NOTES

BIBLE

2 Timothy 4

1	I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:	Διαμαρτύρομαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, τοῦ μέλλοντος κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, καὶ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ·
2	preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching.	κήρυξον τὸν λόγον, ἐπίστηθι εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως, ἔλεγξον, ἐπιτίμησον, παρακάλεσον, ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ.
3	For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,	ἔσται γὰρ καιρὸς ὅτε τῆς ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας οὐκ ἀνέξονται, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισωρεύσουσιν διδασκάλους κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν,
4	and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.	καὶ ἀπὸ μὲν τῆς ἀληθείας τὴν ἀκοὴν ἀποστρέψουσιν, ἐπὶ δὲ τοὺς μύθους ἐκτραπήσονται.
5	But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.	σὺ δὲ νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον.
6	For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.	Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἀναλύσεώς μου ἐφέστηκεν.
7	I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.	τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα·
8	In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.	λοιπὸν ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής, οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοὶ ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.
9	Be diligent to come to me soon,	Σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με ταχέως·
10	for Demas, having loved this present age, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.	Δημᾶς γάρ με ἐγκατέλιπεν ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα, καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Θεσσαλονίκην, Κρήσκης εἰς Γαλατίαν, Τίτος εἰς Δαλματίαν·	age The rendering here is “age” rather than “world” because the underlying Greek word is αἰών (aiōn). This translation avoids confusion with the other Greek word for “world” (κόσμος; kosmos), and also better carries the meaning of αἰών (aiōn) here as Paul is describing the present period of time (and not a place). Whereas Paul was striving toward the future, looking forward to the crown of righteousness (v. 8), Demas loved the present age (τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα; ton nyn aiōna), and deserted Paul, forsaking his future reward. Paul demonstrates here that to fail to persevere in the present is to forfeit one’s glorious reward in the future.
11	Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.	Λουκᾶς ἐστιν μόνος μετʼ ἐμοῦ. Μᾶρκον ἀναλαβὼν ἄγε μετὰ σεαυτοῦ, ἔστιν γάρ μοι εὔχρηστος εἰς διακονίαν,
12	But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.	Τυχικὸν δὲ ἀπέστειλα εἰς Ἔφεσον.
13	When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments.	τὸν φαιλόνην, ὃν ἀπέλιπον ἐν Τρῳάδι παρὰ Κάρπῳ, ἐρχόμενος φέρε, καὶ τὰ βιβλία, μάλιστα τὰς μεμβράνας.	scrolls “Scrolls” is from βιβλίον (biblion) which here means “scrolls.” The precursor to the book (the codex) was not yet invented and parchments are mentioned, which are similar to scrolls.
14	Alexander the coppersmith showed me much harm; the Lord will award him according to his deeds.	Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ χαλκεὺς πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο—ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ—	award This translation renders the word ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi) here as “Award.” Readers will notice this term also occurs in verse 8. The idea is that just as Paul will have a reward from God for his faithfulness, the wicked will receive their reward due them for their wicked deeds.
15	Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our words.	ὃν καὶ σὺ φυλάσσου, λίαν γὰρ ἀντέστη τοῖς ἡμετέροις λόγοις.
16	At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.	Ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ μου ἀπολογίᾳ οὐδείς μοι παρεγένετο, ἀλλὰ πάντες με ἐγκατέλιπον—μὴ αὐτοῖς λογισθείη—
17	But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching might be fulfilled, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.	ὁ δὲ κύριός μοι παρέστη καὶ ἐνεδυνάμωσέν με, ἵνα διʼ ἐμοῦ τὸ κήρυγμα πληροφορηθῇ καὶ ἀκούσωσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἐρρύσθην ἐκ στόματος λέοντος.	preaching “Preaching” translates κήρυγμα (kērygma), which describes the content of the message preached or proclaimed by a true messenger of God. The word is consistently translated with “preaching” wherever it appears in the New Testament (cf. Matt 12:41; Luke 11:32; 1 Cor 1:21; 2:4; 15:14; Titus 1:3). Paul recounts here that God stood by and strengthened him because of the importance of his preaching being completed. Paul, as a true messenger of God, needed to bring God’s authoritative and saving message to the Gentiles, and thus, God protected and strengthened him to faithfully accomplish this task. fulfilled “Fulfilled” is redeeming the Greek word πληροφορέω (plērophoreō). Readers will remember that the word occurred earlier in 4:5 to refer Timothy’s charge to fulfill his ministry. Paul is giving Timothy an example of what a fulfilled preaching (cf. verse 2) ministry looks like.
18	The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will save me unto His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.	ῥύσεταί με ὁ κύριος ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔργου πονηροῦ καὶ σώσει εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐπουράνιον· ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν.
19	Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.	Ἄσπασαι Πρίσκαν καὶ Ἀκύλαν καὶ τὸν Ὀνησιφόρου οἶκον.
20	Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.	Ἔραστος ἔμεινεν ἐν Κορίνθῳ, Τρόφιμον δὲ ἀπέλιπον ἐν Μιλήτῳ ἀσθενοῦντα.
21	Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.	Σπούδασον πρὸ χειμῶνος ἐλθεῖν. Ἀσπάζεταί σε Εὔβουλος καὶ Πούδης καὶ Λίνος καὶ Κλαυδία καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες.
22	The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.	Ὁ κύριος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματός σου. ἡ χάρις μεθʼ ὑμῶν.	all of you This is the first time in the entire letter where Paul shifts from the 2nd person singular (referring to Timothy) to the 2nd person plural. It indicates that Paul’s final words are not just for Timothy, but for all who read Paul’s letter. The translation here as “all of you” for ὑμῶν (hymōn) rather than just “you” helps the reader to catch this important distinction, as Paul intended the teaching of this letter to be public.

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