JMNT(i)
1 I am habitually giving thorough witness (or: constantly testifying and showing evidence in every direction), in the sight of God – even Christ Jesus: the One now being about to be progressively separating living folks and dead folks (or: continuously making a decision about or judging living ones and dead ones) down from (in accord with; corresponding to; in the sphere of; in respect to; in line with; [other MSS: even]) His full manifestation and His reign (or: [with other MSS: and then] His added display as well as His sovereign kingdom activity).
2 Herald (Proclaim; Preach) the Word (The Logos; the idea; the thought; the reason; the message); stand upon [it; or: It; Him] in season or out of season (if the situation fits favorably, if the conditions are not favorable; whether convenient or not); test and put to the proof; show further honor (give higher value; assess greater worth; or, negatively: respectfully charge; strongly admonish; enjoin); within every emotion which is long in arriving (in all long-suffering patience), and by teaching (or: in union with instruction and training) give aid, relief, comfort and encouragement as you call [others] to your side (perform as a paraclete).
3 For you see, there will be an appointed season (a situation; a fitting period of time) when they will not continue holding up to themselves (or: sustaining; holding themselves upright by; holding themselves up in; or: putting up with; tolerating) instruction (teaching and training) that is being continuously healthy and sound, but rather, they, habitually having their ear gratified by rubbing, scratching or tickling (having their hearing titillated; hearing what their ears itch to hear; or, as a middle: constantly procuring pleasurable excitement by indulging an itching) will progressively pile and heap upon themselves (accumulate for themselves) teachers in line with and corresponding to their own rushing emotions (over-desires; full passions),
4 and then, on the one hand, they will proceed to twist the ear (or: the hearing) and turn away from the Truth and reality, yet on the other hand, they will be progressively turned out (have their [steps] turned out of [the Path] into a direction) upon the myths (fictions; legends; speeches; rumors; stories; tales; fables; things delivered by word of mouth).
5 Yet you – you be habitually sober (not intoxicated [by such things]; clear-headed and steady) within all things and among all people; experience the bad and the ugly (or: suffer the evil and the worthless) [A adds: as an ideal (beautiful; fine; excellent) soldier of Christ Jesus]; perform [the] act (do [the] deed; produce the action; construct a work) of one who brings goodness and well-being and announces ease and good news (or: act [like] a man who has good news to tell); be fully bent on and bring your attending service to full measure, with complete assurance and absolute certainty!
6 You see, I, myself, am already being progressively poured out as a drink offering, and the fitting situation (the season; the occasion) of my loosing up (or: my kairos of loosening again [the tent pegs and ropes, or, the ship moorings]; or: the situation of my dissolution [as in breaking camp]) has taken its stand upon [its appointed place] and is imminent.
7 I have contended the beautiful contest in the racecourse (or: I have with agony struggled, wrestling in the ideal combat {the fine fight} in the public games); I have finished the race (ended the racecourse; reached the goal of my contest; I have fought to the finish); I have kept (observed; watched over; guarded; kept in custody) the faith, trust, confidence and loyalty.
8 For the rest (or: Finally; Henceforth) the winner's wreath of the Course having been pointed out (the athlete's laurel wreath consisting of the rightwised relationship in fair and equitable dealings, and pertaining to the justice of right behavior on the course; or: = the wreath from covenant inclusion and participation) continues laid away for me (or: is presently reserved in me), which the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh], the Fair (Equitable; Just; Rightwising; [Covenant]) Judge [of the games], will proceed to pay to (or: award in) me within the sphere of that Day – yet not only to me! ... but further, also, to all those (or: in everyone) being ones having loved His full appearance in Light (or: the complete manifestation of Him; His fully bringing things to light; the shining upon things pertaining to Him; His full and accurate manifestation).
9 Make haste with earnest endeavor and diligence to come to me quickly,
10 for you see, Demas, loving the present age, forsook and abandoned me and went into Thessalonica; Crescens into Galatia; Titus into Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Picking up Mark, be bringing [him] with you, for he continues being very useful to me, with a view to attending service
12 – now I sent off Tychicus with a mission into Ephesus –
13 [and] in coming, be bringing the traveling cloak, which I left behind in Toras with Carpus, and the little scrolls – especially the parchment notebooks (or: vellum [note: which is made from dressed animal skins]). [note: the Greek 'phailones/phelones', here translated "traveling cloak, " literally means "bark." The Syriac version renders it "valise; book carrier." Vincent notes that the 5th century lexicographer Hesychius (of Alexandria) explained this word as a "case." He also says Phrynicus (3rd century) describes it as a receptacle for books or other things, and that this word "a wrapper of parchments" was translated figuratively in Latin by toga or paenula "a cloak." Nevertheless, Vincent and most other scholars stay with the traditional rendering, "cloak."]
14 Alexander the coppersmith (or: metalworker) displayed many bad (worthless; evil) things [in his behavior] to me – the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] will continue awarding to him (or: giving back in him; paying back for him) corresponding to his works (down from his deeds and on the level of his actions)
15 – from whom you, yourself, also be constantly guarding yourself against, for he stands (or: stood) in opposition to our words (or: thoughts, ideas and messages).
16 Within my first verbal defense no one happened to be beside me (no one came along with me), but rather, all forsook (abandoned; other MSS: were forsaking and abandoning) me – may it not be put to their account (may it not be counted against them)!
17 Yet the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] took a stand beside me (or: stood alongside in me) – and He empowered me (enabled me; gave me inward ability), to the end that through me the message that is being heralded (the contents of the public proclamation) would (or: may; could) be fully carried throughout with complete assurance, to full measure, and with absolute certainty, and so [that] all the ethnic multitudes (nations; Gentiles; Goyim; non-Jews) would (could; may) hear [it] – and I was dragged (or: drawn) from out of the mouth of a lion!
18 The Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] will continue dragging (or: drawing) me away from every harmful act (malicious or evil work) and will continue delivering me into the midst of the reign and kingdom – the one [having dominion] upon the heavens (or: into the realm of His activities and way of doing things: the one [exercising authority] upon, and which can be compared to, the atmosphere) – which is from Him and belongs to Him, in Whom [is] the glory (or: for Whom [is] the reputation; by Whom [is] the manifestation of that which calls forth praise; to Whom [is] the good opinion), on into the ages of the ages (or: into the principle ages which consummate all the ages; into the obscure time periods of the ages). It is so! (Amen)
19 Embrace Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus, as you give them my greetings.
20 Erastus remains in Corinth, but Trophimus, continuing weak in sickness, I left behind in Miletus.
21 – Make haste with earnest endeavor and diligence to come before winter (the rainy and stormy season)! – Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers (= fellow believers) each send hugs and good wishes.
22 The Lord [= Yahweh or Christ; A reads: Jesus; others: Jesus Christ] [is] with your spirit ([is] in accompany with your breath)! Grace and favor [are] with you folks. It is so! (Amen.) [written circa A.D. 58 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]