2 tim 4:1-22

March 19, 2009
    

1:1 PAUL, AN apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

1.        And he was appointed that he might proclaim that eternal life which God had in view for mankind by the incarnation of his Son Jesus Christ, and which was the end of all the promises he had made to men, and the commandments he had delivered to all his prophets since the world began

2 To Timothy, [my] beloved child: Grace (favor and spiritual blessing), mercy, and [heart] peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

1.       Grace: charis, mercy: from eleos: compassion

2.       Peace: Greek, eirene: prosperity

3 I thank God Whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers,

1.       Paul thanked God that he was enabled to pray for “others” . Paul understood the commandment of the Lord to “love your neighbor as yourself.

4 And when, as I recall your tears, I yearn to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

1.       This shows the Paul’s affectionate regards for Timothy, whom he appears to have loved as a father loves his only son.

5 I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also.

1.       Faith: Greek Pistis: same word used in Heb 11:1, “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”

6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

1.       Stir up: Greek: anazapureo: to re-enkindle

2.       Gift: Greek: charisma: a gratuity, free gift

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

1.       Power: Gr. Dunamis, Love; Gr. Agape; self discipline: a sound mind; Gr. sophronismos

8 Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

1.       Sufferings: to suffer hardship in company with.

2.       No parent could love a child better than Paul loved Timothy; Paul could wish him nothing but what was great, honorable, and good, wishes him to be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel! Because, to suffer for Christ, and suffer with Christ, was the highest glory to which any human being in this state could arrive.

9[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

1.       Saved: Sozo: To save, deliver or protect

2.       Grace: Charis: benefit, gratitude, gift.

10[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.

1.       By death here, we are not to understand merely natural death, but that corruption and decomposition which take place in consequence of it; and which would be naturally endless, but for the work and energy of Christ. By him alone, comes the resurrection of the body; and through him eternal life and glory are given to the souls of believers.

2.       Life eternal, or the doctrine of life eternal, even implying the resurrection of the body, was not unknown among the Jews. They expected this, for they found it in their prophets.

3.       Jesus Christ died, he arose again from the dead, and thus illustrated the doctrine of the resurrection: he took the same human body up into heaven, in the sight of his disciples; and ever appears in the presence of God for us; and thus, has illustrated the doctrine of incorruption. In his death, resurrection, and ascension, the doctrine the resurrection of the human body, and its final incorruptibility, are fully illustrated by example, and established by fact.

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.

1.       Luke was very attached to Paul & it is supposed continued with him even to his martyrdom.

2.       John Mark, the sister’s son of Barnabas, wavered at first but became steady & zealous.

12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

13[When] you come, bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, also the books, especially the parchments.

1.       The writings were probable the Jewish Scriptures, and possibly a copy of the Septuagint.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great wrongs. The Lord will pay him back for his actions.

1.       He was probably not a tradesman, but some rabbi, for it was not unusual for the Jews to apply the name of some trade as an epithet to their rabbis & literary men.

2.       He’s probably the same one mentioned in Acts 19;33 and possibly the same that Paul excommunicated in 1 Tim 1:20.

15 Beware of him yourself, for he opposed and resisted our message very strongly and exceedingly.

1.       It seems that this rabbi traveled about from place to place to oppose the Gospel, probably sent by the Jews, even as Paul before his conversion was sent by the Jews.

16 At my first trial no one acted in my defense [as my advocate] or took my part or [even] stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them!

1.       So strong was Nero’s hatred & persecution of the Christians, that no-one would incur Nero’s wrath to defend Paul.

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.

1.       At this time, Helius Caesarinus was the prefect of the city, Nero was in Greece.

2.       He was a bloody tyrant, and Nero had given him the power of life and death in his absence; Paul may mean him.

18[And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and  draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

1.       None of the evil designs formed against Paul made him unfaithful, or unsteady, to cause Paul to save his life at the expense of faith and a good conscience.

19 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila and to the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed on at Corinth, but Trophimus I left ill at Miletus.

1.       Trophimus was an Ephesian, (Acts 20:4)

2.       Sick: Greek: astheneo: to be feeble.

21 Do hasten and try your best to come to me before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace (God's favor and blessing) be with you. Amen (so be it). 

AMP