I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, Dr. Samuel Lee
PREACH THE WORD
Passage: 2Timothy 4:1~22  
Key verse: 2
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,(A) and in view of his appearing(B) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:(C) 2 Preach(D) the word;(E) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke(F) and encourage(G)—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.(H) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.(I) 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(J) 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(K) do the work of an evangelist,(L) discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(M) and the time for my departure is near.(N) 7 I have fought the good fight,(O) I have finished the race,(P) I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me(Q) the crown of righteousness,(R) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day(S)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(T)
Personal Remarks
9 Do your best to come to me quickly,(U) 10 for Demas,(V) because he loved this world,(W) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.(X) Crescens has gone to Galatia,(Y) and Titus(Z) to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke(AA) is with me.(AB) Get Mark(AC) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus(AD) to Ephesus.(AE) 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,(AF) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander(AG) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.(AH) 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(AI) 17 But the Lord stood at my side(AJ) and gave me strength,(AK) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(AL) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(AM) 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack(AN) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.(AO) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AP)
Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscilla[a] and Aquila(AQ) and the household of Onesiphorus.(AR) 20 Erastus(AS) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus(AT) sick in Miletus.(AU) 21 Do your best to get here before winter.(AV) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.[b]
22 The Lord be with your spirit.(AW) Grace be with you all.(AX)
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
- 2 Timothy 4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
Cross references
- 2 Timothy 4:1 : S Ac 10:42
- 2 Timothy 4:1 : ver 8; S 1Ti 6:14
- 2 Timothy 4:1 : 1Ti 5:21; 6:13
- 2 Timothy 4:2 : 1Ti 4:13
- 2 Timothy 4:2 : Gal 6:6
- 2 Timothy 4:2 : 1Ti 5:20; Tit 1:13; 2:15
- 2 Timothy 4:2 : Tit 2:15
- 2 Timothy 4:3 : S 1Ti 1:10
- 2 Timothy 4:3 : Isa 30:10
- 2 Timothy 4:4 : S 1Ti 1:4
- 2 Timothy 4:5 : 2Ti 1:8; 2:3, 9
- 2 Timothy 4:5 : Ac 21:8; Eph 4:11
- 2 Timothy 4:6 : Nu 15:1-12; 28:7, 24; Php 2:17
- 2 Timothy 4:6 : Php 1:23
- 2 Timothy 4:7 : S 1Ti 1:18
- 2 Timothy 4:7 : S 1Co 9:24; Ac 20:24
- 2 Timothy 4:8 : Col 1:5; 1Pe 1:4
- 2 Timothy 4:8 : S 1Co 9:25
- 2 Timothy 4:8 : S 2Ti 1:12
- 2 Timothy 4:8 : S 1Ti 6:14
- 2 Timothy 4:9 : ver 21; Tit 3:12
- 2 Timothy 4:10 : Col 4:14; Phm 24
- 2 Timothy 4:10 : 1Jn 2:15
- 2 Timothy 4:10 : S Ac 17:1
- 2 Timothy 4:10 : S Ac 16:6
- 2 Timothy 4:10 : S 2Co 2:13
- 2 Timothy 4:11 : Col 4:14; Phm 24
- 2 Timothy 4:11 : 2Ti 1:15
- 2 Timothy 4:11 : S Ac 12:12
- 2 Timothy 4:12 : S Ac 20:4
- 2 Timothy 4:12 : S Ac 18:19
- 2 Timothy 4:13 : S Ac 16:8
- 2 Timothy 4:14 : Ac 19:33; 1Ti 1:20
- 2 Timothy 4:14 : Ps 28:4; 109:20; Ro 2:6; 12:19
- 2 Timothy 4:16 : Ac 7:60
- 2 Timothy 4:17 : Ac 23:11
- 2 Timothy 4:17 : S Php 4:13
- 2 Timothy 4:17 : S Ac 9:15
- 2 Timothy 4:17 : 1Sa 17:37; Ps 22:21; Da 6:22; 1Co 15:32
- 2 Timothy 4:18 : Ps 121:7; 2Pe 2:9
- 2 Timothy 4:18 : ver 1
- 2 Timothy 4:18 : S Ro 11:36
- 2 Timothy 4:19 : S Ac 18:2
- 2 Timothy 4:19 : 2Ti 1:16
- 2 Timothy 4:20 : Ac 19:22
- 2 Timothy 4:20 : Ac 20:4; 21:29
- 2 Timothy 4:20 : Ac 20:15, 17
- 2 Timothy 4:21 : ver 9; Tit 3:12
- 2 Timothy 4:22 : S Gal 6:18
- 2 Timothy 4:22 : S Col 4:18
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Preach the Word (1-5)
In the presence of God and Christ, who will judge the living and the dead, Paul charged Timothy to preach the Word. Jesus will come again in glory and usher in his kingdom. In light of this sure fact, God's servants must preach the Word regardless of the times. We must teach the Bible with great patience and careful instruction, so that God's word may correct, rebuke and encourage. However, a time will come when people will reject God's word and only hear what pleases them. A servant of God must stay calm, endure hardship, preach the gospel, and serve God's flock.
2. Paul's exemplary life of faith (6-22)
Paul's life was poured out on the altar of sacrifice for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. Yet he had no regrets, but a sense of victory that he had fought the good fight, kept the faith and finished the race. He looked forward to a heavenly crown. Along his way, others encouraged and discouraged him, but always the Lord Jesus stood beside him, strengthening him to preach and rescuing him from grave harm.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to preach the Word, fight the good fight of faith, and look forward to a heavenly crown.
One Word: Preach the Word in season and out