1Zaklinjem te pred Bogom i pred Kristom Isusom koji će doći suditi žive i mrtve, zaklinjem te njegovim dolaskom i njegovim kraljevstvom: 2uporno propovijedaj Božju riječ bila za to prigoda ili ne. Upozoravaj ljude na grijeh, strogo ih kori, ali ih i hrabri strpljivo ih poučavajući.
3Jer doći će vrijeme kad ljudi više neće htjeti slušati zdravo učenje. Povodit će se za vlastitim željama te sebi naći mnoštvo učitelja koji će im govoriti ono što će goditi njihovim ušima. 4Odvraćat će uho od istine te ići za bajkama.
5Ali ti budi u svemu trijezan. Podnesi patnje, propovijedaj Radosnu vijest. Ispuni u potpunosti dužnost koju ti je Bog dao.
Pavlove posljednje riječi
6A ja se već prinosim za žrtvu ljevanicu. Približio se trenutak moje smrti. 7Dobro sam se borio za svojega Gospodina, istrčao sam trku i ostao mu vjeran. 8Pripravljen mi je vijenac pravednosti koji će mi Gospodin, pravedni sudac, dati na dan svojega dolaska. Dat će ga svima koji s ljubavlju iščekuju njegov slavni dolazak.
9Požuri se što brže doći k meni. 10Dema me je zbog ljubavi prema ovome svijetu ostavio i otišao u Solun. Krescencije je otišao u Galaciju, a Tit u Dalmaciju. 11Sa mnom je još samo Luka. Povedi sa sobom Marka kad dođeš jer mi je koristan za služenje. 12Tihika sam poslao u Efez. 13Donesi mi, kad dođeš, kabanicu koju sam ostavio u Troadi kod Karpa. Donesi i knjige, osobito pergamene.
14Kovač Aleksandar mi je nanio mnogo zla. Gospodin će mu platiti prema njegovim djelima. 15I ti ga se čuvaj jer se jako protivio našemu propovijedanju.
16Kad su me prvi put izveli pred sud, nitko nije bio uz mene. Svi su me napustili. Neka im Bog to ne uračuna u krivnju! 17Ali Gospodin je bio sa mnom i dao mi je snage da propovijedam Radosnu vijest u svoj punini, da ju čuju svi pogani. Izbavio me iz lavljih ralja. 18Gospodin će me izbaviti od svakoga zlog napada i sačuvati me za svoje nebesko kraljevstvo. Neka mu je slava uvijeke. Amen.
Posljednji pozdravi
19Pozdravi Prisku i Akvilu te Oneziforove ukućane. 20Erast je ostao u Korintu, a Trofima sam bolesnoga u Miletu ostavio.
21Požuri da stigneš ovamo prije zime. Pozdravljaju te Eubul, Pudencije, Lino, Klaudija i sva braća i sestre.
22Neka Gospodin bude s tvojim duhom. Milost s vama!
1I 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. 2Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people’s mistakes. Warn them. Encourage them with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully. 3The time will come when people won’t put up with true teaching. Instead, they will try to satisfy their own desires. They will gather a large number of teachers around them. The teachers will say what the people want to hear. 4The people will turn their ears away from the truth. They will turn to stories that aren’t true. 5But 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.
6I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time when I will leave is near. 7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8Now 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.
Personal Words
9Do your best to come to me quickly. 10Demas 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. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He helps me in my work for the Lord. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring my coat. I left it with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books. Most of all, bring the ones made out of animal skins.
14Remember Alexander, the one who works with metal. He did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he has done. 15You too should watch out for him. He strongly opposed our message.
16The first time I was put on trial, no one came to help me. Everyone deserted me. I hope they will be forgiven for it. 17The Lord stood at my side. He gave me the strength to preach the whole message. Then all the Gentiles heard it. I was saved from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will save me from every evil attack. He will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Give him glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19Greet Priscilla and Aquila. Greet those who live in the house of Onesiphorus.
20Erastus stayed in Corinth. I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21Do your best to get here before winter.
Eubulus greets you. So do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.
22May the Lord be with your spirit. May God’s grace be with you all.
