2 Timothy 4:9-18--Personal Instructions

2 Timothy 4:9-18
English Standard Version

Personal Instructions
9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Paul knows he is not going to be able to go to Timothy (though that is his desire), so he tells Timothy to do his best to come to him soon.  Not only does he long to see his spiritual son, but the others who are supposed to be with Paul have left him now that he is imprisoned and awaiting execution.  Demas has deserted Paul, going back to Thessalonica (Paul does not have nice things to say about him),  Crescens  has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.  Only Luke remains with Paul to be his friend and help take care of him (remember that Luke is also a medical doctor and has been Paul's constant companion since the First Missionary Journey).  Paul asks Timothy to get Mark and send him to Paul, because Mark is useful to his ministry (this is Paul finally forgiving him for what happened in the book of Acts and seeking restoration).

Some people are gone and not with Paul because Paul sent them to check on churches that Paul will not be able to visit.  Tychicus was sent to Ephesus.  Paul spent much time there with that church and he cared very much about them (as did the apostle John). 

Paul then instructs Timothy to bring his cloak when he comes because it it starting to get cold.  He left it with Carpus at Troas.  Above all else, he also wants Timothy to bring him his scrolls and parchments (copies of the Scriptures that he had access to).  This is more important to him than friends or warm clothes.  He needs to be able to study the Scriptures and write effective letters to the churches.

Paul then warns Timothy of the danger of Alexander the coppersmith.  Paul wants to let the Lord take vengeance on him for the great harm he has done, but he wants Timothy and everyone else to watch out for him, because he is no friend to them or the gospel.  Paul notes that all of his friends deserted him (none would stand by his side at his trial).  Only the Lord stood with Paul, but that was enough.  He made it clear to Paul that he was still to preach the gospel to many Gentiles, including in the courts of the kings and governors who were holding him for trial.  We read about some of this at the end of the book of Acts.

During this first set of trials, Paul was rescued from death (what he calls "the lions mouth," because he probably would have been thrown to the lions as his punishment).  Even now as he is waiting to die (he knows this time his sentence will be death), he knows the Lord will deliver him through death, not from death.  Even death cannot be victorious because death has been defeated and Paul knows to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  The Lord will deliver Paul to the heavenly kingdom which has been prepared for Paul and everyone else who belongs to Christ.  This thought causes Paul to burst out in praise (what we call doxology) reminding us that God alone is to get all the glory and honor and praise both now and forevermore.  Then Paul finishes this passage with an "Amen."  This essentially closes the letter with the exception of his Final Greetings that we'll talk about next time.