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Second Letter to Timothy - Chapter 4

1 Paul's last will and testament, content that he has done the Lord's will to the end, he solemnly passes to Timothy the task of Apostle. Very solemn formal passing his Apostle's role & office to Timothy, calling on God and Christ Jesus as witness, Jesus who will judge everyone, including Paul and Timothy; also calls on Jesus' resurrection and his kingdom - nothing could be more solemn.
2 Timothy is charged with the task of continuing to preach the Word "in and out of season! - whether it is a good time or a bad time to do so. Preaching is proclaiming, like a herald; he is to convince, rebuke and exhort - repeating the bishop's role of guarding the faith and how it is presented by the ministers for whom he will be responsible. Above all he is to be patient, explaining and teaching carefully, not aggressively, etc. The Word to be preached is what Paul has been proclaiming, as in v.1: that God has acted to save men through Jesus, that Jesus is the Christ, that through his resurrection he is king and Lord.
3 Itching ears will lead people to seek more acceptable messages, which place fewer demands on them or sound more modern. It has been common for people to go to different preachers to find one they prefer.
4 This way leads away from the truth and into myths.
5 Timothy is urged to steadily fulfill his ministry as evangelist - bringer of the good news - enduring the suffering this will undoubtedly bring him. He must not be tempted to trim the gospel to suit the prevailing culture - how relevant today! It is perseverance to proclaiming the true gospel that is required, not numerical success.
6 Having formally invested Timothy as his successor, Paul looks to his own immediate future - and probable imminent death: he is about to be "poured out as a sacrifice like a libation on an altar". His life is complete and shortly to end. He has no expectations of rescue this time, as his work is done.
7 He has no regrets, he is satisfied that he has kept the faith and finished the course. When time is called at the end of a difficult exam, you can lay down your pen either with a feeling of satisfaction that you have done yourself justice, or feeling despair at not having done enough: Paul's mood is clearly the first.
8 He is confident that the Lord will judge him justly, and that he will receive the crown of righteousness: not a laurel crown which withers, but a crown of glory which is waiting for all believers who have welcomed Christ's appearing on earth. "Justification by faith" is what we have now, through our baptism; but the final reward requires our input - we have to use the gifts and energy God gives us to develop our capabilities to fit us for the life to come (Cf Jn 9: "seeing" or "enlightenment" that comes with baptism is only the beginning - true, full enlightenment comes gradually throughout our lives). We know of two types of rewards for hard work: a material incentive, which gives pleasure for a while; and the reward from being able to use our newly gained skills for ever, such as a new language. Here the reward is of this kind, to be able to love and enjoy the Lord's love for ever, because we have learned the hard way who Jesus is and what his love means. Who but Paul could write this: "Being poured out like a libation while winning a race and so being vindicated in a law court, ready to greet the arrival of the true emperor"?
9 Paul appears lonely - several times he urges Timothy to come to him as soon as possible.
10 Paul has been deserted in his hour of need by Demas (Col 4:14, Philm 24), previously a strong co-worker. Other colleagues have gone or been sent to other churches founded by Paul. Perhaps with similar commission to that he is now giving Timothy?
11 Luke (Col 4:14, Philm 24) is still with Paul, but he misses Mark, who is clearly reconciled after the earlier falling out (Acts 13:13, Acts 15:37-38, Col 4:10).
12 Telling Timothy that Tychicus (Acts 20:4 etc) has been sent to Ephesus implies Timothy is not in Ephesus now.
13 With the imminent winter Paul needs his cloak - a single piece of heavy woollen cloth with a hole for the head which would be warm and keep the wet out. Possibly also a hint of investing Timothy with it, as Elijah did with Elisha. The Greek words could mean "books and parchments", or "scrolls and parchments". The early church started to bind sheets of vellum together as primitive books, each called a codex, which were more convenient that papyrus scrolls wound on two rods. This may be a hint of this. Clearly they were valued by Paul - perhaps the Jewish scriptures or even early parts of Apostles' teaching already being written down. Again he may have wished to formally hand them to Timothy, if they were now with Carpus.
14 Alexander "resisted Paul's preaching" (probably the Alexander of Acts 19:33 rather than of 1 Tim 1:20). He will also be rewarded justly.
15 Timothy needs to be careful of him.
16 Paul appears to have been deserted by everyone at his trial - echoes of all running away from Calvary?
17 But - as always - Paul was supported by the Lord, and with His help was able to proclaim the gospel message at his trial, so that all Gentiles might hear it. Seen as more important by him than defending himself. As a Roman citizen, Paul would not have been killed by being fed to the lions. But he seems to see the then Roman empire as a lion, waiting to devour Christians.
18 He has confidence in the Lord. He will be saved and given strength - not physically, but from the power of death and from any temptation to recant. Note the constant 4 elements of Christian doxologies: object: to him, the Lord; what: glory; when: for ever and ever; affirmation: amen.
19 As usual in last wills, Paul sends fond greetings to his co-workers. Prisca and Aquila worked with him in Corinth (Acts 18:2) and for him in Ephesus. Onesiphorus now seems to have a separate household - has Philemon freed him (Philemon 7-18)?
20 Erastus was treasurer in Corinth (Rom 16:23); Trophinus accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4, 21:29).
21 Again Paul urges Timothy to come before winter makes travel too difficult. We assume this is the Linus who succeeded Peter as Bishop of Rome. According to tradition Pudens and Claudia were married and related to Linus. A Claudia Rufina married to Aulus Pudens is known in history: this Claudia was daughter of a British king living in Rome (hostage?). Their house was believed to become the church of St Pudentia, after being used by St Peter for the Eucharist.
22 A special and very early form of greeting, the Lord be with your spirit, invoking the Lord's help, protection and blessing, and so continues to be used by ordained ministers only. In this case addressed in the singular to Timothy only. The final grace is addressed in the plural to all those listening - as intended by Paul - to this letter being read. The greatest benefit Paul could wish was the presence of the Lord and the outpouring of his grace.

Paul's Letters to Timothy

Second Letter to Timothy - Chapter 4