2 Timothy 4
1 I solemnly charge {you} in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but {wanting} to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
As a person goes through life, there is a time when they are open to sound doctrine. Once that time goes away, they cannot endure sound doctrine. We have to be able to recognize when a person is open to sound doctrine, and at that time we have to be ready to preach the truth to them whether that time is convenient to us or not. We have to instruct, reprove, rebuke and exhort, and to know when to use each. This is a serious matter to whom such responsibility is given, for God is going to evaluate how well we did on the Day of Judgment.
To meet the challenge, one has to be sober in all things, and be willing to endure hardship.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Paul realized that his time was up, and that is why he felt it was time to pass the baton to someone else. When he looked around for who to pass the baton to, he found that most of his co-workers were not good enough. There was Titus, but he was not as eligible as Timothy. Timothy was not ideal but he was the best there was. Demas was compromised. Crescens didn’t stay long enough. Luke’s ministry was not aligned. Mark was useful but he wasn’t as good as Timothy or Titus. Tychicus, Onesiphorus, and many others, were good, but not as good as Timothy. Here is the question you should ask: if God had to choose, would He choose you? What are you doing to ensure that you would be God’s choice person for any important task that He had in your locality?
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
God is a righteous Judge; He will not give a reward to anyone who doesn’t deserve it. He will not consult with men in deciding who to give what.
Paul looked back upon how he conducted himself throughout his life, and he felt confident that he was faithful to God, and that he would receive the crown of righteousness. Yes, he made mistakes, but he set things right and moved on.
Will you be able to say the same thing Paul said? Are you firmly grounded in the truth? Are you worshiping the real God? Are you where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do? Have you used your time and money and spiritual gifts in the way God wanted you to?
You must honestly ask yourself these questions, and ask them continually. Otherwise, you may have to endure great regret on the Day of Judgment.
9 Make every effort to come to me soon;
10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens {has gone} to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
12 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
Paul updates Timothy on the status of their co-workers.
Demas, who is also mentioned in Col 4:14 and Philemon 1:24, was once a loyal co-worker of Paul, but in the end, he deserted Paul. This can happen to anyone who is not careful. Not everyone could have entered Paul’s team, so it must be that at one point Demas was a terrific guy. But the world became too attractive to him and he was unwilling to endure the hardship, and ended up leaving Paul.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
There will always be people who will oppose the truth and try to harm those who preach the truth. But we should always remember that God is in control, and we should let the Lord repay them in His time.
16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him {be} the glory forever and ever. Amen.
A man of God must be prepared for anything, and he must be willing to stand for the truth even if everyone deserts him. The only persons he can count on is God. It is a difficult, lonely road among men, but God stands by us and makes it worthwhile. He will never leave us or forsake us, and is with us through the ups and the downs. Just like He provided Elijah with bread and meat via the ravens, at the appropriate time, He provides us with whatever is necessary, and more than that, our cup overflows. Never underestimate the Almighty God who cares intensely for His prophets and servants.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.
These are some final greetings to friends, and status updates.
21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.
These are some final greetings from friends.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Paul ends by wishing Timothy grace and peace from God.
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