντα

Erastus stayed in Corinth [city]. Trophimus, I left in Miletus [city] because he was sick.

21 σπουδασον προ χειμωνος ελθειν ασπαζεται σε ευβουλος και πουδης και λινος και κλαυδια και οι αδελφοι παντες

(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.

22 ο κυριος ιησους χριστος μετα του πνευματος σου η χαρις μεθ υμων αμην

[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].