2 Timothy, Chapter 4
© Copyright 2001 Darroll Evans-all rights reserved

2 Timothy 4: 1-2
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

As we begin the last chapter, Paul counsels Timothy to proclaim the Word of God at every opportunity.

Do we do that?

I don't think so!

Our days are filled with lost opportunities.

Many Christian could not give a salvation presentation because they do not know one.

Can you take a Bible and go verse by verse through a gospel presentation?

If you can, you are in a definite minority.

Paul exhorted Timothy to be ready in season and out of season.

He was to be ready to reprove, rebuke, and exhort.

But, let's be honest---any loudmouth busybody gossip can do that.

The trick is to do it with loving patience, and sound doctrine.

To use sound doctrine we must know sound doctrine.

The Church, as a whole, is getting a bit lacking in the sound doctrine area.

We seem to prefer denominational doctrine.

2 Timothy 4: 3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Paul admits that the time will come (and is already here) when men will not accept sound doctrine.

In other words--if we could preach it, many would not accept it.

Today, many Church attendees now clamor to hear psychologically soothing sermons. People want spiritual backrubs to replace the preaching of the Word of God.

When was the last time you heard a verse by verse teaching of God's Word from the pulpit?

If you are young enough, you may have never heard that style of preaching.

In the later days, many will reject the Word in favor of religious "fables."

If you missed the fables in Church, tune in, and watch TV.

They are more popular than many suppose.

People seem to have “itching ears” to hear that those who had wronged them will be consigned to a fear filled existence. 

Human nature and it’s need for revenge does not leave when a person accepts Christ.

Luke told a story about what the Apostles wanted to do when they felt rejected: 

Luke 9:51-56
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. (KJV)

Far too many of today’s Christians want to consign their enemies to an eternal torment rather than have them turn and follow Christ.

2 Timothy 4: 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The Greek text expresses the though that Paul asked Timothy to be spiritually calm, cool and collected, and endure the hardships of the ministry of the Evangelist.

Paul's desire is that Timothy will fulfill or accomplish the ministry God entrusted to him.

2 Timothy 4: 6-8
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.

The Greek text indicates that Paul said, “I am being poured out like a drink offering.”

He knew that his death was close at hand.

The English goes on to say that the time of his "departure" had come.

The Greek says that the time of his "unloosing" had come.

Paul was being relieved of his spiritual responsibilities.

Then, Paul makes a wonderful proclamation, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Will we be able to say that at the end of our lives?

Because of his adherence to God's will, Paul knew that he had a reward coming.

He would receive the crown of righteousness.

That was not the reward for being a great Apostle.

It would be given to Paul because he "loved" the appearing, the glorious return of the Lord.

Today, we battle back and forth about the pre-mid-and post-tribulation theories.

Who cares!

We should be happy just to be His at his coming.

Millions will not be.

2 Timothy 4: 9-12
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.

Verse 9 says, "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me."

Let me give you the Darroll Evans Modern English (semi) Literal Translation.

Paul wrote, "Get here ASAP (as soon as possible)!"

Paul's support group had fallen apart.

Demas had utterly forsaken Paul to go to Thessalonica.

The Greek text gives the reason as the love of the "now."

Crescens had gone to what is now northern modern Turkey.

Titus had been a very important and able ministry team member. He went to Dalmatia.

The letter to Titus was probably written in the middle of the First Century making it among the earlier letters.

He is one of three spoken of by Paul as being a son in the Spirit.

The others were Timothy and Onesimus.

Why would Titus desert Paul?

Let me offer an opinion.

He may have left Paul without deserting the faith.

Many Pastors today suffer pastoral burnout.

It is my opinion that Titus had been called upon once too often to handle difficult problems.

As we read about Titus, it seems that he may have been mature enough to handle situations that would have overwhelmed young Timothy.

He set up or handled some difficult Churches.

 Read the letter to Titus, 2nd Corinthians, and Galatians.

Dalmatia is located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. It was located in what would be Romania.

Perhaps he found an easier ministry there?

Paul was in Rome at the writing of 2nd Timothy and Dalmatia was a short distance away.

From Paul we know that only Luke stayed with him during this hazardous time.

If you have one friend as faithful as Luke in your life, you are extremely fortunate.

Then Paul writes something that may be misunderstood.

He writes, "Take Mark, and bring him with you."

The Greek text shows us that Timothy was to "raise up" Mark.

Could it be that Timothy was to re-establish Mark in the work of Christ?

In any case, Paul told Timothy that Mark was now "useful" in God's service.

Tychicus I had been sent to Ephesus.

The Greek text implies that he was ordered to go.

Some folks have to told when it is good to get out of town.

2 Timothy 4: 13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

Paul was human!

He asked Timothy to bring his favorite coat.

Apparently Paul left it in Troas.

Troas is the place where Paul became a bit longwinded while preaching, and a young man fell asleep listening to him and fell out of a window (Acts 20).

Paul not only wanted his coat, but also his books and parchments.

The Greek text tells us that the books were made of paper and the parchments were skins.

2 Timothy 4: 14-15
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.

Paul reminded Timothy that Alexander the coppersmith tried to cause great harm to him.

Alexander was probably the one caused the trouble in Ephesus (Acts 19:33).

According to Acts, Alexander was Jew, and yet he paid homage to the pagan goddess Diana.

He was a leader of Paul's opposition in Ephesus.

Apparently the conflict was so harsh that Paul turned him over to Satan.

1 Timothy 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul could (and did) tolerate many things, but blasphemy was not one of them.

He drew that line there.

When Paul writes, "The Lord reward him according to his works," he is not saying that the reward will be positive.

We all will receive "a" reward from Christ.

Our reward is based on our works.

Some works are godly, and some are satanic.

In due time, Alexander will find that his reward is not to be coveted.

Paul then told Timothy to watch out for Alexander because he powerfully resisted the teaching [of the gospel].

Today there are many Alexander(s) in the world.

2 Timothy 4: 16-18
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.

Paul then explains that at his first trial none of his companions stood by him.

When he says, "All men forsook me," I must admit that I have tough time putting Luke in that group.

And yet, Paul has been truthful in all other descriptions.

If Luke left Paul, it would be reflected in the writing of Acts.

And, it is!

Acts 28:30-31
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Acts' abrupt ending may indicate that Luke's departure prior to the first trial was also abrupt.

Although Paul does not say, it is my opinion that Luke left without Paul's blessings.

Apparently, Luke left Paul shortly before the first trial. He then rejoined Paul at the end of his life during the imprisonment before the second trial.

In all this, Paul makes a request of God. "I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge."

Paul then assures Timothy that he was not "ALONE" during that trial. He writes, "The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.

Christ will do as much for us at the appropriate time.

The Greek text expresses the thought that the Lord assisted Paul, and empowered him.

That sounds pretty good to me!

The assisting and empowering were not just so Paul could have a feel-good moment.

The empowerment came about so that the preaching of the gospel may be fully accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles may hear.

The Greek text also speaks of a certain level of understanding on the part of the Gentiles.

Paul ends this section by proclaiming, "I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

The Greek word translated "mouth" may also describe the edge of a sword.

That word picture is very much in keeping with the Roman method of executing Romans citizens.

That was how Paul met his physical death.

Paul then begins the next verse with another bold proclamation.

"The Lord 'shall' deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom."

In English, "Shall deliver" states a fact that must take place in the future.

The Greek text also states, as a fact, Paul's rescue from ALL evil works.

Do you realize that God will rescue from ALL sin?

Christ died on the cross to rescue you from ALL sin!

Acknowledge Him as Lord today.

Be rescued from the evil that surrounds us.

Paul offers a heartfelt cry of praise for the Eternal One.

To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

“For ever” does not refer to eternity.

"For ever and ever" (Gr. eis tous aioonas toon aioonoon-eiV tous aiwnaV twn aiwnwn) should be translated "for/to/into the ages of the ages."

It is not translated correctly due to tradition, and fear of the truth.

If the incorrect "eternity" translation is used for aion, this passage and others would be translated "for the eternities of the eternities."

That would highlight the misconceptions that infect most translations.

To my knowledge, the Concordant Literal and J. P. Green’s Interlinear are the only translations that follow the Greek text.

The Concordant uses "eon" instead of "age," and that translation is accurate.

In most popular translations, aion and its variations are almost always mistranslated. 

2 Timothy 4: 19-21
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.

Paul then offers a special greeting to his old friends. 

Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 

These workers in the cause of Christ had been very helpful to Paul.

Erastus worked with Paul and Timothy (Acts 19:22). 

At this time he was at Corinth

Trophimus was ill and Paul "left" him in Miletum, a small Greek harbor town in Asia Minor south of Ephesus.

That is evidence that during the silent last years of his ministry Paul returned to the churches he founded during his other missionary journeys.

Paul pleads with Timothy to come to Rome before winter. 

In Bible days, winter travel was not suggested. 

It was considered very hazardous.

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia are with Paul and send their greetings to Timothy. 

When Paul intimated that many had deserted him, he was not referring to the local Christians.

2 Timothy 4: 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Paul knows only one way to close a letter. 

He has depended on God's grace since his encounter on the road to Damascus.

At this point, and facing death, he does not change. 

He closes, "The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen."

That would be more accurately stated as, "The Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Grace is with you. Amen."   

How will your last days be? 

Do you have the assurance that all is well because The Father and the Son are on the throne?

You can have that trail enduring assurance! 

No matter what you face, God does not change and His Christ does not change.

The Lord Jesus Christ IS always with your spirit.

His grace IS sufficient to meet and exceed all your needs!

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