2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:1

4:1 Paul now begins his final solemn charge to Timothy. He does so in the sight of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. All service should be carried out with the realization that it is watched by God’s all-seeing eye. In this verse, the Lord Jesus is spoken of as the One who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. The English word at might suggest that when the Savior returns to earth to set up His kingdom, there will be a general resurrection and a general judgment. But in the original the Greek word kata literally means according to or in accordance with.The Lord Jesus is the One who will judge the living and the dead, but no time is specified. Christ’s appearing and His kingdom are presented by Paul as motives for faithful service. We know from other Scriptures that the Second Coming of Christ is not the time when He will judge the living and the dead. The wicked dead will not be judged until the end of the Thousand-year Reign of Christ, according to Rev_20:5. The believer’s service will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but these rewards will be manifested at Christ’s appearing and His kingdom. It appears that rewards have to do with rule or administration during the Millennium. For instance, those who have been faithful will rule over ten cities (Luk_19:17). 4:2 In view of God’s present observation of His servants and of His future reward, Timothy should herald the word. He should do so with a sense of urgency, availing himself of every opportunity. The message is in season at all times, even when some might think it to be out of season. As a servant of Christ, Timothy will be called upon to convince, that is, to prove or refute. He will have to rebuke what is false. He will be required to exhort or encourage sinners to believe and saints to go on for the Lord. In all of this, he must be unfailing in patient longsuffering and in the faithful teaching of sound doctrine. 4:3 In verses 3-6, the apostle gives two strong reasons for the charge he has just given. The first is that there will be a general turning away from wholesome doctrine. The second is that Paul’s time of departure is at hand. The apostle foresees a time when people will show a positive distaste for health-giving teaching. They will willfully turn away from those who teach the truth of God’s word. Their ears will itch for doctrines that are pleasing and comfortable. To satisfy their lust for novel and gratifying doctrine, they will accumulate a group of teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. 4:4 The lust for inoffensive preaching will cause people to turn their ears away from the truth to myths. It is a poor exchangeto sacrifice truth for fablesbut this is the wretched reward of those who refuse sound doctrine. 4:5 To be watchful in all things really means to be sober in all things. Timothy should be serious in his work, temperate, and well-balanced. He should not shun afflictions but should suffer willingly whatever hardships might come to him in his service for Christ. There is some difference of opinion as to the expression do the work of an evangelist. Some think that Timothy actually was an evangelist and that here Paul was simply telling him to carry out this ministry. Others think that Timothy did not have the gift of evangelism, being perhaps a pastor or teacher, but that this should not prevent him from preaching the gospel as occasion arose. It seems likely that Timothy actually was an evangelist and that Paul’s words are simply an encouragement for him to be all that evangelists should be. In every respect, he should fulfill his ministry, devoting his finest talents to all the demands of his service. 4:6 The second reason for Paul’s solemn charge to Timothy was his own approaching death. He was now about to be poured out as a drink offering. He likens the shedding of his blood in martyrdom to the pouring out of a drink offering over a sacrifice (see Exo_29:40; Num_15:1-10). Paul had previously likened his death to a drink offering in Phi_2:17. Hiebert says: His whole life has been presented to God as a living sacrifice; now his death, comparable to the pouring out of the wine as the last act of the sacrificial ceremony, will complete the sacrifice.The time of my departure is at hand. The Greek word analusis (literally up loosing, whence English analysis), which Paul uses here to describe his departure, is a most expressive one, giving at least four different word pictures: (1) It was a seaman’s word, used of the unloosing of a ship from its anchorage. (2) It was a plowman’s word, denoting the unyoking of a weary team of animals after a hard day. (3) It was a traveler’s expression, suggesting the striking of a tent, preparatory to setting out on a march. (4) It was a philosopher’s term, signifying the solution (analysis) of a problem. Here again we see the richness of the imagery used by the great apostle. 4:7 At first glance, it might seem as if Paul were boasting in this verse. However, such is not the case. The thought is not so much that he had fought a good fight, but rather that he had fought and was still fighting the good fight, namely, the fight of faith. He had spent his energies in the good contest. Fight here does not necessarily mean combat, but might just as well indicate an athletic contest. Even as he wrote, he realized that the strenuous race was nearly over. He had been running on the course and was in sight of the goal. Then, too, Paul had kept the faith. This means not only that Paul himself had continued to believe in and obey the great doctrines of the Christian faith, but also that, as a steward, he had guarded the doctrine which had been committed to him and had passed it on to others in its original purity. 4:8 The apostle here expresses confidence that the righteousness which he had manifested in his service would be rewarded by the righteous Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Lord is here spoken of as the righteous Judge, but the thought is not that of a criminal court judge but of one at an athletic contest. Unlike earthly judges, He will have full and complete knowledge, He will not show respect of persons, He will evaluate motives as well as deeds, and His judgments will be accurate and impartial. The crown of righteousness is the garland (here, not a diadem) which will be given to those believers who have exhibited righteousness in their service. Indeed, it will be given to all those who have loved Christ’s appearing. If a man really longs with affection for the coming of Christ and lives in the light of that event, then his life will be righteous, and he will be rewarded accordingly. Here is a fresh reminder that the Second Coming of Christ, when truly believed and loved, exercises a sanctifying influence on one’s life.

2 Timothy 4:9

IV. PERSONAL REQUESTS AND REMARKS (4:9-22) 4:9 Paul, the aged, longs to have the companionship of his younger brother in the Lord. He therefore urges him to do his best to come to Rome in the near future. The apostle was feeling keenly the loneliness of his imprisonment in Rome. 4:10 One of the bitterest experiences in Christian service is to be forsaken by those who were formerly one’s fellow laborers. Demas had been a friend of Paul’s, a fellow believer, and a fellow worker. But now Paul was in prison, Christians were being persecuted, and the political climate was distinctly unhealthful for Christians. Instead of loving the Lord’s appearing, Demas fell in love with this present world, and so left Paul and departed for Thessalonica. This does not necessarily mean that Demas gave up his Christian profession and became an apostate. Neither does it mean that he was not a true believer. Possibly his fears for his personal safety caused him to become a backslider. The apostle then adds that Crescens had gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. There is no suggestion of blame in these words; perhaps they had gone to these places on Christian service. This is the only mention of Crescens (whose name means growing) in the Bible. We know nothing more about him. This should be an encouragement to all believers. No matter how humble their position in life may be, even an errand run for the Lord will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. 4:11 The beloved Doctor Luke was the only one who maintained contact with Paul in Rome. How much it must have meant to the apostle to have the spiritual encouragement and professional skill of this great man of God! And how thankful we can be for the latter part of verse 11! It holds encouragement to all of us who have failed the Lord in our service that He will yet give us another opportunity to go forth for Him. Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their First Missionary Journey, but then left them at Perga to return home. When it came time to go out on the Second Missionary Journey, Paul did not want to bring Mark along because of the young man’s previous retreat. When Barnabas insisted that Mark should accompany them, the matter was resolved by Paul’s leaving for Syria and Cilicia with Silas, while Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus. Later on, Paul and Mark were reconciled, and here the apostle specifically asks for Mark as one who is useful to him for ministry. 4:12 Those who believe that Timothy was in Ephesus when Paul wrote this Letter to him suggest that the apostle sent Tychicus to Ephesus as a replacement during Timothy’s approaching absence. They suggest that Paul’s meaning here is: But Tychicus I am commissioning to go to Ephesus.4:13 The cloak mentioned here may be either an outer garment or a bag used for carrying books. It is generally understood to refer to the former here. There is no agreement as to the difference between the books and the parchments. Were they portions of Scripture? Were they some of Paul’s Letters? Were they papers which he would be using at his trial? Were they blank pieces of papyrus or parchment which he wanted to use for writing? It is impossible to decide definitely. But the strong suggestion is that even in his imprisonment, the apostle wanted to keep busy with his writing and his reading. An interesting true story is told in connection with this apparently unimportant Bible verse. F. W. Newman, Cardinal Newman’s younger brother, once asked J. N. Darby how we could possibly be any the poorer if this verse were not in the Bible.

Was it not of temporary value only? Would anything be lost if Paul had never written it? Darby promptly replied: I would certainly have lost something; for this is the verse that saved me from selling my library. Every word, depend upon it, is from the Spirit, and is for eternal service.4:14 Alexander the coppersmith may have been the same one referred to by Paul in 1Ti_1:20 as having made shipwreck of the faith. In any event, he had done great harm to the apostle. We can only speculate as to the nature of his evil.

Linking this verse with the verses that follow, it seems probable that Alexander testified against the apostle and brought false charges against him. Conybeare and Howson translate: Alexander the coppersmith charged me with much evil. The apostle is confident that the Lord will repay him according to his works. 4:15 This verse anticipates Timothy’s arrival in Rome. He also must beware of Alexander, lest he, too, suffer at the hands of this evil man. It is not unlikely that Alexander greatly resisted Paul’s words by opposing his testimony at the public hearing. 4:16 Paul is probably still thinking of the events of the past few days. His first defense means the first opportunity which he was given to defend himself at this, his last trial. It does seem sad indeed that no one stood up to speak a word in behalf of this valiant apostle whose writings have enriched the subsequent centuries. No one would undertake his defense, but there is no bitterness in his heart for all that. Like the Savior before him, he prays that it might not be charged against them. 4:17 He may have been forsaken by men, but the Lord stood with him. Not only so, but he was divinely strengthened to preach the gospel at his trial. The message went forth without hindrance, and a Gentile law court heard the message of salvation. Stock marvels: All the Gentileswhat a throng of distinguished Romans may be included in that simple phrase!heard that day the message of God to mankind; all heard the Crucified and Exalted Jesus set forth as the One Savior. It is an overwhelming thought; the imagination fails to realize so tremendous a scene; it must have been one of the great moments of history; and what may not Eternity reveal to us of its results? The word strengthened in this verse is not a common one; it is found only eight times in the NT. It is used in Act_9:22 at the beginning of Paul’s public ministry: he increased … in strength. Here it is used again, but now at the end of his public ministrya touching reminder of the sustaining strength of the Lord throughout His servant’s life. The expression I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion is a way of saying that Paul was granted a temporary delay. The trial was continued. The danger was temporarily averted. Attempts have been made to identify the lion as Nero, the devil, and literal wild animals. But perhaps it is simpler to understand the word as meaning danger in general. 4:18 When the apostle said the Lord would deliver him from every evil work, he did not imply that he would be indefinitely delivered from execution. He knew that the time of his death was drawing near (v. 6). What then did he mean? Doubtless he meant that the Lord would save him from doing anything that would be a blot on the closing days of his testimony. The Lord would deliver him from recanting, from denying His name, from cowardice, or from any form of moral breakdown. Not only so, but Paul was sure that the Lord would preserve him for His heavenly kingdom. The heavenly kingdom refers not to Christ’s Millennial Reign on earth, but to heaven itself, where the rule of the Lord is acknowledged perfectly. Here the apostle bursts into an ascription of glory to God forever and ever. Forever and ever is literally to the ages of the ages and the words represent the strongest expression of eternality possible in the Greek language. Technically, there are no ages in eternity, but since the human mind has no conception of timelessness, it is compelled to use expressions of time. 4:19 Now Paul sends greetings to a married couple who had served with him often in the gospel. Prisca (or Priscilla) and Aquila first met Paul in Corinth, and then traveled with him to Ephesus. They lived for a time in Rome (Rom_16:3), and, like Paul, were tentmakers. Onesiphorus was previously mentioned in 2Ti_1:16 as one who had often refreshed the apostle and had not been ashamed of his imprisonment. 4:20 Perhaps Erastus is the same one who was treasurer of the city of Corinth (Rom_16:23). Trophimus is mentioned previously in Act_20:4 and Act_21:29. Converted in Ephesus, he had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. The Jews there thought that Paul had taken him into the temple. Here we read that Paul had left him in Miletus sick. This statement is important in showing that, although the apostle had the miraculous power of healing, he did not always use it. The miracle of healing was never employed as a matter of personal convenience, but rather as a testimony to unbelieving Jews as to the truth of the gospel. 4:21 Timothy should do his utmost to come before winter weather made travel difficult or impossible. His imprisoned friend in Rome needed his presence and was waiting for him. The repeated exhortations to Timothy to come are very touching (see 2Ti_1:3-4; 2Ti_4:9). Next we have greetings to Timothy from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. These names might seem of little consequence, but they are a touching reminder, as Rodgers says, that one of the special joys and privileges of Christian service is the way in which friendships are created and enriched.4:22 And now Paul brings his last Epistle to a close. Speaking to Timothy in particular, he says, The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Then, addressing all those who were with Timothy at the time he received the Letter, the apostle adds: Grace be with your spirit. Amen.Here he lays down his pen. The Letter is finished.

His ministry is ended. But the fragrance of his life and testimony abides with us still, and we shall meet him again and talk with him about the grand themes of the gospel and the church.