2 Timothy 4:1-22
Paul and Timothy
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Personal Remarks
9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Paul was a teacher to many...But it seems that if Paul had a favorite student it was Timothy...Timothy was a son of a Jewess...Two of our New Testament books are St. Paul's letters to Timothy...He also wrote a letter to Titus...Paul gave Timothy (and Titus) great instructions on how to preach the Word of Jesus...He gave them his perspective...Paul was a Pharisee very knowledgeable in Scripture... Paul gave them the foundation of his skill set and helped them hone their own qualifications to preach the good news...Timothy would travel with Paul on many of his missions...Timothy was Paul's true son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2)...
Paul had a group of people that helped him spread the word throughout the Roman Empire...Here he mentions Timothy, Titus, Luke, Priscilla, Aquila, Onesiphorus, Erastus, Trophimus, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia...Paul worked with these early apostles and helped spread the word throughout the Roman Empire and the world...Paul helped teach them the Word and gospel of Jesus Christ...He also taught them about the resurrection of Jesus...Paul knew about the resurrection when Jesus converts him on the road to Damascus...Jesus had died, and Paul sees a vision of our Savior on his way to Damascus...Then Paul goes on to meet with Peter, one of Jesus' leading disciples, and James, who is Jesus' half brother...Paul, Peter, and James would all preach the gospel of Jesus very courageously after they see Jesus after His resurrection...These early believers would be part of the group that got Jesus' word out that would be spread throughout the world...They would be a big part of why His word is still read, studied, and believed two thousand years later...
It seems weeks and months after Jesus death many of religious rituals were abandoned because of Jesus...The sacrifice of animals is the first to come to mind...Many Jews changed from kosher or clean foods, to what was considered unclean foods...Jesus life, death, and resurrection on earth changed things...
Paul seems to near his death in his letter to Timothy...He writes he has fought the good fight...He says I have finished the race and I have kept the faith...He writes that a crown of righteousness is waiting for him, which the LORD, our Righteous Judge will award him on that day...We cannot forget as we read these verses when they were written that this is "just" (although to use the word "just" is not fair to St. Paul and all believers) a letter to Timothy...Timothy would no doubt be reading his letter and be worrying about his great friend and teacher St. Paul, who soon would be with his and our LORD...