1I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: 2preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. 5But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
9Be diligent to come to me soon, 10for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14Alexander the coppersmith did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15Beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words.
16At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick. 21Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Biblical Dispensations
| Dispensation | Opening event | Responsibility | Failure | Judgment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innocence | Creation | Obey God — Gen 1:26-28; Gen 2:15-17 | Disobedience — Gen 3:1-6 | Curse and death — Gen 3:7-19 |
| Conscience | The fall | Do good and offer blood sacrifice — Gen 3:5, 7, 22; Gen 4:4 | Wickedness — Gen 6:5-6, 11-12 | The flood — Gen 6:7, 13; Gen 7:11-14 |
| Human government | The flood | Scatter and multiply — Gen 8:15–9:7 | Did not scatter — Gen 11:1-4 | Confusion of languages — Gen 11:5-9 |
| Promise | Tower of Babel | Dwell in Canaan — Gen 12:1-7 | Dwelt in Egypt — Gen 12:10; Gen 46:6 | Egyptian bondage — Exod 1:8-14 |
| Law | Exodus | Keep the whole law — Exod 19:3-8 | Broke the law — 2 Kgs 17:7-20; Matt 27:1-25 | Worldwide dispersion — Deut 28:63-66; Luke 21:20-24 |
| Church age | Dispersion and regathering of Israel — Ezek 36:16-19; Ezek 36:20-24 | Faith in Jesus; keep doctrine pure — John 1:12; Rom 8:1-4; Eph 2:8-9 | Impure doctrine — John 5:39-40; 2 Tim 3:1-7 | Apostasy and false doctrine — 2 Thess 2:3; 2 Tim 4:3 |
| Millennial reign | Armageddon | Obey and worship Jesus — Isa 11:3-5; Zech 14:9, 16 | Final rebellion — Rev 20:7-9 | Satan loosed and eternal judgment — Rev 20:11-15 |
The accompanying diagram locates the last fulfilled event at Matt 27:50-51, the rapture of the saved at 1 Thess 4:13-18, and the return of Christ in glory at Rev 19:11-16. It also shows the seven-year tribulation between the church age and the millennial reign, followed by the great white throne and eternity future.
