2 Timothy – Personal Requests

The Apostle, having urged Timothy with all Authority of God and Christ in his final epistle, now adds several personal salutations and instructions concerning others.

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy 4:9 KJV

~ A.D. 66

Timothy might have expected that several fellow members had continued to attend Paul’s needs in Rome, but the Apostle writes:

Demas has fallen in love with the present world and has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.

Second Letter of Paul to Timothy 4:10 CEB

And what of others Timothy would have known to be with Paul earlier when the Apostle was under house arrest?

Paul leaves no doubt that they too have left Rome.

Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me..

I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

2 Timothy 4:9-10a, 11 CEB

Paul’s Post Script requesting personal help

Get Mark, and bring him with you. He has been a big help to me in the ministry. When you come, bring along the coat I left with Carpus in Troas. Also bring the scrolls and especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:11b, 13 CEB

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Reminiscing on Paul’s missions

Recorded by Paul's personal physician, Luke, in Acts of the Apostles

As mentioned earlier, Paul writes this in ~A.D. 66, probably more than a year since his first epistle. Over the years the Apostle to the Gentiles has forged many close personal relationships.

Let’s take a brief look back at Paul’s missions and friends.

~ AD 47-49

about 20 years earlier.. 

a Who’s Who of Paul’s Three Missionary Journeys

John Mark, who the Apostle now requests to be brought to help him in Rome, had accompanied Paul and Barnabas only to Cypress backing out and returning home.

Paul embarks on a much longer second mission after meeting the other Apostles in A.D. 49 at the important Council of Jerusalem.

Paul first writes an Epistle to the Galatians, churches in the vast area of his first missionary journey.

The Apostle then writes two letters to the church in Thessaloniki, an important Roman port.

The Apostle has added Timothy to his sojourning pastors which also includes Silas at that time.

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A.D. 54 – to the time of Paul’s final epistle

Let us not forget that the world into which the Apostles went out was not dominated by Roman citizens focused on Christ or God — far from it (much like these last days of the Common Era).

Governors had changed in these varied Roman provinces, but more importantly in Rome, we now have an even more evil opponent of Christ than Caligua (who declared himself a god) at the time of Saul’s conversion — an emperor more cruel than Caligua, Caesar at the time of Paul’s missions.

a Roman Conclusion – Acts of the Apostles

The Apostle had been held in custody in Rome for some time now as a result of his appeal to Caesar. But now Nero was Caesar and Emperor of all Rome and the world Rome controlled.

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

(15 December 37 AD – 9 June 68 AD)

• Emperor Claudius died in 54 AD. According to the historical facts, he was poisoned by his wife, Agrippina.
• Undoubtedly, the main event and threat to Nero’s reign were the Great Fire, which began on July 19, 64 AD, and lasted for six days. Rome was divided into fourteen districts, where ten of them were destroyed, hundreds of people died, and thousands became homeless.
• Nero’s death [June 9, 68 AD] sparked a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors, as various generals and factions vied for control of the Roman Empire, further destabilizing the already volatile political climate.

source: Rome.us roman emperors Nero

Paul’s timely Epistles for turbulent times

Christians relate these letters to the time of the Apostle's third missionary journey.

• 2 Epistles to the Church at Corinth

Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians – Featured Series

• A.D. 57 Paul writes his masterful theological Epistle to the Romans
  • Paul then returns to Rome [~ AD 59-60]
• Paul makes personal mentions of:
  • Gaius, his Roman host and supporter of his mission
  • Erastus, a city treasurer and believer
  • and Timothy (who is with the Apostle when Paul writes his letter to his beloved saints in Rome).

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~ A.D. 60-62

Two years before the great fire when Nero would have been in his early 20's. 

Paul writes to the church in:

• Ephesus
  • mentioning Tychicus as a “beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord.”
• Phillipi
  • co-authored by Timothy and mentioning
  • Epaphroditus (who ministered to Paul while under house arrest in Rome
  • Euodia and Syntyche, two women of the Philippian church
  • Clement, a Philippian saint who had worked with Paul
• Colossae [part of a tri-city area with Laodicea and Hierapolis]
  • again, co-authored by Timothy
  • and again mentioning Epaphroditus
  • also Tychicus who Paul sent there
  • Onesimus, now a church member, but a run-away slave
  • Aristarchus, Justus, and Demas, who had accompanied the Apostle
  • Luke (of course) his physician and friend
  • Nympha, in whose home the church met
  • and Archippus, a member
  • John Mark, who has just complete his Gospel is mentioned as an encouragement to the church

Although some refer to these as the Apostle's 'prison epistles,' we'll understand Paul's freedom to send letters best by recalling that the Apostle has not yet been brought to trial before the court of Caesar Nero. 

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• The Apostle also writes a personal letter to Philemon concerning his converted slave (and fellow saint) Onesimus
• Paul writes his first pastoral Epistle to Timothy around this time [~ A.D. 62]

When we read the Apostle’s P.S. of Second Timothy, remember the great interpersonal love of so many of Paul and his love and prayers for them.

+ In other NEWS:

• The physician Luke writes his Gospel
• Luke sends a second account out of the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES detailing a post-resurrection history of the Church
• James, leader of the Jerusalem church and half-brother of Jesus, is martyred [~ A.D. 62]

~ A.D. 64 (-66)

• Nero burns Rome, blames Christians
• Judeans and others revolt against Roman rule
• The Apostle Peter writes two Epistles

2 Peter – Apostolic Faith Series

• Paul writes another pastoral Epistle to Titus
  • Tychicus mentioned again, along with
  • Artemas

Personal Letters from Nicopolis – Intro

• Apollos is mentioned alongside
• Zenas. He is a well-known early Christian teacher and preacher, noted for his eloquence and knowledge of the Scriptures.
  • source: BibleHub.com Titus

Had the brothers hoped for a chance that Zenas could defend Paul before Caesar to have his case dismissed? 

But Nero would be seeking political cover rather than justice.

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Contention and betrayal

Had someone bribed a false witness against the Apostle Paul, as Judas had betrayed the Lord Jesus?

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

2 Timothy 4:14-16 NKJV

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Although we feel the urgency of Paul’s personal salutations to those now mentioned in the closing of his final letter, the Apostle does not write any detail of his trial, imprisonment or impending execution.

a Last Testament of Paul

Prisoners were lowered through an opening into the lower oubliette, known as the Tullianum.

Incarceration (publica custodia) in facilities such as the Tullianum was intended to be a temporary measure prior to trial or execution

source: Wikipedia

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But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Second Epistle of the Apostle Paul to Timothy 4:17-18 NKJV

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P.S. – a personal salutations of fare well

Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

2 Timothy 4:19-20 NKJV

And a glimmer of hopeful reunion with Timothy:

“Try to get here before winter,” Paul now asks.

Paul had just written instructions for such a visit:

“Try to join me soon… When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:9a,13 NABRE

Then Paul, in his usual graceful manner shares greeting to Timothy from mutual saints who he may have last seen before his current imprisonment, even at his trial.

Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.

2 Timothy 4:21b NIV

the Last Written Words of the Apostle Paul:

Ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματός σου ἡ χάρις μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἀμήν πρός Τιμόθεον δευτέρᾳ τῆς Ἐφεσίων ἐκκλησίας πρῶτον ἐπίσκοπον χειροτονηθέντα ἐγράφη ἀπό Ῥώμης ὅτε ἐκ δευτέρου παρέστη Παῦλος τῷ Καίσαρί Νέρωνι

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

2 Timothy 4:22 – TEXTUS RECEPTUS, KJV

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