2 Timothy 4:6-18

6 For ¹I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my ²departure has come.

7 ³I have fought the good fight, ⁴I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Henceforth there is ⁵laid up for me ⁶the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ⁷the righteous judge, will award to me on ⁸that Day, and not only to me but also to all ⁹who have loved his appearing.

Personal Instructions

9 ¹⁰Do your best to come to me soon.

10 For ¹¹Demas, ¹²in love with ¹³this present world, ¹⁴has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,^[a]15Titus to Dalmatia.

11 ¹⁶Luke alone is with me. Get ¹⁷Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

12 ¹⁸Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

14 ¹⁹Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ²⁰the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. ²¹May it not be charged against them!

17 But ²²the Lord stood by me and ²³strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and ²⁴all the Gentiles might hear it. So ²⁵I was rescued ²⁶from the lion's mouth.

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. ²⁷To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:6-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 4

In this chapter the apostle charges Timothy to perform his office as an evangelist with great diligence, constancy, and faithfulness, with reasons for it; gives some hints of several particular persons mentioned, which made him very desirous that Timothy would come quickly to him; relates how things were with him when he made his first defence at Rome; and concludes the epistle with salutations, and his usual blessing. The charge is made in the most solemn manner in the sight of God; and of Christ, as Judge of quick and dead; and directs to the several parts of the ministerial work, and the manner in which they should be performed, 2Ti 4:1,2. The reason of which charge is, because the time was hastening on that sound doctrine would not be endured, and men would depart from the truth to fables and false teachers, 2Ti 4:3,4. Wherefore the apostle repeats his charge and exhortation to Timothy, though in other words, to be vigilant, patient, courageous, and faithful in the discharge of his office, 2Ti 4:5 adding a fresh reason moving to it, taken from the apostle's death being at hand; which is expressed by a sacrifice, and by a departure out of the world, 2Ti 4:6 which leads him to give an account of his past conduct in fighting the good fight, finishing his course, and keeping the faith, 2Ti 4:7 and of his firm belief of eternal glory and happiness, 2Ti 4:8 and next he desires Timothy to use all diligence to come quickly to him, 2Ti 4:9 his reasons for which were, because he had scarce anybody with him: one had forsook him through love of the world; another was gone to Thessalonica; a third to Galatia, and a fourth to Dalmatia; only Luke the evangelist was with him; and as for Tychicus, he had sent him to Ephesus: he therefore desires he would bring Mark with him, and his cloak, books, and parchments he had left at Troas, 2Ti 4:10-13 and then takes notice of persons that had used him ill, particularly Alexander the coppersmith; he wishes justice might be done him; and advises Timothy to beware of him, because of his opposition to the doctrines of the Gospel, 2Ti 4:14,15 and also of others that neglected him, who forsook him when he defended himself: however, he prays that this might not be charged upon them; and observes the goodness of God in standing by him and delivering him; and expresses his faith and confidence that he should be delivered and preserved safe to eternal glory, 2Ti 4:16-18 and next follow the apostle's salutations of some persons at Ephesus, and an account of two others, one at Corinth, and another at Miletum; and a repetition of his request to Timothy, to come quickly to him, and before winter; and then some salutations of persons at Rome, sent by Timothy; and the whole is concluded with the apostle's usual benediction, 2Ti 4:19-22.

Cross References

• 1. Philippians 2:17
• 2. Philippians 1:23; [2 Peter 1:14]
• 3. See 1 Timothy 6:12
• 4. Acts 20:24
• 5. Colossians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:4
• 6. See James 1:12
• 7. Psalms 7:11
• 8. 2 Timothy 1:12
• 9. [Revelation 22:20]
• 10. 2 Timothy 1:4
• 11. Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24
• 12. See 1 John 2:15
• 13. 1 Timothy 6:17; Titus 2:12
• 14. [2 Timothy 1:15]
• 15. [Titus 3:12]
• 16. [See ver. 10 above]
• 17. See Acts 12:12
• 18. Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12
• 19. See 1 Timothy 1:20
• 20. Psalms 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; [Nehemiah 6:14; Nehemiah 13:29; Psalms 28:4; Revelation 18:6]
• 21. [Acts 7:60]
• 22. Acts 23:11; Acts 27:23; [Matthew 10:19]
• 23. See 1 Timothy 1:12
• 24. See Acts 9:15
• 25. 2 Timothy 3:11
• 26. Psalms 22:21; [1 Samuel 17:37]
• 27. See Romans 11:36

Footnotes

• [a]. Some manuscripts Gaul