Bible Diary - 2 Timothy 4:9-22
March 18, 2008
Paul apparently has had a couple of appearances in court to make his defense, but most of his supporters have left him alone before the authorities. The sole exception seems to be Luke. Paul knows by now how this last chapter in his earthly life will end, but he doesn’t flinch from it. He wants to see Timothy one more time. Paul must have been reconciled with Mark somewhere along the line, because he asks Timothy to bring Mark with him when he comes to visit. I may be forgetting something, but I don’t think Paul ever got his reunion with Timothy and Mark.
Travel Plans and Concluding Greetings
4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon. 4:10 For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry. 4:12 Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 4:13 When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments. 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds. 4:15 You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words. 4:16 At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it. 4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth! 4:18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.
4:19 Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus. 4:21 Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. 4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
I admit to feeling pretty smug and safe from having to undergo anything like what Paul had to endure. As usual for one whose life is hidden with Christ in God, this feeling is an admixture of faith and presumption, faith the free gift of the risen Lord and presumption the result of not really knowing what tomorrow will bring.
Paul ends his letter with greetings and a benediction, and that is the last we hear from the Apostle, if it is true that 2 Timothy is the last of Paul’s letters. Tradition has it that Paul was martyred by Nero on his second visit to Rome.
Dave, curious about what Alexander the coppersmith did.
-sdg-
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Grandpa,
I wonder about that too. I am really looking forward to getting a chance to read F.F. Bruces “Paul Apostle of the Heart Set Free” that my Uncle Vince gave me at my last visit. Have you read any Bruce?
I have that book by Bruce in my library. It’s a classic. Highly recommended. Another good one is “The Apostle: A Life of Paul” by John Pollock. One chapter heading is “XIII : Dear Idiots of Galatia.” Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia fairly sizzles with indignation. Good stuff.