Chapter 4

  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:  

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  preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.  

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  For 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;  

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  and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.  

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  But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.  

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  For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.  

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  I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.  

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  From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.  

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  Be diligent to come to me soon,  

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  for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.  

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  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministering.  

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  But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  

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  Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.  

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  Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works,  

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  of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.  

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  At my first defense, no one took my part, but all left me. May it not be held against them.  

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  But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  

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  And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me to his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  

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  Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.  

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  Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.  

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  Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.  

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  The Lord, Jesus Christ, be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.  

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