God Speaks
And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus—who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom— 2 to preach the Word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not. Correct and rebuke your people when they need it, encourage them to do right, and all the time be feeding them patiently with God’s Word.
3 For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. 4 They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.
5 Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ. Leave nothing undone that you ought to do.
6 I say this because I won’t be around to help you very much longer. My time has almost run out. Very soon now I will be on my way to heaven. 7 I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting and rest. 8 In heaven a crown is waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And not just to me but to all those whose lives show that they are eagerly looking forward to his coming back again.
9 Please come as soon as you can, 10 for Demas has left me. He loved the good things of this life and went to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for I need him. 12 (Tychicus is gone too, as I sent him to Ephesus.) 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left at Troas with Brother Carpus, and also the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm. The Lord will punish him, 15 but be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.
16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was here to help me. Everyone had run away. I hope that they will not be blamed for it. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me the opportunity to boldly preach a whole sermon for all the world to hear. And he saved me from being thrown to the lions. 18 Yes, and the Lord will always deliver me from all evil and will bring me into his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Please say hello for me to Priscilla and Aquila and those living at the home of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.
21 Do try to be here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the others. 22 May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Farewell, Paul
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: The Apostle Paul closes this letter with a solemn charge (with God the Father and Jesus Christ as witness) to Timothy as well as instructions for what to do regarding certain people and some of Paul’s possessions. The charge was for Timothy to preach the Word, always using it gently and patiently but firmly to challenge, correct, rebuke, and instruct the people that God put in His path. In the future people would not stand for sound teaching. They would flock to preachers who made them feel good and not necessarily do good God’s way. Timothy was to stay faithful to the task of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and bringing other people to faith in Him, regardless of any suffering. Paul gave a strong affirmation of his ministry and his confidence in the eternal reward he would receive when the Lord returned. Then Paul gave Timothy specific instructions: Come quickly because Demas had left to pursue worldly things. Crescens, Titus, and Tychicus had all left for other assignments. Only Luke was there with Paul. Timothy was to bring the cloak, the books, the parchments, and Mark with him when he came before winter. He was to beware of Alexander the coppersmith. In the middle of these instructions Paul forgave those who had left him, praised the Lord for past deliverances, and expressed confidence in the future. Timothy was to greet Priscilla and Aquila and receive greetings from several other brothers in the faith. Paul closed by praying that the presence of Jesus Christ and His grace would be with Timothy.
Prayer: Dear Almighty God, thank You that near the end of his life Paul was able to pass on this charge to Timothy. He was to continue preaching the word as Paul had so faithfully done since his experience with Christ on the road to Damascus. Along with Timothy, You charge all Christian leaders to correct, rebuke, and instruct the people in the ways of God gently and patiently, whether it is convenient or not. Help me to take up the challenge of doing “the work of an evangelist.” May I faithfully carry out the calling You have for my life. At the end of my life, may I, like Paul, be able to say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also who love his appearing.”* May others be able to say the same. We will only be able to do so by Your grace and empowerment. May even my final instructions to my loved ones and friends be interrupted by an expression of thanksgiving, praise, and confidence in my eternal reward with You, Lord. AMEN
*(2 Timothy 4:17-18 KJV)
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will try to contact older mentors in the faith and thank them for the impact they have had in my life.
- I will try to contact younger people in the faith and thank them for the blessing they have been in my life.
- I will ask for the help of the Holy Spirit in completing the task God has assigned to me.
- I will continue to mentor and encourage other believers (and not-yet believers) the Lord has placed around me.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.