2 Timothy 4

1. I am giving you a serious assignment Timothy, in the sight of God and of Jesus who will judge the living and the dead when He appears in His kingdom.

Timothy had done a lot of smaller jobs in the ministry, such as delivering messages. He was now ready to be trusted with more important jobs.

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. Luke 16:10

Whoever wants to be first among you must become your servamt. Matthew 20:27

2. Preach the Word! Be ready when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. Reprove, correct, encourage and use a lot of patience when you are teaching.

We have not been called to talk about our own imaginations, or some ideas that we heard from somewhere else. We are called to bring attention to God's words.

Sometimes you feel like working in the ministry and sometimes you do not, but your life is not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:20

We do not go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5

3 – 4

For the time is coming when men will not listen to healthy teaching, but they will want to have their itching ears scratched. They will look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and will wander away, listening to stories about someone's imaginations.

Paul is talking about the members of the church where Timothy has been teaching. The time that Paul said would come has now come to the church. Many in the church have traded the hearing of the word of God for entertainment. There is no doubt that Jesus is saying, "Take these things out of my Father's house!"

5. You need to have a serious, balanced mind. Be patient as hard things come your way. Keep on preaching the Gospel and complete your ministry.

It is hard to live the way God wants you to if you are trying to be something that you are not. If you are called to do a certain job then do it, and do not try to do something that you were not called to do.

The reason this will not work is because you cannot do something with complete faith and trust in God unless you were called to do it. When you are doing something that you were not called to do it means that you are pushing away the thing that you are supposed to be doing.

It is impossible to please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6

6. As for me, I am ready to be poured out as a drink offering, and the time for me to leave this earth has come.

A tombstone was found in a graveyard which said, "Here lies one against his will."

Paul did not face death against his will but he said, "I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13

Paul knew that Roman citizens were not crucified. He knew that he would be beheaded, and was thinking of this as one of the Old Testament sacrifices.

7. It has been a strain on me, but I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.

For the love of Christ pulls us along... 2 Corinthians 5:14

8. In the future crown of righteousness is waiting for me, which the Lord (the true Judge) will give me in that day and not only to me but to all those who love what they have seen in Him.

There are interesting things waiting for anyone who studies the various crowns of heaven listed in the Bible.

But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

9 – 10

Do your best to come to me as soon as you can. Demas, loving this present world, has left me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus is in Croatia (Yugoslavia).

Demas - other friends were running for their lives, and Paul could understand this, but Demas was running to the world.

Crescens - worked as a scribe for Polycarp (a student of the apostle John) and could have written down Polycarp's letter to the Philippians. Paul might easily have a reason for sending a disciple to visit his old churches in Galatia. Crescens was murdered under the Emperor Trajan.

Titus - If you study the life of Titus and the adventures that he had with Paul, you can find out what kind of man he was.

Titus went with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative to Corinth. 2 Corinthians 8:16-17

11. Only Luke is with me. Find Mark and bring him with you, he is useful to me in the ministry.

Maybe Paul was allowed to have Luke stay with him as a doctor because he had some medical problem?

Some teachers say that Luke wrote the book of Acts as a testimony to be used in Paul's first trial and that is why he stops in Acts chapter 28 because no more information was needed for the trial.

We see that Paul had forgiven Mark for the past and had given him another chance. Acts 15:37 – 39

12. I sent Tychicus to you in Ephesus.

Tychicus was one of Paul's closest helpers. Paul was letting Timothy know that Tychicus was on the way to Ephesus so that Timothy could come to Rome.

13. When you come bring the cloak I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the scrolls.

Paul may have wanted to use some of the things he had written to defend himself at his trial. He may have also wanted a copy of the Scriptures and other books.

There is a story of Paul's teacher, Gamaliel, saying that Paul was always asking for more books.

Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is making you crazy!” Acts 26:24

14 – 15

Alexander the coppersmith did me a lot of harm. The Lord will reward him for what he did. Be on your guard against him yourself, he is a bitter enemy of our teaching.

Jews were not able to build a case until the fire of Rome, and they found Alexander as a willing witness against Paul. There is no way to prove that this man is the same one mentioned in Acts 19:33. All we can know is that whatever he said caused a lot of trouble for Paul.

The Jewish rebellion was going on as of A.D. 66 so Paul was now more likely to be charged with treason against Rome since he was a Jew.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

16. The first time I had to defend myself, no one was on my side of the courtroom. They all left me -God forgive them!

At Paul's first time before the court, the accusations of Paul being a leader of those who started the fire in Rome were dropped because he was not in Rome at the time. Tradition says that at Paul's second court trial he was tried as a leader of rebellion and treason against Nero.

Paul may have asked some of his friends testify in court for him. They did not reject Paul's teaching but were running for their lives

But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; acts 9:15

But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also. Acts 23:11

Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. Acts 27:24

But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. Matthew 10:19

17. But the Lord Himself stood with me in the courtroom and gave me the strength to preach to bring the clear message so that all the Gentiles could hear and I was rescued from the “beast.”

We can guess that the word “beast” is a code word for Nero. It cannot mean that Paul escaped from being thrown to the lions, because Roman citizens were not given the death sentence in that way.

The Book of Acts shows us that Paul never missed a chance to bring the Gospel to kings and rulers, just as Jesus told him to. History shows that shortly after Paul shared the Gospel in court and was killed, Nero became completely insane. The truth of the Gospel and the guilt of his crimes drove Nero into more and more evil. He was killed by his own people while his guards backed away. See Acts 24:10, Acts 26:28.

18. I am sure the Lord will rescue me from every evil plan and will keep me safe until I reach His heavenly kingdom. Glory be to Him forever and ever. Amen!

Paul is saying that God rescued him at his first trial that false false witnesses will not be able to hurt him anymore. God will take him home in His own time.

19. Give my love to Priscilla and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.

Some Bible teachers and traditions say that Onesiphorus was killed because of his friendship with Paul. They say this because Paul does not send a greeting to Onesiphorus but to his family. That would mean that Onesiphorus was killed between chapters 1 and 4 of this letter. It is more likely that Onesiphorus delivered the letter and Paul sent a greeting to his family.

Wherever we find Priscilla and Aquila mentioned in the Bible, they were always working in the ministry. Romans 16:3

20. Erastus is still staying in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus when we stopped at Miletus because he was sick.

In 1929, a pavement stone was discovered in Corinth was says: “Erastus in return for his [political office] laid this pavement at his own expense”

Erastus, the city treasurer... Romans 16:23. Also see Acts 19:22.

The reason Paul was arrested in Jerusalem was because they thought that he had brought Trophimus into the temple.

For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Acts 21:29

21. Do you do your best to get here before the winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia are all here and send their greetings to you!

In those days ships did not travel in the winter.

Eubulus – his name means “good counselor”

Pudens - According to early stories (which have no other witnesses) Peter and Paul stayed in his house. It is said that he was a political leader who was later killed by Nero.

Linus – There are confusing stories about him becoming a leader of the church of Rome and being murdered for his faith. The stories may be talking about a different person named Linus.

Claudia - There are confusing stories about her being a member of the upper class in the Roman palace. Some have said she was married to Pudens and Linus was their son. The stories are based on imaginations which work against themselves as the story is added to.

22. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you!

Since Paul is writing this from Rome, we would expect to see the names of his friends who are listed in Romans chapter 16. It may be that those friends were running for their lives or had already been arrested.

The Roman guards may have had to kneel (because of being chained to him) when Paul kneeled and then listen to him as he prayed for them by name.