2 Preach the word; be diligent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap up to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. [1]
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly to me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and hath departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Luke only is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom beware thou also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. [2]
16 At my first defence no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 However the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
The second epistle to Timothy, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Titus.
Before
CHRIST,
A.D. 66.
CHAP. 1.
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is according to godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began; [3]
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4 To Titus, my own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: [4]
6 If any is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober minded, just, holy, temperate; [5]
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convict those who contradict. [6]
10 For there are many rebellious and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
