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.
Paul's farewell letter in Second Timothy represents Paul's final letter written just before his death during the apostle's second Roman imprisonment. The apostle had no hope of release since his departure was imminent (4:6). The letter is deeply personal. Paul desires to impart some final instructions to Timothy. Moreover, although Paul is courageous in the face of his coming death, it is clear that he is lonely and longs to see Timothy one last time.
Unfortunately, Timothy, Paul's protégé and pastor at Ephesus, had become passive in his ministerial calling. Several reasons account for Timothy's non-assertiveness including his youthfulness (1 Tim 4:12), sickliness (1 Tim 5:23), and natural timidity (1:7). The Neronian persecution as well as Paul's recent arrest also played a role in Timothy's intimidation (1:8). As the baton of spiritual truth was being passed from the apostolic generation, the Church was in a precarious position. Christian truth ran the risk of succumbing to error, and false teaching had Timothy's generation not aggressively pursued their spiritual roles. Thus, for the sake of his spiritual heirs, Paul wrote 2 Tim for the purpose of encouraging Timothy not to shy away from fulfilling his calling.
First, Paul calls Timothy to courage (1:6), to use his spiritual gift (1:7), and to not be ashamed of the gospel (1:8-14). Paul even uses Timothy's heritage (1:1-5) as well as various personal examples (1:15-18) to motivate Timothy. In chapter two, Paul provides ten metaphors describing faithful endurance. Next, Paul warns of the coming apostasy (3:1‒4:8). After giving the general characteristics of apostasy (3:1-9, 12-13), the apostle then instructs Timothy regarding how to cope in the midst of it. Timothy must imitate Paul's endurance (3:10-11) and preach Scripture (3:14‒4:8). Paul concludes by noting the times that God had met the deepest needs in his own life (4:9-22). If God had helped Paul in this way, He would do the same for Timothy. Thus, Timothy can boldly go forward in doing what God has called him to do.