SOLEMNLY URGE YOU. How impressive this message from the aged Paul, as he stands _at the edge of the grave. "_I have fully instructed you in all that you must do, and you already know the Jewish Scriptures and the things that will make up the Christian Scriptures, in which the Good News is both expla... [ Continue Reading ]
TO PREACH THE MESSAGE. Timothy is to "shout it from the housetops!" TO INSIST. "Not take NO for an answer!" WHETHER THE TIME. "Time is so short that you must use each opportunity as it comes along, and not wait for a better one." TO CONVINCE. Especially convince false teachers of what is true. REPRO... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIME WILL COME. It was already there! See note on 1 Timothy 4:1. AND WILL COLLECT. They will run from teacher to teacher until they find one who says what they are itching to hear! [They wanted some one to tell them that they could go on living in sin and still be saved!]... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WILL. Because they really do not want _truth,_ they will turn to the legends, etc., of the false teachers. See 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 3:7 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU. "You must neither fail to act nor overreact, You must calmly evaluate these things and put a stop to trouble before it begins." ENDURE SUFFERING. "The enemies of the Good News will make you suffer!" DO THE WORK, Christian leadership is based upon service (see notes _on_ John 13:4-5). PREACH... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR ME. "I have done my best! Now my King is calling me from the field of action. You will no longer have me to depend upon." TO BE SACRIFICED. Paul uses a word which points out his own death as a sacrifice to God. Compare what he says in Philippians 2:17 with Numbers 15:1-10; Numbers 28:4-8. See... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE DONE MY BEST. The TEV translates this correctly. See note on 1 Timothy 6:12. Paul used symbolism from the Games. THE FULL DISTANCE. He did not _drop out,_ but went the full distance in the race of Christian life. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. This is Paul's climax!!! This does not contradict Philipp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW. "All fears of death vanish when I think of the reward which God has for me!" THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This also is from the Games where the winners received a crown of leaves as the symbol of their victory! The gold fillet worn by the High Priest was called a crown _of righteousness._ AN... [ Continue Reading ]
To come to me. He wants Timothy to be with him during these last days on earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEMAS. Demas _ran out on_ Paul. Demas had been much help (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24), and he may have been the one who "wrote down" the Letter to the Colossians. He may have been ashamed of Paul's suffering. Compare 2 Timothy 1:8. CRESCENS. Paul does not say the Crescens or Titus _deserted_ him... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY LAKE. There would be thousands of Christians in Rome at this time. Paul says "only Luke," meaning that his fellow workers and associates had all left Rome. Compare 2 Timothy 4:21. GET MARK. This is John Mark, and he seems to be at Ephesus just now. See the introduction to Mark's Gospel. He CAN... [ Continue Reading ]
I SENT TYCHICUS. He may have taken this letter to Timothy, and replaced him at Ephesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING MY COAT. He will need this warm winter coat in the dungeon. This was a circular cape which would come below the knees, with a hole in the center for the head to go through. BRING the books. We do not know what these books were. We would expect him to have copies of the Old Testament in Greek ... [ Continue Reading ]
ALEXANDER THE METALWORKER. _MacKnight_ identifies him as the one who was in the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:33). DID ME GREAT HARM. If this took place at Ephesus, Timothy would already know about it. _MacKnight_ thinks he must have stirred up the Gentile and Jewish unbelievers in Rome, and perhaps caus... [ Continue Reading ]
BE ON YOUR GUARD. Alexander might soon return to Ephesus. Timothy is to be on his guard wherever he meets such as this man.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO ONE STOOD BY ME. Paul must be speaking about his preliminary trial, which would take place when he was brought to Rome after his arrest the second time. He is writing to Timothy before his second and final trial, but he is certain what the verdict will be. This is the last year of the reign of Em... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE LORD. Here was the source of Paul's confidence. The Lord was with him!!! SO THAT I WAS ABLE. _MacKnight_ thinks this means he preached the Good News to Nero himself, or at least one of his representatives. _The Expositor's Greek Testament_ says: "We annex a territory by the mere act of plant... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD. Evidently not _from_ death, but _in_ death. Compare 2 Timothy 4:6. INTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM. This sounds a lot like Revelation 11:11-12. See note on Luke 16:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO PRISCILLA AND AQUILA. Long time friends and co-workers. Some see meaning in the fact that her name is mentioned first. ONESIPHORUS. See note on 2 Timothy 1:16. SOME THINK THIS FORM IMPLIES THE death of Onesiphorus. _MacKnight_ says: "But Onesiphorus at this time was with the apostle in Rome, 2 Ti... [ Continue Reading ]
ERASRUS. Probably his home town (Romans 16:23). I LEFT TROPHIMUS. These personal details were better understood by Timothy than by us. This verse proves that this Letter does not belong to the time of Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, since years had passed since his last visit to Miletus, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
COME BEFORE WINTER. In was too dangerous to sail during the winter. Compare Acts 27:9-20. The four names mentioned here are all of Roman character. These were all friends who lived at Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD BE WITH YOUR SPIRIT. This is directed to Timothy. It takes on deep meaning when compared with 2 Timothy 1:7-8; 2 Timothy 1:14; 2 Timothy 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 3:5. GOD'S GRACE BE WITH YOU ALL. Paul uses the plural form of "you" to include all who are with Timothy (the whole church... [ Continue Reading ]