1. I give you a command in the sight of God and Christ Jesus. Christ will judge the living and the dead. Because he and his kingdom are coming, here is the command I give you.
2. Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people's mistakes. Warn them. Cheer them up with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully.
3. The time will come when people won't put up with true teaching. Instead, they will try to satisfy their own longings. They will gather a large number of teachers around them. The teachers will say what the people want to hear.
4. The people will turn their ears away from the truth. They will turn to stories that aren't completely true.
5. But I want you to keep your head no matter what happens. Don't give up when times are hard. Work to spread the good news. Do everything God has given you to do.
6. I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time has come for me to leave.
7. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.
8. Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.
9. Do your best to come to me quickly.
10. Demas has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica. He left me because he loved this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia.
11. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He helps me in my work for the Lord.
12. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.