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Let’s choose seven themes from this chapter,
one for each day of the week, for personal study. We’ll add a parallel passage
each day for further consideration. Then we’ll pose some questions for thought
and discussion.
DAY
1 – A Solemn Charge: Preach the Word! (2 Tim 4:1-2).
See Tit 2:15.
See Tit 2:15.
DAY
2 – An Itching Church: Do Your Job! (2 Tim 4:3-5).
See 2 Tim 3:14-17.
See 2 Tim 3:14-17.
DAY
3 – An Imminent Change: I am Leaving! (2 Tim 4:6-8).
See 2 Pet 1:12-15.
See 2 Pet 1:12-15.
DAY
4 – A Timely Call: Come to Me! (2 Tim 4:9-13).
See Phil 4:10-20.
See Phil 4:10-20.
DAY
5 – An Urgent Care: Beware of Foes! (2 Tim 4:14-15).
See Acts 13:44-52.
See Acts 13:44-52.
DAY
6 – A Clear Course: Give God Glory! (2 Tim 4:16-18).
See John 16:32.
See John 16:32.
DAY
7 – A Fitting Close: Greet and Meet! (2 Tim 4:19-22).
See Tit 3:12-15.
See Tit 3:12-15.
Questions
for Thought and Discussion
Why
would Paul refer to God, Christ Jesus, His coming, and the judgment, the living
and the dead, His appearing, and His kingdom in giving this charge?
What
is the preacher’s primary job?
What
may distract a preacher from doing “the work of an evangelist”?
Why
do people abandon clear, biblical preaching? Where do they turn instead?
What
popular, non-biblical ideas and doctrines today “tickle itching ears”?
Does
this reality make Timothy’s role more difficult, or more urgently needed?
Describe
Paul’s attitude toward his life and death. See Acts 20:24; 21:13.
Discuss
“poured out like a drink offering.”
How
is the Christian life similar to a fight and a race? How will the winners be
crowned?
Does
Paul sound lonely? Who or what does he miss most in prison?
How
eager is Paul for Timothy to visit him? Who needs whom?
Why
would he want “the scrolls, especially the parchments?”
Was
Demas once faithful? See Col 4:14; Phm 1:24.
What
is there in “this present world” that may have drawn Demas (or may draw us)
to forsake God’s way?
Check
a Bible dictionary for articles on Crescens, Titus, Luke, Mark, Tychicus,
Carpus, Alexander, Priscilla, Aquila, Onesiphorus, Erastus, Trophimus, Eubulus,
Pudens, Linus, and Claudia.
Why
might the New Testament not give us more detail about some of these characters?
Compare
Paul’s desire for divine justice (“The Lord will repay Alexander.”) with his
plea for divine grace (“May it not be held against them.”). How can these attitudes
both coexist in a Christian?
Paul
was deserted by all. How discouraging! Why didn’t he quit preaching?
“Rescued
from the lion’s mouth” – see Daniel 6. Compare 1 Cor 15:32.
In
the past the Lord delivered Paul from death.
Now He will deliver Paul through death.
Which is better? See Heb 11:32-40.
“I
left Trophimus sick.” What does this indicate about healing miracles in the New
Testament?
Note:
the “you” in the closing “Grace be with you” is plural in Greek, as also
in 1 Tim 6:21. These letters, written specifically to Timothy, were also
intended to be read to the entire church.
----
Cast of Lesser-Known Characters (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
DEMAS Companion and coworker of Paul the
apostle (Col 4:14). Though in Phm 24 Paul identified Demas as a “coworker,” 2 Tim
4:10 indicates that this man later deserted Paul, having “loved this present
world.”
CRESCENS Personal name
meaning “growing.” Christian worker with Paul who had gone to Galatia when 2
Timothy was written (2 Tim 4:10).
TYCHICUS Personal name
meaning “fortunate.” One of Paul’s fellow workers in the ministry. A native of
Asia Minor (Acts 20:4), he traveled with the apostle on the third missionary
journey. Tychicus and Onesimus carried the Colossian letter from Paul (Col
4:7–9) and were to relate to the church Paul’s condition. Paul also sent
Tychicus to Ephesus on one occasion (2 Tim 4:12) and possibly to Crete on
another (Tit 3:12). Tradition holds that he died a martyr.
CARPUS Personal name
meaning “fruit.” A Christian friend with whom Paul left his cloak in Troas. He
asked Timothy to retrieve it for him (2 Tim 4:13).
ALEXANDER Five NT men
including the son of Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21), a relative of Annas (Acts
4:6), a Jew of Ephesus (Acts 19:33), a false teacher (1 Tim 1:19–20), and a
coppersmith (2 Tim 4:14).
ONESIPHORUS Personal name
meaning “profit bearing.” Ephesian Christian praised for his effort to seek out
the place of Paul’s arrest, his disregard of the shame connected with
befriending one in chains, and his past service in Ephesus (2 Tim 1:16–18). The
greeting of and prayer for the household of Onesiphorus (2 Tim 1:16; 4:19) has
suggested to some that he was already dead. All that can be assumed is that
Onesiphorus was not at Ephesus.
ERASTUS Personal name
meaning “beloved.” 1. Disciple Paul
sent with Timothy from Ephesus to Macedonia to strengthen the churches during
his third missionary journey (Acts 19:22). 2.
City financial officer of Corinth who joined Paul in greeting the church at
Rome (Rom. 16:23). He may have been a slave or a freed slave working for the
city government; he may well have been a high-ranking and influential
government leader—city treasurer. If so, he would have political power,
prestige, and probably some wealth. 3.
Disciple who remained at Corinth and was not with Paul when he wrote Timothy (2
Tim 4:20). He may have been identical with either of the other men named
Erastus or may be a separate individual.
TROPHIMUS Personal name
meaning “nutritious.” Gentile Christian from Ephesus who accompanied Paul to
Jerusalem for the presentation of the collection (Acts 20:4; 21:29). Paul’s
free association with Trophimus led to the false charge that Paul had defiled
the temple by bringing a Gentile within the Court of Israel (Acts 21:19). The
Trophimus whom Paul left in Miletus (2 Tim 4:20) is either another Trophimus or
else evidence for a second Roman imprisonment. According to Acts, Paul did not
pass by Miletus on his way to Rome.
EUBULUS Latin name meaning
“good counsel.” Companion of Paul who sent greetings to Timothy (2 Tim 4:21).
PUDENS Latin name meaning
“modest.” Roman Christian who greeted Timothy (2 Tim 4:21). This Pudens is
sometimes identified with the friend of the Roman poet Martial.
LINUS Latin name possibly meaning “linen.”
Paul’s companion who sent greetings to Timothy (2 Tim 4:21). Early church
tradition identified him as the first bishop of the church at Rome, but it is
doubtful Rome had only one bishop that early in its history.
CLAUDIA Woman who sent greetings
to Timothy (2 Tim 4:21).
