Elder Devotional 2 Timothy 4:9-22 (ESV)
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I. Laborers in the Ministry (9-12): 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.
I. Laborers in the Ministry (9-12): 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.
As a co-laborer in the ministry of the gospel, Paul desires for Timothy to come to him as soon as possible (9).
Paul then mentions others who have left him. Demas (Col.4:14) has “deserted” Paul due to his love for this present world (10a). This appears to be a negative reference to Demas but should not be necessarily interpreted that he had left the Christian faith (Guthrie) .
Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia but both of these men don’t seem to have left on the same terms as Demas (10b). This is probably taking place after Titus ministry in Crete.
Luke is with Paul, and Paul appeals to Timothy to bring Mark (11). This is very interesting due to past issues where Mark abandoned Paul and Barnabas on the mission field (See Acts 13:13; 15:37-39). But here is seems that Paul now has a need for Mark.
Paul has sent Tychicus to Ephesus probably in order to relieve Timothy of his pastoral duties in order for him to go to Paul in Rome (12).
What kind of things do we learn here about co-laborers in the ministry?
II. Support in the Ministry (13-18): 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.
II. Support in the Ministry (13-18): 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.
Paul request that Timothy bring with him the cloak that Paul left behind and the “books (scrolls) and above all the parchments” (13). These books were probably resource material but the parchments are most likely copied manuscripts of Scripture from the Old Testament or legal papers that Paul needed (Guthrie).
Paul warns Timothy of “Alexander the coppersmith” as one who strongly opposes the message of the gospel. The wording that Paul uses denotes that it is likely that Alexander was a witness for the prosecution against the Apostle Paul (14-15).
Paul reveals that no one stood with him at his trial but he had no ill will toward them (16). He declares that the “Lord” stood by him and strengthened him in his time of need in order that Gentiles could hear the gospel. This appears to have lessened the punishment in the Apostle Paul’s eyes. He was rescued from the mouth of the lion (17).
It is believed due to the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius that the Apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome under the rule of Nero and was not killed in the arena by lions.
Paul was confident of the deliverance and faithfulness of the Lord and he knew that this life held no security for him. He was focused on a “heavenly kingdom” and the eternal glory of Christ (18).
What does this tell us about where the ultimate support for ministry comes from?
III. Final Greetings (19-22): 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
III. Final Greetings (19-22): 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
These final greetings are telling about many of the relationships that the Apostle Paul had with others. Obviously most of them centered around gospel ministry.
The reference to Trophimus as being “ill” is telling because it appears that Paul was not able to work a healing miracle. This should help inform us that not every person is healed supernaturally. Even Paul traveled with his own personal physician (Luke).