These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
II Timothy 4:9-22
Review…
- The outline of II Timothy…
- Chapter 1-2 – The characteristics of the faithful servant
- Chapter 3 – Warnings to the faithful servant – Living in the Last Days
- Paul wrote this final letter he was in prison – on death row – because of preaching the Gospel!
- And anyone who lives a Godly life – will likewise suffer persecution for it!
- Because we are living in the Last Days – and men are getting worse and worse!
- Therefore – it is important that we are in the Word of God…
- The Bible is the God breathed – Holy Spirit inspired – Word of God!
- The Word shows us the truth / corrects our lives / gives us instruction for righteousness!
- Chapter 4 – Paul gave his final instructions to Timothy – his last words…
- PREACH the WORD – because it is from God / because Jesus is with us…
- Because God will judge the Living and the Dead / because Jesus is coming back…
- And because the world does NOT want to hear it – they want tickling ears!
The final words of Paul… (3 points)
- 1st – Come to Rome… vs. 9-13
- 1st – Be DILIGENT to come quickly… vs. 9
- DILIGENT (imperative) – spoudazō – to exert effort / to act quickly / to work hard…
- As believers God calls us to be DILIGENT / work hard in a number of areas…
- Galatians 2:10 – we are to be DILIGENT to take care of the POOR…
- Ephesians 4:3 – we are to be DILIGENT about keeping unity and PEACE in the church…
- II Timothy 2:15 – we are to be DILIGENT to STUDY the Word of God!
- But Paul wanted Timothy to be DILIGENT / work hard in his effort to come to Rome!
- We do not know for sure if Timothy ever did get to visit Paul before his death…
- Although it is suggested in Hebrews 13:23 – Timothy did visit Paul in prison!
- 2nd – Instructions regarding people… vs. 10-12
- Paul is going to give Timothy two reasons why it is important for him to come to Rome …
- First to receive instructions about SIX people…
- Paul wanted to pass on both warnings and instructions regarding others in the ministry!
- 1 – Demas – had worked with Paul in ministry – Philemon 1:24 / Colossians 4:14
- But something went wrong – he ended up FORSAKING Paul / and the ministry!
- FORSAKEN – to totally abandon – to completely walk away from…
- What caused Demas to FORAKE Paul and Ministry – the LOVE of this present age…
- LOVE – agape – he was far more concerned about this life – than eternal life!
- The assumption is – he did like the persecution that came from living for Jesus…
- Paul had been thrown in prison – and perhaps Demas thought he was next…
- The result was he departed (passive) and went to Thessalonica (perhaps fleeing persecution)
- The Gospel is NOT a message about an easy life – it is about finding eternal life…
- If we chose to follow Jesus because we thought it would make life EASIER…
- We will be quite disillusioned – because Jesus promises us TRIBULATIONS – John 16:33
- Following Jesus is about losing our life – so that we can find REAL life in Him!
- Matthew 16:25 – “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
- 2 – Crescens – who Paul sent to the region of Galatia (1st missionary journey) … vs. 10
- Only mentioned here in the NT – although there is a church tradition concerning him…
- He was supposedly one of the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus in – Luke 10
- 3 – Titus – who Paul sent to Dalmatia… vs. 10
- Titus is mentioned 13 times in the NT (9 times in the book of II Corinthians) …
- He was not a Jew – he was a Gentile – most likely from the city of Antioch in Syria…
- We do not know where or when he met Paul – or how he got saved…
- But he traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys – II Corinthians 7:6
- Paul sent him to Dalmatia – in modern day Croatia on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea…
- We are not sure why Paul sent Titus there – it is only mentioned here…
- Titus was certainly one of the most trusted co-workers of the Apostle!
- 4 – Tychicus – was sent to Ephesus… vs. 12
- Tychicus was of the province of Asia – where Ephesus was the capital – Acts 20:4
- He carried the letter to the Colossians – Colossians 4:7
- It would seem he was to deliver this second epistle to Timothy – II Timothy 4:12
- Paul was in prison – no doubt soon to be executed for his faith in Jesus…
- Yet Paul was sending theses Godly men – Crescens / Titus / Tychicus – to encourage others!
- Not that Paul was NOT lonely – he felt the sting of the departure of Demas…
- And no doubt – missed the encouragement of his brothers in the faith!
- But Paul was not focused on himself – his priority was the Gospel!
- We tend to think that life revolved around us – we only think about our needs…
- When we are self-focused it is misery – only seeing our problems / troubles…
- And when we focus on our problems – it is VERY EASY to get overwhelmed…
- But when we minister to others our perspective changes – we see things in a new light!
- We might think times are hard because we got sick – and cannot work…
- Until we see our neighbor who lost of loved one – whom they will never see again!
- 5 – Luke – was the only person who stayed behind with Paul in Rome… vs. 11
- Luke who was a physician – Colossians 4:14
- Luke who is the only non-Jewish author in the NT – wrote Luke / Acts
- Luke who was a traveling companion of Paul on his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys…
- Only Luke stayed by Paul right to the VERY end!
- I have seen believers put too much faith in a pastor / or mentor…
- And when the person they are looking to makes a mistake – they are stumbled…
- Because when we put our trust in a person – we are setting ourselves up for a fall!
- We have a tendency to learn to depend on others rather than on God…
- Therefore the Lord SHIFTS the people we have in our lives…
- Because the one constant in our life – should only be Jesus Christ!
- That being said – sometimes they Lord gives us a LUKE…
- A true friend who sticks by our side through the good and the bad – to the VERY end!
- 6 – Mark – Paul wanted Timothy to bring (imperative) him to Rome… vs. 11
- This is the same Mark who deserted Paul on the FIRST missionary Journey…
- We are not told why Mark left – perhaps he got sick…
- Or he may have gotten homesick – he was likely a young man at that point!
- Whatever the reason – he abandoned the work – and quit the ministry!
- Just because we fail does not mean that we are disqualified for ministry
- Though we fail – we only need to get back up and step out to serve again!
- Proverbs 24:16 – “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.”
- Mark leaving eventually dove Paul and Barnabus apart…
- Acts 15:36-38 – Paul and Barnabus wanted to go on the SECOND missionary trip…
- Barnabus wanted to take his cousin Mark – but Paul refused to take him…
- Because Mark had proven himself unfaithful / undependable…
- So Barnabus took Mark / and Paul took Silas and they went separate ways!
- Yet now Paul has a change of heart – he realized Mark was USEFUL for the ministry…
- Mark grew up and matured – and Paul saw the need to give a SECOND chance…
- This is the same Mark who wrote the Gospel according to Mark!
- We all mess up – make mistakes – fortunately God does not give up on us!
- It is through those mistakes we learn and grow in our faith…
- And God gives us – like Mark – SECOND chances to be used by the Lord!
- 3rd – Things Paul wanted Timothy to bring… vs. 13
- The second reason why Paul wanted Timothy to diligently come to Rome…
- Paul wanted Timothy to bring (imperative) the coat he left in Troas…
- Paul was in a damp / cold / dungeon – and winter was coming – II Timothy 4:21
- So very practically Paul wanted Timothy to bring a coat to keep him warm!
- Paul also wanted Timothy to bring his books and parchments…
- The books likely refer to the letters that Paul had written to the churches!
- The parchments likely refer to copies of the Bible Paul used to study!
- If we were locked up in prison – on death row – what would we ask for…
- Whatever you requested – it would be the most important thing to you!
- For Paul the most important thing in this world – was the Word of God!
- 1st – Be DILIGENT to come quickly… vs. 9
- 2nd – Be careful… vs. 14-18
- 1st – Alexander the coppersmith – who did a lot of harm to Paul… vs. 14-15
- This may be the same Alexander the Jew – who stood up in the riot – Acts 19:33-34
- He was a coppersmith who likely worked with the idol makers of Ephesus…
- Paul hoped (optative) the Lord would repay him according to his works!
- Anyone who made idols of the goddess Dianna in Ephesus – was VERY wealthy…
- The Temple of Artimus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world…
- HUGE crowds would come there every year to see the Temple – worship Dianna…
- And everyone wanted a souvenir – pasalubong – so they sold LOTS of little idols!
- Timothy needed to BEWARE (imperative) of him…
- Because Alexander GREALTLY resisted (perfect) the word of the Lord!
- As the new pastor of Ephesus Timothy would do doubt run into Alexander!
- And the message of the Gospel was especially offensive to idol makers like him!
- Acts 19:26-27 – “Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands… this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute.”
- In 401 AD the Temple of Dianna was torn down by St John Chrysostom…
- The only thing that still exists today is one solitary column – broken at the top!
- Paul and Timothy did not have to do anything to the cult and temple of Dianna…
- The Gospel was more than enough to destroy the false worship temple there!
- Jeremiah 17:1 – “[Some] people act as though their evil ways are laws to be obeyed, inscribed with a diamond point on their stony hearts…”
- We might tend to think nothing we do will ever break the superstitions around us…
- But the Gospel has the power to break up even the hardest ground…
- And when the Word meets rock – it becomes a sledgehammer to shatter hardened sin!
- Jeremiah 23:29 – “My word… like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces…”
- 2nd – At the first defence (apologia) of Paul – no one stood by him… vs. 16
- Perhaps in the fear of sharing the fate of Paul – they all FORSOOK him…
- But Paul did not hold it against them – instead he asked God not to charge them!
- This is an interesting statement – because it was NOT about what people DID to Paul…
- It was about what they did NOT do for Paul – they did NOT support him in his hour of need!
- We need to be careful of our EXPECTATIONS…
- On the one hand we often EXPECT something from someone – but NEVER tell them…
- It is not fair to ASSUME that someone knows what we are thinking…
- If we have not shared EXPECTATIONS – do not be surprised if someone does not meet them!
- But even if we have shared our EXPECTATIONS…
- That is what we WANT someone else to do – that does not mean they HAVE to…
- Our ideas are NOT the commands of God – they are not Biblical mandates…
- We are not called to tell others what to do – we point them to Jesus who will LEAD them!
- If we are hurt by what someone did NOT do…
- When we are hurt – and do NOT forgive – it plants a seed in our heart…
- It can quickly grow into bitterness – we become consumed with what they did to us!
- Its roots can grow down deep – poisoning and hardening – separating us from God…
- It makes us sour and bitter – and eventually brings spiritual death…
- With un-forgiveness in our hearts – God does not hear our prayers – Mark 11:25
- 3rd – The Lord stood with and strengthened… vs. 17-18
- STRENGTHENED – from the root word dynamis – to receive POWER…
- Even though people will fail us – people will abandon us – God NEVER will!
- God NEVER left Paul – so the Gospel could be preached by Paul for all Gentiles to hear!
- Colossians 1:24 – “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His… church.”
- Not that there was anything lacking in the sacrifice of Jesus – the cross…
- When the work was done Jesus said – It is finished – nothing needed to be added!
- But we were not there to see the cross – we did not see Jesus die…
- Paul was allowed to suffer so others could see Jesus in him!
- It is easy to worship Jesus when everything is going well – no one notices…
- But when we get sick / bad things happen – just like they do to everyone else…
- And rather than complaining about life – we are strong by the POWER of God …
- Then people stand up and take notice – through our suffering they see Jesus in us!
- Paul was even delivered out of the mouth of the lion…
- Some believe Paul is talking about a real lion – perhaps in the Coliseum in Rome…
- But more likely Paul is talking about being delivered from THE lion – satan…
- Which is why Paul goes on to say – God will deliver me from EVERY evil work…
- And will preserve (save) me for His Heavenly Kingdom – to Him be Glory forever!
- We need to know – when we stand up for Jesus – we are a target!
- Luke 22:31 – “Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat.”
- Make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – satan knows who we are…
- And he will come test us – try us – to see what we are made of…
- He wants to try and discourage – get us to walk away from serving Jesus!
- We need to be careful – satan is like a lion…
- I Peter 5:8 – “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
- Satan can make noise – but he is like a lion without teeth – bark worse than bite!
- Yet Satan is smart – he knows he cannot directly come against us…
- Instead he tries to get us to compromise our walk with the Lord…
- If satan can trip us with sin – can get us to walk away from the protection of God!
- 1st – Alexander the coppersmith – who did a lot of harm to Paul… vs. 14-15
- 3rd – Greet the saints… vs. 19-22
- 1st – Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila… vs. 19
- Prisca and Aquila were the couple Paul met on his SECOND missions trip…
- They ministered alongside Paul in the city of Corinth and Ephesus…
- Romans 16:3-4 – “Priscilla and Aquila… risked their lives for me.”
- 2nd – The household of Onesiphorus… vs. 19
- Onesiphorus was also from Ephesus – II Timothy 1:16
- He had ministered to Paul MANY times while he was in Ephesus…
- But when Paul was arrested the second time…
- He left Ephesus and traveled 1000km – likely taking him months to get to Rome…
- And when he arrived – he searched zealously till he found Paul…
- In other words it was no accident – he WANTED to encourage Paul!
- 3rd – Erastus stayed in Corinth… vs. 20
- Erastus was powerful politician – treasurer of the city of Corinth – Roman 16:23
- He had also traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys – Acts 19:22
- 4th – Trophimus who Paul left sick in Miletus…
- One of the 7 men who helped bring the gift from the Gentile church to Jerusalem – Acts 20:4
- MILETUS was an Island in the 80km south of Ephesus (now part of mainland Turkey) …
- Paul – who healed on many occasions / brought back the dead – did not heal Trophimus!
- No one person has the gift of healing anytime they desire…
- If they did there would be no reason for hospitals – the HEALER could do it all!
- The GIFT of healing is not about the person who is praying – it is the person receiving…
- If someone is sick – and God heals them – he gave the sick person the GIFT of healing!
- So how do you know if someone has been given the GIFT – step out to find out…
- Pray for someone – God might give them the GIFT of healing – and touch them!
- 5th – Eubulus / Pudens / Linus / and Claudia (woman) … vs. 21
- Be DILLIGENT (imperative) to come before winter…
- All three of these men and one woman are only mentioned here in the Bible…
- Linus is known though church history as the first bishop of Rome after the Apostles…
- We know next to nothing about the three people that close up this final letter.
- Except to say – their names made in into the Word of God!
- Because of their faith – their love for Jesus – their names were recorded in the Bible!
- Many people try to leave their MARK – their name on memorials to be remembered
- But memorials crumble – names fade away – things are forgotten…
- Those Paul greeted here had their names written here for us to read 2000 years later!
- The things we do for ourselves – the glory of men – are all forgotten…
- It is the things we do for the Lord that last forever – Matthew 6:20
- 6th – Paul closes up – with grace… vs. 22
- The final words of the Apostle Paul – in his final letter in the Bible…
- The Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit – Grace by with you – Amen!
- Because only when the Grace of God gets a hold of our life – will we have a changed heart!
- Because being good does not make us right – being right with God makes us good!
- Because the Grace of God is the key to living our lives for God!
- 1st – Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila… vs. 19