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READING: 2 TIMOTHY 4:9-22 TEXT: v9-22 [SERIES #16]
Once again Paul in his letters takes us to sublime heights
In the previous verses (v6-8) he takes us to the very pinnacle of a man sold out for God and the reward which he may expect
It is not that we might praise Paul that this is written
Paul was no vain egotist seeking to elevate himself
Ethos/Bible is that we read these words (v6-8) and say: What a wonderful Saviour Jesus must be!
Charles Wesley: O for a 1,000 tongues to sing etc.,
Having written these things, Paul comes back down/earth again
I suppose it is a bit like the 3 Apostles/Mt of Transfiguration
What rarefied spiritual air they breathed in there
Yet, they had to come down to the real world again
And there they met with the problems of life
Likewise here
Paul sees to the very practical business of bringing his epistle to a close and covers quite a bit of ground to do so
4 main points we must consider:
1) PAUL’S COMPANIONS:
There are quite a number/names mentioned here
A/ First companion to mention must be Timothy himself
Paul wanted him there shortly (v9) - even if it took diligence
Isn’t it nice to be desired?
Especially when the requester is facing death as Paul was
Such circumstances would normally sift out friends
Hangers on etc., would have no place at such a time
Timothy was wanted to be there
Says a lot for this young man anf again (esp) for his Saviour
Anything of any worth in a Christian is God given/inspired
B/ Not that Paul was alone - Luke was with him (v11)
We know that Paul had many friends/supporters in Rome (ch 16)
Where were they? Where indeed was Peter (if in Rome?)
Paul stood alone in his first defence and many forsook him (v16)
But here is one who stood by the man of God
Luke was a Gentile believer - a medical doctor
He wrote the third gospel and Book/Acts
Therefore Providence was kind to Paul in his days in a Roman prison
C/ Mark is mentioned also – bring him too! (v11)
This is John Mark who had shown some cowardice in earlier days
This had caused great dissension between Paul/Barnabas (15:38)
But the rift was healed – refreshing to see how profitable Mark was now considered to be and that in the ministry
Past failures do not negate present or future uses
If you fall down somewhere – get up and dust yourself down
And then get on with it
It is not that champions don’t go down – but they do get up
It is fitting that Mark was to be brought at this time
D/ Prisca and Aquilla get a mention also (v19)
These are the folk who had been so kind to Paul back in Acts 18
When we mention the Church/Corinth, we invariably talk about the mush grief they gave to Paul – and rightly so
But let us remember that they had some good people there too
This couple were a tower of strength to Paul
They were to be saluted for their ministry to Paul
E/ Trophimus was the one with whom the Jews had seen Paul
This led to the problems of Acts 21 forward (Paul near lost/life)
But the fault lay with: bigoted Jews rather than this Ephesian
Note that his usefulness was (at least, temporarily) limited
He had been left by Paul sick at Miletum
Obviously Paul could not heal him at will
But he could mention him favourably – which is suggested here
Greatly encourages the sick just to be remembered
Spirit of Matthew 25:36 here: I was sick/ye visited me
F/ Other friends are also mentioned by name and some by entire households and others in a more general fashion: all the brethren
Each one of them afforded Paul great comfort in this last straight of his life/ministry on earth
G/ Of course, the greatest Friend Paul had was Christ
When other men (even the best) failed him – we read:
The Lord stood with me and strengthened me (v17)
Christ is the Friend who sticks closer/brother (Proverbs 18:24)
Brethren may forsake one another
Cain became Abels’ greatest enemy and danger and murderer
But (hymn): The best Friend to have is Jesus
2) PAUL’S ENEMIES:
A/ Paul makes mention of Demas (v10)
Demas is mentioned (x2) favourably: Colossians 4:14/Philemon 24
But it all went sour and he forsook the great Apostle
Reason: He loved this present world
Some take this to show him to be a grabber/covetous person
Others: Just couldn’t stick the heat/kitchen and retired/world
Calvin:
And yet we must not suppose that he altogether denied Christ or gave
himself up either to ungodliness or to the allurements of the world;
but he merely preferred his private convenience, or his safety, to the
life of Paul.
Me: I don’t think Paul would have mentioned it if he had but been
weakness/day of battle: At least – not without some qualification
I therefore see Demas as being guilty here to some extent
The lure of the world became too great
Made a conscious decision to run with the world
He is said to have loved this present world
The word for love (Agape) is the stronger/two words
Paul’s trials became the occasion rather than the cause
We call him an enemy of Paul yet no sign that he opposed him
But he certainly allied himself with the enemy/Paul (i.e. world)
Certainly discouraged Paul much when such was least needed
Even John Gill does not see him guilty with apostasy
But he certainly stained his copy book
B/ It is not thought that Crescens or Titus (although mentioned in the same breath) departed treacherously from Paul
Therefore they cannot be regarded as enemies
C/ Alexander the coppersmith is distinctly named (v14)
Second time, we meet him and the first time sends shivers!
In 1 Timothy 1:20 he was one of those handed over to Satan
Here: He did Paul much evil
What enemies can come from within the church
Some of the bitterest disputes are in church set ups
This is what the Devil ever seeks to engineer
Again – there were others who forsook Paul (v16)
Significantly (cf Demas) Paul prays that it not be laid to their charge – a similar prayer to that of Christ and Stephen
No such prayer attended Alexander/Coppersmith
Prayer was that he would be rewarded according/his works
Paul himself does not specifically request any vengeance
Although it is hinted at – yet he commits/matter to God
That is the safe way – Give not place to vengeance (Romans 12:19)
The matter was mentioned – because Paul wasn’t soft/washy
The matter wasn’t relentlessly pursued – Paul wasn’t God
He commits himself to Him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23)
D/ Another great adversary is mentioned here: The lion (v17)
[i] Had Paul been in a tussle with a wild beast and survived?
Possible – the wilderness was noted for its wild beasts
[ii] Was Paul thinking of deliverance/the Roman amphitheatre?
He was a Roman citizen in the providence/God and therefore would be spared from death at the jaws of the lions
Possible
[iii] Was he thinking of Nero – Calvin dispels it
Unless we take deliverance is the spiritual sense – he was not delivered from Nero and did not expect to be (v6)
Calvin puts it down for evil in general
We may think of the Devil as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)
The mouth of the lion is specifically mentioned
Here we have the incredible jaws with the razor teeth
How often Paul had gazed into this great mouth
Each/every time – he had been delivered by God
E/ Maybe you have enemies along these lines
Let Paul’s words/examples encourage you
3) PAUL’S DESIRES:
What are the dying wishes of this great man?
A/ He wanted Timothy to make all diligence and be with him (v9)
Some think that Timothy was of a somewhat gentle nature
Roman prisons (esp. around execution time) didn’t really cater
Yet Paul desired to see him
The sight of a Christian martyr would override any fears
I remind you that Paul had once stood at a martyrdom
It directly (I believe) led to his salvation
B/ He asks for his cloak/books to be brought (v13)
If it indeed be a cloak – necessary for winter months (v21)
Notice: Paul still looks after his health even when death beckons
These are things for which we are held accountable
Some think: word for cloak means a kind of covering/books
But AV reading seems the more natural
Esp. seeing the books and parchments were required anyhow
[i] What were these books?
Not told – possibly they were commentaries/aids
Not necessarily pious – Paul was well read/secular matters too
[ii] What were these Parchments?
Again: Not told – possibly original MSS of his letters?
All thoughts are conjecture – but obviously known/Timothy
Evidently Paul was not content to waste his last days/earth
Determined to do what he could as long as he could
Only when the blindfold went over his eyes for the last time (if the case) would his reading days be over
It is sad that we do not live in a reading age
What a small library Paul would to have contented himself with
Here we are in an age when books are available and affordable
Online books are actually free!
Yet, little reading in spiritual things is the order/day
C/ He wanted God to vindicate his stand
Already seen how he sought God to deal with Alexander (v14)
Perhaps this was fitting in that Alexander greatly withstood Paul’s words (v15)
These really would have been God’s words through Paul
When Lydia attended unto the things that were spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14) the Lord opened her heart
It is unlikely that Paul was talking about his ordinary plans/talk
Note: He wanted Timothy to beware of Alexander also
This suggests that the danger this man posed was not so evident
Yet it was a real danger – greatly opposing Paul’s words
Suggests he did so in a very deceitful way that could fool unwary
Again (as seen) he wanted those who forsook him out of weakness/fear (v16) dealt with very leniently
D/ He wanted Timothy to come before winter (v21)
When safer and more convenient to travel
And when the coat was needful
4) PAUL’S FAITH:
A/ Most powerfully expressed in the words of v18
The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom
What more can a Christian ask for than this?
God who saves His people keeps them
Yes – Paul will one day perish (outwardly) by the sword
He fully recognises that and has no fears
But it only prove to be the door to Heaven
Ultimately it is not doing him any disfavour at all
Nero lost more through it than Paul would
But Nero cannot touch Paul’s soul
Paul’s soul (spiritual life) is hid with Christ in God
Even the Devil himself cannot touch Paul’s soul
B/ Paul also displays here his faith in the power/Bible
In v17 he expresses the hope that all the Gentiles might hear
Specifically he requests that it might be by himself
Which is still being answered – Paul gave us 12/13 books
These are still being translated into Gentile tongues
And Gentiles (and Jews) are still being converted
C/ Paul’s faith is also seen in the request he offered for
Timothy (v22) – Paul did not see himself as being sole
possessor/blessing
Timothy too (and us) could have the presence of Christ
Christ would be with our spirits also
Jesus Himself gave a great promise to the church
(Given ere He departed this scene to go to Heaven)
And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Here is one of those almost incidental proofs/Deity of Christ
How can the Lord be with each/every Christian individually unless He be omnipresent and all powerful?
D/ A very appropriate note of cheer then on which to end not only this chapter – but his entire ministry
Can only echo his words/doxology: v18 “To whom be glory” etc.,
THE END