2 Timothy 4:6-22 Bible Teaching

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Alright so we left off with Paul entering the conclusion of his 2nd Epistle to Timothy and says

2nd Timothy 4.6-end
December 20th 2020
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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 unto all them also that love his appearing.

9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke 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 be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding 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 unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I 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 unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.]

Alright back to verse 6 – let’s plow through this as Paul now says:

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

There’s that phrase, “at hand,” and it means that Paul was not going to be around physically for very much longer.

When he writes that he is ready to be offered it seems to refer to the fact that he was not going to die from natural causes but as a sacrifice that would be slain – which history supports.

When he writes “For I am now ready to be offered,” the meaning we get in English is not the intent of Paul.

For it sounds like he is saying that he has accepted this plight and was ready for it but the Greek appears to mean that he was saying only that his death as in the ready, not that he himself was ready to go.

When he writes that his departure is at hand the word departure means dissolving so he refers to the dissolution or undoing of his body, similar to casting off the lines that hold a ship at port.
And at verse 7 he adds:

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

In his first epistle to Timothy he likened the Christian walk to that of a noble warfare where believers are engaged with the conflict of sin, the flesh, and the surrounding world.

Paul seems to appeal to this warfare here and adds that he had, fought the good fight, and then mixing metaphors says, “I have finished my course,” referring to another comparison used to describe the Christian life – that of a foot race. And Paul describes himself as finishing it, having “kept the faith.”

He fought the flesh, ran the race, and kept the faith – a really good summary of a well lived Christian life. And so he adds:

8 Henceforth (meaning, moreover, or there remains the following) 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 unto all them also that love his appearing.

Just as there was a crown held in reserve for those who had successfully wrestled or ran races in the Grecian games, Paul says that as a result of his doing the same as a follower of Christ, there remained a crown waiting to be bestowed upon him.

This would not be a physical actual crown but Paul calls it a “crown of righteousness.”

I take this reference, crown of righteousness, to be either:

A reward of righteousness that is actually bestowed upon Paul at that time, or
The recognition of righteousness given for having ran the good race and fought the good fight.

I honestly do not know which way to see it as a crown (of sorts) awarded for his efforts to live righteously or as righteousness actually bestowed upon Him – perhaps it was both!

Whatever it was it was the appropriate heavenly God-given reward for his efforts (remember, he speaks of his race, his fight, his keeping the faith) while on earth – and makes no bones about there being a reward or recognition bestowed upon him for such.

Who would bestow this distinction? Paul says:

“Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me.”

We accept this by faith, don’t we? We anticipate in faith that God will bestow upon every person what they deserve without any respect of persons.

Then Paul makes the usual reference to when this bestowal would occur:

At that day, that singular day, meaning when he would come to judge the world.

That day he mentions is described in detail to them/then in Matthew 25:1-46 where Jesus likens that day of judgment to the ten virgins, to the parable of the talents, and to the sheep and goats.

But Paul adds that the rewards or crown he expected to receive would not be to him alone, or as he puts it, “and not to me only,” but would be extended, “unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Once again we have Paul tying the judgement to them/then to the appearing of Christ to them as he promised. And he says that Christ would be rewarding those also who love his appearing. Obviously there would be those who did not care, anticipate or desire to see Jesus returning to the earth and there would also be those who would rejoice that he had. It is to the latter he refers and so we know that he means true Christians as they would primarily be the ones rejoicing in his appearance.

At this point he returns to Timothy as the subject and delivers some more final advice and een housekeeping directives, saying

9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

As soon as its possible come to me. This line suggests to us a few things – especially in context with what he will say in the next verses.

First, this suggests that Timothy’s work there was not to be permanent. To go to Rome would have taken a significant amount of time and if he was permanently assigned to Ephesus (as the Catholics maintain calling him the first Bishop) it is doubtful that Paul would have instructed him to go to him.

Second, and in harmony with this, some believe that it is doubtful that Timothy returned to Ephesus once he left to go see Paul.

Third, we would be surprised by Paul’s desire for Timothy to go to him, even though he was abandoned by most, was going through trials, was about to be put to death, and wanted his coat and papers, if his job at Ephesus was so important and permanent.

Timothy had been Paul’s travelling companion, and was his intimate friend. The request was probably saying:

When you have got things settled and established there in Ephesus, diligently electing Elders and Deacons and such, then leave and come see me one last time.
He adds some reasoning for his request though in verse 10 saying:

10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Demas is mentioned favorably in Colossians 4:14 but here not so much. It seems he was once dedicated but at this point left the ministry for Thessalonica.

We might be tempted to read the line, “Having loved this present world,” but it is probably just saying that he wanted to live and being associated with Paul was going to end up in death. I say this because the Greek is better read, “having loved the world that now is; that is, this world as it is, with all its cares, and troubles, and comforts; having desired to remain in this world, rather than go to the other.”

Paul mentions Crescens going to Galatia – of whom we know nothing about except what is written here, and then, “Titus unto Dalmatia.”

Paul does not mention the reason why Titus had gone there: but it is not improbable that he had gone to preach the gospel, or to visit the churches which Paul had planted in that region. He adds:

11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Luke, the author of the gospel which bears his name, and of the Acts of the Apostles was for a considerable time a travelling companion of Pauls and from Acts 27:1 we know that he went with him to Rome. Then Paul adds, “Take Mark,” which means, “Bring Mark with you.”

We know from Acts 15:37 that Paul had a falling out with Mark (or John Mark). He was the son of a sister of Barnabas, and had been the travelling companion of Barnabas and Paul when he disappointed Paul and there was a division. Why he was with Timothy we are not told. But the fact that he requests that Timothy bring Mark with him to see Paul in Rome suggests the breach between them had been bridged or maybe that Paul was asking for him to make sure there were no hard feeling existing between them.

Can’t completely tell, but the added line in reference to Mark, “For he is profitable to me for the ministry,” indicates good feelings toward him from Paul and perhaps an intention to give him more assignments once he saw him face to face.

12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

In Ephesus 6:21, Paul calls Tychicus “a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord.”

It appears that Paul sent him into another field of labor and is simply describing the fact that he was gone and Paul was alone.

13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

In 2nd Timothy 4 Paul mentions that winter was coming. It is assumed that Paul was asking for a cloak in the sence of an article of clothing. Some scholars believe that, due to the Greek, this was a bag for carrying books – can’t truly say so I am going to stick with the former.

Whatever the case, Paul asks Timothy to take a less direct route to him in Rome as a means to pick up the cloak. That it was with one Carpus who we have never read about before or will read about after.

He adds, “And the books.” Don’t know what books they were but they were desired by Paul to have and he adds:

“Especially the parchments.” The word here used, (which means, membrane,) occurs only in this place in the New Testament, and means skin, membrane, or parchment.

Skins were among the earliest materials for writing, and were in common use before the art of making paper from rags was discovered. These “parchments” seem to have been something different from “books,” and, probably, refer to some of his own writings. Impossible now to determine what they were so why try. (Verse 14)

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

It is believed that this man is also mentioned in 1st Timothy 1:20 which we covered. He was a brazier of metals who, Paul says, “did him much evil,” what that evil was we do not know but Paul adds, “the Lord reward him according to his works,” which was a written prayer for God to deal justly with the man,” but Paul adds at verse 15:

15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Apparently Alexander was still a teacher that was out publicly and therefore remained a threat as Paul says that he has greatly “withstood our words,” meaning most likely the words the Apostles shared relative to the Gospel.

And from this it seems that Alexander’s crimes were not necessarily applicable to Paul’s person but to his ministry and mission. At verse 16 Paul goes into some depth and appears to refer to his first trial or difficulty before the Roman Emperor, saying:

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

The English phrase here, “my first answer,” is taken from the word, apology or apologia, meaning plea or defense and again it evidently refers to some trial which he had had before the Roman emperor.

Whatever the event or trial was, Paul says, “no man stood with me.”

From 2nd Timothy 4:21 and Romans 16 it seems that Paul had many friends in Rome but apparently none of the them were willing to appear with him when he went on trial probably because they feared being associated with his person publicly.

It is a strange topic in some ways, but the Bible does present several characters who were abandoned by their family and friends – and I think that any sold out seeker of truth will experience the same.

Job
David
Jeremiah
Psalmist
Paul
And of course, Jesus.

In Job 19:13-17 we read:

“He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance verily are estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed. And my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwelt in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger, I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, Though I entreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.”

Several times we read how the Psalmist was forsaken by his friends in the time of calamity.

Psalm 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

As a prophecy of Christ, Psalm 41:9 says

“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

And Psalm 55:12 bitterly addresses the hurt of friends turning on us, saying:

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Of course speaking prophetically of the Savior, Zechariah 13:6 reads:

“And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”

In John 16:32, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”

And having eaten their last meal Jesus said to the disciples beginning at Mark 14:27:

27 All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

But of course outside the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was surrounded and it was evident that he was going to be taken we read in Matthew 26:56

“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”

Our world is full of stories where devoted friends have stuck by or abandoned others in the face of great trials and difficulty more often than not leaving the heroes and heroines to suffer alone.

But this is most often the case when it comes to principles of truth in the faith. If fact, I think seekers of truth can pretty much expect their friends in the faith to turn on them and run – but this is nothing new is it?

Its funny, but friendships of the shallowest sort are formed in times of health and wealth and fame, but these allegiances fade in strength was those things fade or wane.

True friends are those who step up to the plate when times get tough – and most of us know that such people are a rarity in the course of life.

All we can do is learn what kind of friend to be, and not be, and pursue that course in life.

So back to Paul, while he stood without friends in this initial trial, he says at verse 17.

17 Notwithstanding 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.

Though all men forsook Him The LORD Jesus did not – which is one of the most beautiful things about a relationship with God through Christ – we are never alone.

He is a faithful friend. We don’t speak much of the value of a real true friend in theological realms as the topic almost seems to belong in secular conversations. But genuine friendship is a vital component of being a Christian.

In John 15:12-15 Jesus Himself said to his disciples:

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

I believe in friendship and I believe central to genuine friendship is allegiance, support, time and attention toward the soul ESPECIALLY when times are tough, the chips are down, and things are bad.

To me, Christians ought to make the best friends in the world, not the worst, not the most conditional, not the most demanding or mercurial. Because of our love from God is the source of our allegiance our friendship toward others ought to not be based on what we can get but on what we can give; not on conditions but on non-conditions.

Why? Isn’t that what Jesus does with us? He doesn’t abandon us when we need him most – he joins us, loves us more, stands with us when all else fails.

Verse 17 tells us that the Lord

“stood by Paul”
“And he strengthened Paul”
“So that by him the preaching might be fully known”
“and the gentiles would hear”
“and he escaped the mouth of the Lion”

All facets to what a good friend will also accomplish in their love toward others, they will

Stand by and with them
They will strengthen them
Help the do what they are called to do
To be successful and to help them “escape from their enemies.”

(in this case, the mouth of the lion, which specifically speaks to Nero).

It was not uncommon in the Scriptures to compare tyrants and persecutors with ravenous wild beasts. (Psalm 22:13,21; Jeremiah 2:30). Nero is called a lion by Seneca so the common interpretation here has been, that this refers to Nero himself and/or the lions he may have thrown Christians to.

Paul continues and says

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Which is a great wrap up statement of faith and trust in the Lord and what he will do in the lives of all whom are Him.

And then we have another attempt to wrap this letter up with Paul mentioning others in the process, saying:

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

Prisca, or Priscilla, was the wife of Aquila, though her name is sometimes mentioned first. They were at Rome when Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans, but afterwards went into Asia Minor, which was the native place of Aquila (according to Acts 18:2) which is where they probably died.

And the household of Onesiphorus, who was a character we read about in 2nd Timothy 1:16. He adds

20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

It seems that when Paul went to Rome, there was some expectation that Erastus would accompany him, but that events occurred that caused him to remain at Corinth and then Paul adds,

“But Trophimus,” who according to Acts 20:4 was a native of Asia Minor, Paul left at Miletum ill.

He probably intended to accompany Paul to Rome, as he had on other journeys. What is insightful here is that a companion of the Apostle was sick and the Apostle himself was not able to do anything about it. This speaks volumes to those who think that they can commandeer the Gospel and pray away any ailment with enough faith.

Paul adds

21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

Try to get here before winter either because of navigational dangers and/or the fact that he would have had possession of Paul’s cloak (J/K)

He mentions four more names and then includes the general reference of “and all the brethren,” and of the specific four names, we only know of . . . none of them!

Paul now concludes the second epistle to Timothy by writing:

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. <>

“The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit,” is how he concludes his letter to Galatia. And some could conclude from this that human beings have a personal spirit (pneuma) and not just a soul (psuche).

And of course the subscription to this epistle was not added by Paul himself, nor is there any evidence that it was by an inspired man, so it is of no authority. There is not the slightest evidence that Timothy was “ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians,” or that he was a “bishop” there at all so this addition to scripture, presumably by the Catholics, has zero authority – at least from inspiration of God.

Next week, Titus!

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