no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not Second Timothy 4:9-22 is Paul's last written words before he was beheaded. Here the apostle was confined two whole years (58-60 2. Despite one successful trial, Paul knows he will not leave Rome alive. his personal condition just before his death. expression of the feelings of an old man living out evidence supports Pauline authorship of these We have concluded that his liberation took place early in A.D. 63. The Greeks commemorate his martyrdom on the 22nd of January, the day on which it is supposed he gave up his life in defense of the doctrine he had long labored to propagate; and during which time he had brought over great numbers of people to embrace the truth of the Christian religion. The "lion" here is very likely a reference to Satan, the malevolent schemer behind all the false charges that were laid against Paul, the one who had weakened the courage of the Christians so they dared not stand up along with the apostle. a good fight, I have finished the course, I have There is some slight evidence that the apostle was not beheaded until the spring of the year 68, and this letter was written in the late summer or fall of 67. Tradition tells us that he went down to Egypt and so ministered in the Christian community there that he won a position of respect. But that did not happen because, as Paul says, "The Lord stood by me." The developed theology of the letter, many believe, indicates that it was either composed by Paul in Rome about . continue the work on Crete (Titus 1:5). "He did me great harm," Paul says; he opposed Paul's message. written by the apostle Paul. AUTHOR: Timothy Received Paul's Second Letter After the apostle came to Rome in the year 65, being then very near his death, St. Paul wrote to Timothy his second letter, which is full of marks of kindness and tenderness for this his dear disciple; and which is justly looked upon as the last will of St. Paul. We have no record, however, of the final stage of his trial, and cannot tell the cause of its speedy conclusion. It is filled with In the city of Chichester in England, a plaque was dug up some time ago that had this king's name inscribed on it, and the name of his son-in-law was Pudens. Answer Timothy's death is not recorded in the Bible. 2 Tim. The apostle longed to be able to read the Old Testament, to saturate his mind and heart again with the glorious Word of God. will and testament of sorts, the "dying wish" of the The diversity of subjects would what type of danger zone is needed for this exercise. Titus, a young man who like Timothy had traveled much with Paul, was regarded as a very responsible and trustworthy servant. Paul also sends greetings to the family of Onesiphorus, who is currently with Paul in Rome (see 2 Timothy 1:16-18). Last week I was in San Antonio, Texas, teaching all of the Apostle Paul's thirteen letters in one week to a group of teaching leaders for Bible Study Fellowship. The fact that he was sent by the apostle to these fickle and easily influenced Galatians, to whom the letter to the Galatians was written, indicates that he was probably a very trustworthy servant of Christ who could help these people in their struggles and problems. is free to use this material and 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. appearing" (2 Tim. 2 Tim. faithful old apostle to the Gentiles saying One reason was that Demas, who had been Paul's fellow worker, had forsaken him. of starting the blaze, he blamed the Christians and personal letters. The Lord be with your spirit. He was to die by decapitation. : (I pray that God will not lay it to their charge.) Paul's Letters to Galatia & Thessalonica, The risen Lord Jesus appears to his followers, Christ's Victory Parade & the New Covenant, 15. suggesting Timothy was imprisoned elsewhere while Paul was awaiting Demas, perhaps, came from Thessalonica, to which he had returned, lured away from the apostle's side by the bright lights, the pleasures and prosperity of the city. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? St. Paul wrote to him from Macedonia the first of the two letters which are addressed to him. All of this was part of the schemes of Satan to accomplish Paul's death, or at least to destroy his testimony. Emperor Nero died in June, A.D. 68 so the letter Paul was charged as a criminal (2 Tim. . Notice how he stresses that, "Above all bring the parchments." | GotQuestions.org, What does 1 Timothy 3:15 mean when it says that the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth? writing his letter to the Philippian church. 2:9). He was led out on the Ostian Way, he placed his head on the executioner's block, the axe flashed in the sun, and Paul found himself at that great Day when the Lord himself gave him the crown of glory, and along with him all people from all ages and time who have come to love the appearing of Jesus. . See on 2 Timothy 2:15, and comp. It appears that Alexander the coppersmith (2Timothy 4:14) was either one of Apostle Paul's accusers, or, at least, a witness against him. Timothy c. A. D. 63, from Macedonia, perhaps dark, damp Roman dungeon. Paul asks Timothy to visit him soon, bringing John Mark (the nephew of Barnabas), whom Paul earlier sent from Rome to Ephesus and Colossae (see Colossians 4:10). In his Second Letter to Timothy, written shortly before his death, Paul tells Timothy about his fellow-workers who are still with him in Rome, or who have left Rome for more distant parts: Demas (see Colossians 4:14 & Philemon 1:24) has deserted Paul and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has journeyed to Galatia and Titus has been sent by Paul to Dalmatia (see Titus 3:12). this letter was written in Rome, but logistically it more plausible If that is so, why then does Paul leave Trophimus ill, especially when as an apostle he had had remarkable demonstrations of the ability to heal the sick? Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me. No works of Paul are more coming from Paul. Nero may put him to death on earth, but that will not in any way remove him from the kingdom of heaven and the opportunity to be with the Lord; in fact, it only will open the door for him. Roman imprisonment about A.D. 63. One was the silversmith in Ephesus who led the riot, recorded in the eighteenth chapter of Acts, that threatened the apostle's life. Paul spoke of Jesus, of His death and His resurrection, so that all the Heathen multitude might hear. PAUL FROM THE BIBLE. (2Timothy 4:16-18 RSV). Through the dust and tumult of that busy throng, the small troop of soldiers threaded their way silently, under the bright sky of an Italian midsummer. Verse16: At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. He might certainly be regarded as an offender against the law which prohibited the propagation of a new and illicit religion among the citizens of Rome. A new nation? There is an excellent example of how to deal with those who mistreat us. I have fought It is because of a lack of faith, they say. B. Rome [Hebrews] 1. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. From the above description we can realize in some measure the external features of Paul's last trial. In the Benediction in Hebrews, the author indicates that trial. the lion's mouth. 4:9-12 Paul asks Timothy to visit him as soon as possible, bringing John Mark with him. The Philosopher, the Lover & the Mourner, Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets, Amos denounces social injustice in Israel, Hosea laments the unfaithfulness of Israel, Micah decries social injustice in Israel and Judah, 39. Do your best to come before winter. At no time do we ever find Peter in Rome. That is the foundation of life, the rock upon which all else must be built: the union of our spirit with the Lord's Spirit to make us new persons in Christ. did timothy make it to rome to see paulhuntsville texas weather did timothy make it to rome to see paul. . Timothy is asked to come to be a comfort to Paul, and also to be strengthened by Paul, for carrying on the Gospel work after Paul's decease. He is the One on whom you can always count. climax comes in 4:6-8. As far as we know, this is the last picture we have of Demas. Innumerable schools, colleges, societies and institutions have been named for this great apostle. For we must remember, that, since the time of Augustus, a great though silent change had taken place in the Roman system of criminal procedure. to Rome in order to rebuild it to his own designs. The only facts that we can know for certain come from the context of her . . Timothy applied himself to labor with St. Paul in the business of the gospel and did him very important services. friend. Timothy. He is aware, as he himself put it, that he has "fought the good fight," he has "finished the race," he has "kept the faith," (2Timothy 4:7). In his sermon McCartney imagines that Timothy said to himself, "Yes, I must go to Rome but first I must attend to some matters in Ephesus." And because he delays, winter comes and he cannot get a ship until spring. But notice again Paul's lack of vindictiveness. I have fought Timothy (1:2). He was delivered from the immediate peril, and saved from the ignominious and painful death which might have been his doom had he been convicted on such a charge. The Journey continues from Sinai to Moab, The Israelites defeat King Sihon and King Og, The Israelites defeat the kings of Midian, Canaan is divided among the twelve tribes, 28. 2 Tim. 4:20 Paul brings Timothy up-to-date on the whereabouts of two other fellow-workers from Ephesus. 2 Tim. What is the Denouement of the story a day in the country? Paul writes a word of encouragement and warning as expression of the feelings of an old man living out But there is no proof that these two Alexanders were identical. The Lord gave him the strength to do that. Pick and strengthened me, in order that through me the Even though the next time would surely mean a sentence of death, he says, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom," (Verse 18). He certainly did not expect a final acquittal, but felt no doubt that the cause would ultimately result in his condemnation. in AD 62. that he be strong in the task to which God has to "come before winter.". Then Paul adds, "only Luke is with me." There is very little evidence for that. (2Timothy 4:22a RSV). 1:3). Wil is a graduate of William Carey Then he left Titus to In this beautiful verse, he expresses his feeling that he is safe in the Lord's hands. "The books" would seem to be a reference to papyrus books. Nero set fire to Rome in order to rebuild it to his own designs. Some years after this, St. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia; and gave Timothy orders to call at Corinth to refresh the minds of the Corinthians with regard to the truths which he had inculcated in them. servant meaning they where chained down in prison. The Apostle Paul's Birth & Educationc. Scripture quoted by permission. Unless otherwise noted "Scripture The World of the New Testament Journeys, English Translations of the New Testament, Jesus teaches how to receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus is changed on the slopes of Mount Hermon, Jesus heralds the end of the sacrificial system, The believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen is killed & the believers are scattered, 9. Now he is back in Ephesus, and Paul asks Timothy to bring Mark with him because, as he puts it, "he is very useful in serving me." Paul writes to his close missionary associate The fact that he does not heal Trophimus is very clear evidence that God does not always choose to allow his people to be well. 4:6-8). faithful old apostle to the Gentiles saying becoming a Christian here is under any circumstances whatsoever Released from the Acts 28, 2 year imprisonment in early 63 AD 2. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. Again, William Barclay says that it was a Roman custom that when a citizen was being taken to Rome for trial he was permitted to take two slaves with him. 15You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. The difficulty of dating this letter is that we know Rather Paul obeys his own injunction in Romans12, reminding himself that the Lord has said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay," (Romans 12:19). tenderness and sadness, yet triumph, glory and deep scholars believe Paul was acquitted at this "first" Paul's Letters to Ephesus, Colossae & Philippi, 17. Then, though necessarily fettered to his military guard, he had been allowed to live in his own lodgings, and had been suffered to preach the Gospel to a numerous company who came to hear him. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. be counted against them. He also writes to encourage Timothy But, at this period, one article of accusation against Paul must have been the more serious charge of having instigated the Roman Christians to their supposed act of incendiarism before his last departure from the capital. Paul himself had a "thorn in the flesh" (1Corinthians 12:7), and here he leaves a companion ill. (Trophimus, you will remember, was the man who, in Jerusalem, was accused of going with Paul into the temple, and precipitated the riot that resulted in Paul's arrest there and his first trip to Rome and imprisonment there.). This makes most sense if both are in prison, especially given the risk inherent in naming an accomplice who remains free. blamed the Christians for it and ordered them all to He a good fight, I have finished the course, I have Polycarp, Clement of Rome allude This was a great heartbreak to the apostle; he writes these words with a tremendous sense of loss. Free Bible studies indexed by Bible references and doctrines. And this jurisdiction was exercised not only by themselves, but by the delegates whom they appointed. At his second imprisonment especially the parchments. Paul, either as a caregiver and fellow coworker (Roman prisons did We have seen some of these names before. Also, because Paul was a Roman citizen, the law required that he could not be executed by being thrown to the lions. Some have read that to mean that Paul was afraid he was going to be thrown to the lions in the Roman Coliseum. Or eternal life in God's kingdom? The only entrance to his cell was through a For the letter which summoned him could not have been despatched from Rome till the end of winter, and Apostle Paul's martyrdom took place in the middle of summer. 16At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. 15:24, 28), and may have been arrested later at "May it not be charged against them," he says; and he prays for those who forsook him in the hour of danger. Paul left Erastus in Corinth (2 Timothy 4:20; Erastus was anyway from Corinth, see Romans 16:23) and headed north and west toward Nicopolis, where he hoped Titus would join . As he was inprison several times, it is possible but mainly in up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to in store for him a "crown of righteousness." This holy disciple accompanied St. Paul to Macedonia, to Philippi, to Thessalonica, to Berea; and when the apostle went from Berea, he left Timothy and Silas there to confirm the converts. All rights reserved. Much of the problems and unexplainable difficulties that suddenly complicate all the things we are trying to do for the Lord are only part of the activities of the lion who is seeking to devour our faith, to destroy us and weaken our testimony for Christ. "Trophimus," Paul says, "I left ill at Miletus." Thus, Paul wants Timothy to make every effort to visit him "soon." Second Timothy 4:9 Please, don't delay, make every effort to come to me soon. . Paul the apostle (1:1). and taking tender concern for his son in the faith It is a spiritual last | GotQuestions.org, Timothy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com. This alteration in the treatment of Apostle Paul exactly corresponds with that which the history of the times would have led us to expect. kept the faith; in the future there is laid u for me Paul prayed for Timothy night and day (2 Tim. But more importantly, he wanted to see Timothy before he died. proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that . Continue Learning about Religious Studies. Grace be with you." It is not clear if Timothy was Later, Paul had him come to Rome with him, as we learn from one of the prison epistles. The General Roman Calendar venerates Timothy together with Titus by a memorial on 26 January, the day after the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. So Chaucer: "And night and day dide ever his diligence. The Lord will deliver me from Lord, we feel the challenge to our own hearts to be dedicated, responsible, trustworthy men and women who are not in love with the present world and will not turn back from the things of Christ, but will remain faithful to the end, testifying to the grace of God sustaining and keeping us through the pressures of life. Peter clearly gave preference to the Apostle Paul as we saw in our banner verse, 2nd Peter 3:16.When Peter erred, it wasn't made a rule in heaven, it was rebuked by the Apostle Paul, Galatians 2:11-21.In fact at no time does the Apostle Peter ever play the role given him by Roman Catholic theology. I have fought a good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. Paul's other companions had left him, probably before his arrival at Rome. We have only a limited knowledge of Pauls final days in Rome, awaiting execution in the Mamertine Prison adjacent to the Forum. We have seen that this was sooner than he had expected. When St. Paul came to Derbe and Lystra, about 51 or 52 A.D., the brethren gave such an advantageous testimony of the merit and good disposition of Timothy that the apostle Paul took Timothy with him in order to assist him in propagating the doctrine of his great Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. 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