“In the epistles to the Philippians and to Philemon, written during his first imprisonment, Paul confidently looked forward to a release, and to a speedy departure from Rome. In this second epistle to Timothy, he had no such expectation. Thus he tells the Philippians, (PHIL 2:24) "I trust in the Lord, that I myself shall come shortly." See also PHIL 1:24. In the epistle to Philemon, PHILM 1:22, he says, "But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you."
In this epistle, however, the author had no such expectation.
2 TIMOTHY 4:6,
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 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.
After what some calculate to be about thirty five years in the ministry as an apostle of Jesus Christ, “Paul the aged” is nearing the end of his race. He must soon say goodbye to this world, and to those who he labored with, and most especially the one he referred to as “my true son in the faith”, Timothy. In this, Paul’s last epistle before his execution, he referred to the young man as “a beloved son”.
The tone of this last epistle has a somberness to it, of deep intimacy with this young man who learned much from the elder and apostle. There is a great deal of admonition here, a directness regarding Paul charge to Timothy and a reminder for faithful stewardship.
If first impressions are lasting impressions, then last words are most remembered words.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to have someone like Paul of Tarsus as your personal tutor? A vast intellect, a profound scholarship, a fiery passion, and a warrior’s heart was Paul the apostle.
In contrast, we had Timothy the timid, the sensitive, the thoughtful, devoted to his elders, an avid student and one that had a good reputation (ACTS 16:1-2) which Paul attested and agreed (with the assessment of others regarding this pastor).
The sorrow of this departure between mentor and disciple, and of father and son is but a momentary sorrow; our sorrow is not like that of the ungodly – for they have no hope after death, and we have every hope, placed solely upon the risen LORD of Glory Who defeated sin, death and hell, the LORD Jesus Christ (1 THESS 4:13)!
Like Paul, may we at the end of our own lives say,
2 TIMOTHY 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
So let’s get into the first chapter of this last epistle of the apostle Paul:
If first impressions are lasting impressions, then last words are most remembered words.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to have someone like Paul of Tarsus as your personal tutor? A vast intellect, a profound scholarship, a fiery passion, and a warrior’s heart was Paul the apostle.
In contrast, we had Timothy the timid, the sensitive, the thoughtful, devoted to his elders, an avid student and one that had a good reputation (ACTS 16:1-2) which Paul attested and agreed (with the assessment of others regarding this pastor).
The sorrow of this departure between mentor and disciple, and of father and son is but a momentary sorrow; our sorrow is not like that of the ungodly – for they have no hope after death, and we have every hope, placed solely upon the risen LORD of Glory Who defeated sin, death and hell, the LORD Jesus Christ (1 THESS 4:13)!
Like Paul, may we at the end of our own lives say,
2 TIMOTHY 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
So let’s get into the first chapter of this last epistle of the apostle Paul:
