2 Timothy 4:3-13

3 For ¹the time will come when they will not endure ²sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

4 and ³will turn away their ears from the truth and ⁴will turn aside to myths.

5 But you, ⁵be sober in all things, ⁶endure hardship, do the work of an ⁷evangelist, fulfill your ⁸ministry.

6 For I am already being ⁹poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ¹⁰my departure has come.

7 ¹¹I have fought the good fight, I have finished ¹²the course, I have kept ¹³the faith;

8 in the future there ¹⁴is laid up for me ¹⁵the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ¹⁶that day; and not only to me, but also to ¹⁷all who have loved His ¹⁸appearing.

Personal Concerns

9 ¹⁹Make every effort to come to me soon;

10 for ²⁰Demas, having loved ²¹this present world, has deserted me and gone to ²²Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ²³Galatia, ²⁴Titus to Dalmatia.

11 ²⁵Only ²⁶Luke is with me. Pick up ²⁷Mark and bring him with you, ²⁸for he is useful to me for service.

12 But ²⁹Tychicus I have sent to ³⁰Ephesus.

13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at ³¹Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:3-13 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. 2 Timothy 3:1
• 2. 1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:13
• 3. 2 Thessalonians 2:11; Titus 1:14
• 4. 1 Timothy 1:4
• 5. 1 Peter 1:13
• 6. 2 Timothy 1:8
• 7. Acts 21:8
• 8. Ephesians 4:12; Colossians 4:17
• 9. Philippians 2:17
• 10. Philippians 1:23; 2 Peter 1:14
• 11. 1 Corinthians 9:25; Philippians 1:30; 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:12
• 12. Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:24
• 13. 2 Timothy 3:10
• 14. Colossians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:4
• 15. 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:5; James 1:12
• 16. 2 Timothy 1:12
• 17. Philippians 3:11
• 18. 2 Timothy 4:1
• 19. 2 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:21; Titus 3:12
• 20. Colossians 4:14
• 21. 1 Timothy 6:17
• 22. Acts 17:1
• 23. Acts 16:6
• 24. 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Galatians 2:3; Titus 1:4
• 25. 2 Timothy 1:15
• 26. Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24
• 27. Acts 12:12, 25; Acts 15:37-39; Colossians 4:10
• 28. 2 Timothy 2:21
• 29. Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21, 22; Colossians 4:7
• 30. Acts 18:19
• 31. Acts 16:8

Footnotes

• [a] Or "age"
• [b] One early ms reads "Gaul"