Master’s Prayer Network

A — Preach the Word Under All Conditions

Comments: Paul wrote in an authoritative manner knowing that all words are witnessed by God and the Lord Jesus Christ, as he made an earnest and forceful appeal to Timothy to continually preach the Word when results are evident, but also when there seems to be no results at all. It is crucial to offer the way of salvation for souls because the Lord will judge those alive in Christ and those still dead in their sins when he appears in his Kingdom. Peter spoke of the command to the apostles to preach Christ. Acts 10 “42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

Paul wanted Timothy to actively counteract error about scripture, even to reprimand where needed, and to earnestly urge the acceptance of truth with all patience as he taught. It will happen that teachers will gain popularity by abandoning sound doctrine in favor of delivering messages the people want to hear so they can remain satisfied in their own lusts. They will turn away from the truth and follow fables instead. Knowing this will happen, Paul wanted Timothy to be straight-forward and serious in all things, willing to suffer hardships, continuing to preach the gospel message, so that in all this he would be fulfilling the purpose of his ministry. Paul wrote of himself as an example as he said he was being offered up to God as his time to depart was in sight. Paul believed he was ready because he had not been passive in the way he had kept his faith. He said the Lord, our righteous judge, had made ready for him the crown of righteousness, to be given on that awaited day. That crown of righteousness in Christ is not only for Paul, but for all who love his appearing. James 1 “12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.” 1 Peter 5 “4 When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.”

B — Paul Asked Timothy to Come to Him

Comments: Paul was emphatic in requesting that Timothy soon make the trip to Rome, as he went on to list those who were no longer with him. Demas was mentioned among those who had been with Paul in Rome, in the close of Paul’s letter to Philemon, and in the close of his letter to the Colossians. But in the writing of this letter, Paul characterized Demas as one who had been drawn back to the attractions of the world. There is no other mention of Demas in scripture. It appears that Crescens and Titus were still loyal and had left Rome for good reasons. Paul also requested that Timothy bring Mark with him to Rome, adding that Mark was useful for service. Paul was specific in saying that he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus. Paul described that man as a beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord in Colossians 4:7, and he is also favorably mentioned in Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21, and Titus 3:12. Paul demonstrated that he still has need of basic items in the material world and did not hesitate to ask Timothy to stop along the very long route to Rome to pick up the cloak, the books, and the parchments he left with someone named Carpus at Troas in Asia. He warned Timothy to be wary of Alexander the coppersmith who greatly opposed preaching of the word. Paul said the Lord would repay Alexander for his works.

C — The Lord Will Deliver and Preserve

Comments: Paul did not give enough information that we can be sure about the reference about his “first defense” when no one stood with him. We do know that it was a past event at the time of writing this letter, and at the same time of that writing there were those still with him in Rome who were very loyal to him. When he wrote that the Lord stood by him, it is very reminiscent of when he was first taken prisoner in Jerusalem by the Romans and appeared alone before the Jewish council. Acts 23 “11 The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, ‘Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.’” The Lord had stood with Paul, and because the Roman centurion became aware of the plot, Paul was safely conducted under heavy guard to the province capital. But Paul did go to Rome some two years after he had been held at Caesarea as a prisoner of the Romans, and at the close of the book of Acts he was still a prisoner, but treated separately from other prisoners because he had appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen.

Paul never forgot his direct commission from the Lord that he had received when Ananias delivered the message to him. Acts 9 “15 But the Lord said to him, ‘Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.’” After many years of trials in ministry, especially from unbelieving Jews, Paul still maintained his trust that “the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul had shared housing with Prisca and Aquila many years earlier at Corinth for about eighteen months before they then traveled together to Ephesus. He wanted to give them a greeting, as well as a greeting for the house of Onesiphorus who was very dear to him. When Paul states that Erastus remained at Corinth, this may be the same person mentioned in an earlier letter (Romans 16:23). Trophimus is only mentioned twice in Acts along with this one reference in the letter to Timothy.

Despite the scant information we have of some of those named by Paul, it seems obvious that he greatly valued the associations he had with other believers over his years of ministry. Paul began to close the letter with a very practical request that Timothy come to him before winter. Then there was greeting from some who may not have ever met Timothy in person. The four mentioned by name appear only here in 2 Timothy, and they are included in a general greeting from “all the brothers.” The final words hold the very important element of that which binds all believers together: that the Lord Jesus Christ would be always with our spirit through his grace. May it be so!