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2 Timothy – Gospel Passion and Urgency Resounding Out of a Roman Dungeon! (9 of 9)
Hope Reflecting Out of a Roman Dungeon
2 Timothy 4:9-18
2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) –
“...preach the word...”
As Paul passed the baton of ministry to Timothy, he urgently called him to preach and teach the God-Breathed Word of God, to preach and teach the Bible.
2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV) –
“...keep your head in all situations...”
2 Timothy 4:9-18 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul was lonely and longed to see his closest friend, Timothy. He wanted him to come quickly, bring his cloak so he could keep warm and he requested his books which almost certainly refer to the Scriptures. Paul wanted his friend, his cloak and God’s Word.
1. In life and Gospel ministry: Paul knew that he’d reached the finish line.
2 Timothy 4:6-7 (ESV) –
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race...”
Acts 20:24 (ESV) –
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Paul knew that that his time was short. He was martyred by the Roman emperor Nero.
2 Timothy 4:9 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come to me soon.”
Paul was standing at the finish line of life and eagerly looking forward to his heavenly reward.
1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) –
“...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...”
How did Paul make it to the finish line? When we ponder all of the suffering and opposition he continually faced, we’re inclined to ask – Why didn’t he give up?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV) –
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV) –
“...we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Standing at the finish line, he says to Timothy (and all of us) – I’ve made it to the finish. You make it too. Don’t drop out of the race! Persevere!
2. Paul asks Timothy to come and bring: Mark, his cloak and his scrolls.
2 Timothy 4:9 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come to me soon.”
2 Timothy 4:21 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come before winter.”
2 Timothy 1:4 (ESV) –
“As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.”
Several of his companions were away carrying on further missionary work.
When we look at maps and hear names, we’re reminded that – Ministry involves people, Paul had a team who served with him. We’re looking at – Real people. Real times. Real places.
A former companion of Paul named Demas left and his departure wasn’t for good reasons. This was abandonment.
2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV) –
“...in love with this present world...”
James 4:4 (ESV) –
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Colossians 4:14 (ESV) –
“Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.”
Demas started off well but didn’t finish well. Mark started off a failure and ended well. It’s possible to start off well and end in disaster. It’s also possible to start off in failure and end well. We need to take warning and praise God for His grace and forgiveness.
Paul’s request for his cloak makes sense because a cloak was a warm outer garment that would be helpful in staying warm in the damp cold winter months.
2 Timothy 4:13 (ESV) –
“...the books, and above all the parchments.”
In the final days of his life Paul hungered for God’s Word.
Psalm 119:103 (ESV) –
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Ask – Do I hunger for God’s Word? As he faced the end of life – he longed to see his close friend, he wanted his cloak to keep warm and he desired to be fed by the Scriptures.
3. Timothy needed to beware of Alexander, the coppersmith.
2 Timothy 4:14-15 (ESV) –
“Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.”
What’s the reason for this warning? We don’t know for sure but Bible scholars suggest that Alexander may well have been involved in Paul’s arrest.
1 Timothy 1:20 (ESV) –
“...among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
Slide 23
(image 5: Map – Ephesus, Timothy; Troas; Rome, Paul)
We need to be willing to suffer persecution. However, we shouldn’t go looking for it and if Alexander did Paul great harm, then Timothy should beware. Paul was confident that God would ultimately deal with Alexander.
2 Timothy 4:14 (ESV) –
“...the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.”
Matthew 6:27 (ESV) –
“...the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”
Romans 2:6 (ESV) –
“He will render to each one according to his works...”
When it feels like evil is winning remember this is not the end of the story!
There is no glory in seeking suffering and persecution but when these realities find us, we can be confident that God will take care of it.
Matthew 10:16 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
God sees everything. We’re not to take vengeance, we leave that to God and He will deal with those who oppose Him. The Gospel always has enemies and God will deal with them.
Romans 12:19 (ESV) –
“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.”
4. At his first defense Paul was simultaneously alone and not alone. God strengthened him and the Gospel was preached.
Paul’s first court appearance had already occurred and no-one was there to support him.
2 Timothy 4:16-18 (ESV) –
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”
Mark 14:50 (ESV) –
“And they all left him and fled.”
2 Timothy 4:16 (ESV) –
“May it not be charged against them!”
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) –
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Paul preached the Gospel to the court in Rome. He seized the opportunity. Paul was committed to reaching his persecutors with the Gospel!
Mark 13:11 (ESV) –
“And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
2 Timothy, 4:2 (ESV) –
“...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV) –
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”
Paul expresses his complete confidence in his coming heavenly reward.
How was Paul so bold and courageous? They may kill our bodies but that’s the worst they can do and God will bring those who are His safely home into His heavenly kingdom.
God will keep those who belong to Him and bring them safely to their heavenly inheritance. Embracing our security in Christ is gloriously perspective transforming.
2 Timothy 4:21 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come before winter...”
Paul tells his closest friend, Timothy – I want to see you, come quickly!
2 Timothy 4:22 (ESV) –
“The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”
In 2 Timothy we’re called to courage instead of timidity when the Gospel is opposed. Here we see this lived out as Paul preached the Gospel before the Roman court.
2 Timothy shows us the realities of suffering and persecution. Here at the end of the letter we see that Paul was suffering intense persecution and expected to die for the Gospel.
In 2 Timothy we’re called to hold tightly to the Word of God. And at the end of his life, Paul asked for (ESV, vs 14) – …my scrolls, especially the parchments.
2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV) –
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”