World English Bible · Under Rome
2 Timothy 4
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I command you therefore before and , who will judge the living and at his appearing and : preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all and teaching. 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, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an , and fulfill your ministry. For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the . From now on, the of is stored up for me, which , judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. Be diligent to come to me soon, for left me, having loved this present world, and went to ; to Galatia; and to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for . But I sent to . Bring the cloak that I left at with when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. the coppersmith did much evil to me. will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words. At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. But stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the might hear. So I was out of the of the lion. And will me from every evil work and will preserve me for his Kingdom. To him be the and ever. . Greet and Aquila, and the house of . remained at , but I left at sick. Be diligent to come before winter. salutes you, as do , , , and all the brothers. be with your . be with you. .
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.