2Ti 4:7-8 | KingComments | STEP | . Paul looks back on his ministry. There is nothing that he regrets. What he did in the past still has its full value. He doesn’t speak like a worn out warrior who is glad he made it to the end. It is the acclamation of joy from a winner. When he says that he has “fought the good fight” he doesn’t emphasize the hardships and efforts and the sufferings that went hand in hand with it. For him the emphasis is on the privilege that he had by partaking of such an excellent fight. The fight here is the fight of a wrestler. Also “the course” is a sports term. It is about a race here. The race has been finished. He has reached the finish with full conviction. In Acts 20 he also speaks about a ‘course’ ( ; cf. ). There he looks forward, while here he looks back and sees the goal that he had set before him and which he indeed had reached. At the finish he notes that on his way he has defended and “kept the faith”, that is the whole truth of faith, against the countless attacks on it. He did not lose anything of all that the Lord has entrusted to him. . The only thing that’s left for him is to receive the crown. He looks like a wrestler here who has won and looks at the victory podium where he may go to receive the award. That will be given to him by the Lord, the perfectly righteous Judge, Who perfectly knows all his motives and efforts and Who is able to correctly recognize and reward everything. The reward consists of a public recognition of the Lord Jesus that Paul has lived as a righteous one in the midst of so much unrighteousness. In his life he had, by following his Master, suffered as an unrighteous one. “That day” is the day that the Lord Jesus will be seated on the judgment seat and will reveal all things ( ; ). This great perspective didn’t only keep Paul going, but he eagerly looked forward to it. And he also says that this doesn’t apply to himself alone, but also to you if you at least love the appearance of the Lord Jesus and eagerly look forward to that. Don’t you find it also wonderful that Paul, despite his miserable circumstances and the prospect of the martyr’s death, thinks of other people? When Christ appears He will be revealed to the world (cf. ). It is absolutely great to know that He will come first to catch up the church. But the world will sink down further into godlessness. When He appears He will make an end to that by judging all godlessness. Then He will carry out His plan with the earth, which is the territory of His kingdom. What a joy that will be to Him to reign on earth where He was rejected and killed and where He is still being rejected. He will then take the earth into possession for God, that God may be honored. You certainly look forward to that, don’t you? . The desire for the appearance of the Lord Jesus doesn’t make Paul insensitive for the help of other people. He is looking forward to see Timothy and he asks him to come as soon as possible and to do everything in his power to indeed come. He needed someone whom he could share the feelings of his heart with and who would surely understand him. . Demas is the first of seventeen names Paul mentions in this chapter. Although his days are numbered he thinks of others. With pain in his heart he mentions Demas. In two earlier letters he wrote during his first imprisonment, he also mentions Demas ( ; ). There he appears to be someone who is close to Paul and who helps him. Nevertheless his heart was apparently not undividedly focused on the Lord. It is not said that Demas is no longer a Christian and that he openly rejected the Lord. But it was not in his heart to bear the cross with the apostle. He started to love the world and forsook Paul. If you are not willing to pay the price of hardship and suffering, you will forsake the work of the Lord in favor of this present world. It doesn’t directly mean that Demas submitted himself to lawlessness, but that he searched his future in the world. Probably he chose for an honorable job that absorbed all his attention, however. He traveled to Thessalonica. The church there was a sound church. However, he was not interested. He searched the world there and not the brothers and sisters. His love for the world was in sharp contrast to the love for the appearance of the Lord Jesus in . What is said of Demas implies the warning not to let yourself be dragged down by the love for the present, but by the love for the coming. If you are perfectly comfortable in the present time, you will not look forward to the future time of Christ's reign. Especially young believers are highly attracted to the world. John particularly warns them not to love the world nor the things in the world ( ). The world is not only all kinds of lawlessness, lusts and desires. It is the world as it has become because of the fall of man, where men are in control, who live a life without reverence for God. It also includes hard working people, who pursue a career or who do researches and make discoveries that improve the quality of life. They receive a lot of respect. However, if there is no place for God, it is the world. Paul mentions two other ones, Crescens and Titus. They also left him. Of those it is not said that they have forsaken him. Most probably they went to another place in order to serve the Lord there. Of Crescens we do not know more than what is written here. Of Titus we know more, because Paul wrote him a letter that directly follows after this second letter to Timothy in the Bible. . Although these two have not forsaken him like Demas did, Paul feels very alone. Not only that he was left to his fate by most Christians ( ), but also his companions in the work have left. Fortunately there is someone with him, Luke. Luke has made the departure of the others, for whatever reason, easier for him. It would make Paul also happy if Timothy took Mark along with him. Probably Timothy could pick up Mark somewhere on his way. What Paul says about Mark indicates that he has seen a restoration with Mark in his relation to the Lord. Also Mark has left Paul once after he first went together with him ( ). The price for following the Lord together with Paul had become too high. Due to his attitude he even causes a distance between Paul and Barnabas ( ). Fortunately there has been a moment that Mark became aware of his wrong choice. He chose again for the Lord. In that way the disturbed relationship has been restored and therefore he became useful again for the service. The way Paul writes about him, suggests that Mark wants to be useful with more diligence and dedication. And isn’t it an amazing proof of the grace of the Lord that this failed servant has been allowed to describe the service of the perfect Servant in the Gospel according to Mark? The Lord always gives a failing servant the chance for a new start. . The three brethren of have left the apostle on the basis of their own decision. It was different with Tychicus, who was sent to Ephesus by the apostle. This Tychicus is a wonderful brother who is called by Paul a “beloved brother and faithful servant” ( ). He has delivered some letters that Paul has written during his first imprisonment: the letter to the Ephesians and the letter to the Colossians ( ; ). . His request to bring his cloak and the books shows once more that Paul is an ordinary man. He cares for both his body and his spirit. It is a real human letter from someone who is just a man like we are with his needs and desires. In the place where he is imprisoned it could be cold and his cloak would be useful. With winter approaching ( ) his desire for his cloak is greater. Paul would also be grateful to have the books and the parchments. Those are not necessarily the inspired Scriptures. He may have asked for scrolls of books and parchments (made of animal skins) with data that are valuable to him. He wants to refresh his spirit with those. It will not have been novels, as those today often filled with unbiblical fantasies of the writer from a vague memory of the Bible. . Paul is also not indifferent about the harm that other people do to him, like Alexander the coppersmith. You can fight physical cold with a cloak, but from this man comes a spiritual cold that is not to be fought. It is not said in what way this man caused Paul harm. Any way it is “much harm”. Nevertheless Paul doesn’t call for revenge, but leaves the judgment to the Lord. . While Paul puts this matter concerning himself into the hands of the Lord, he warns Timothy of this man. Timothy must keep on going; he is still in the midst of battle. We need to warn each other sometimes of people who oppose the Word. He is a dangerous man, who finds his own words more important than those of the Scripture. At the same time it is a test for ourselves, how we stand and how we respond. Such people teach us lessons on patience. Now read 2 Timothy 4:7-15 again. Reflection: Do you love the appearance of the Lord?

‏ 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Personal Circumstances

2Tim 4:7. Paul looks back on his ministry. There is nothing that he regrets. What he did in the past still has its full value. He doesn’t speak like a worn out warrior who is glad he made it to the end. It is the acclamation of joy from a winner. When he says that he has “fought the good fight” he doesn’t emphasize the hardships and efforts and the sufferings that went hand in hand with it. For him the emphasis is on the privilege that he had by partaking of such an excellent fight. The fight here is the fight of a wrestler.

Also “the course” is a sports term. It is about a race here. The race has been finished. He has reached the finish with full conviction. In Acts 20 he also speaks about a ‘course’ (Acts 20:24; cf. Phil 3:13-14). There he looks forward, while here he looks back and sees the goal that he had set before him and which he indeed had reached. At the finish he notes that on his way he has defended and “kept the faith”, that is the whole truth of faith, against the countless attacks on it. He did not lose anything of all that the Lord has entrusted to him.

2Tim 4:8. The only thing that’s left for him is to receive the crown. He looks like a wrestler here who has won and looks at the victory podium where he may go to receive the award. That will be given to him by the Lord, the perfectly righteous Judge, Who perfectly knows all his motives and efforts and Who is able to correctly recognize and reward everything.

The reward consists of a public recognition of the Lord Jesus that Paul has lived as a righteous one in the midst of so much unrighteousness. In his life he had, by following his Master, suffered as an unrighteous one.

“That day” is the day that the Lord Jesus will be seated on the judgment seat and will reveal all things (1Cor 4:4; 2Cor 5:10). This great perspective didn’t only keep Paul going, but he eagerly looked forward to it.

And he also says that this doesn’t apply to himself alone, but also to you if you at least love the appearance of the Lord Jesus and eagerly look forward to that. Don’t you find it also wonderful that Paul, despite his miserable circumstances and the prospect of the martyr’s death, thinks of other people?

When Christ appears He will be revealed to the world (cf. 2Tim 4:1). It is absolutely great to know that He will come first to catch up the church. But the world will sink down further into godlessness. When He appears He will make an end to that by judging all godlessness. Then He will carry out His plan with the earth, which is the territory of His kingdom. What a joy that will be to Him to reign on earth where He was rejected and killed and where He is still being rejected. He will then take the earth into possession for God, that God may be honored. You certainly look forward to that, don’t you?

2Tim 4:9. The desire for the appearance of the Lord Jesus doesn’t make Paul insensitive for the help of other people. He is looking forward to see Timothy and he asks him to come as soon as possible and to do everything in his power to indeed come. He needed someone whom he could share the feelings of his heart with and who would surely understand him.

2Tim 4:10. Demas is the first of seventeen names Paul mentions in this chapter. Although his days are numbered he thinks of others. With pain in his heart he mentions Demas. In two earlier letters he wrote during his first imprisonment, he also mentions Demas (Col 4:14; Phlm 1:24). There he appears to be someone who is close to Paul and who helps him. Nevertheless his heart was apparently not undividedly focused on the Lord.

It is not said that Demas is no longer a Christian and that he openly rejected the Lord. But it was not in his heart to bear the cross with the apostle. He started to love the world and forsook Paul. If you are not willing to pay the price of hardship and suffering, you will forsake the work of the Lord in favor of this present world.

It doesn’t directly mean that Demas submitted himself to lawlessness, but that he searched his future in the world. Probably he chose for an honorable job that absorbed all his attention, however. He traveled to Thessalonica. The church there was a sound church. However, he was not interested. He searched the world there and not the brothers and sisters. His love for the world was in sharp contrast to the love for the appearance of the Lord Jesus in 2Tim 4:8.

What is said of Demas implies the warning not to let yourself be dragged down by the love for the present, but by the love for the coming. If you are perfectly comfortable in the present time, you will not look forward to the future time of Christ's reign.

Especially young believers are highly attracted to the world. John particularly warns them not to love the world nor the things in the world (1Jn 2:15). The world is not only all kinds of lawlessness, lusts and desires. It is the world as it has become because of the fall of man, where men are in control, who live a life without reverence for God. It also includes hard working people, who pursue a career or who do researches and make discoveries that improve the quality of life. They receive a lot of respect. However, if there is no place for God, it is the world.

Paul mentions two other ones, Crescens and Titus. They also left him. Of those it is not said that they have forsaken him. Most probably they went to another place in order to serve the Lord there. Of Crescens we do not know more than what is written here. Of Titus we know more, because Paul wrote him a letter that directly follows after this second letter to Timothy in the Bible.

2Tim 4:11. Although these two have not forsaken him like Demas did, Paul feels very alone. Not only that he was left to his fate by most Christians (2Tim 1:15), but also his companions in the work have left. Fortunately there is someone with him, Luke. Luke has made the departure of the others, for whatever reason, easier for him.

It would make Paul also happy if Timothy took Mark along with him. Probably Timothy could pick up Mark somewhere on his way. What Paul says about Mark indicates that he has seen a restoration with Mark in his relation to the Lord. Also Mark has left Paul once after he first went together with him (Acts 12:25 ; Acts 13:13). The price for following the Lord together with Paul had become too high. Due to his attitude he even causes a distance between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-39).

Fortunately there has been a moment that Mark became aware of his wrong choice. He chose again for the Lord. In that way the disturbed relationship has been restored and therefore he became useful again for the service. The way Paul writes about him, suggests that Mark wants to be useful with more diligence and dedication. And isn’t it an amazing proof of the grace of the Lord that this failed servant has been allowed to describe the service of the perfect Servant in the Gospel according to Mark? The Lord always gives a failing servant the chance for a new start.

2Tim 4:12. The three brethren of 2Tim 4:10 have left the apostle on the basis of their own decision. It was different with Tychicus, who was sent to Ephesus by the apostle. This Tychicus is a wonderful brother who is called by Paul a “beloved brother and faithful servant” (Col 4:7). He has delivered some letters that Paul has written during his first imprisonment: the letter to the Ephesians and the letter to the Colossians (Eph 6:21; Col 4:7-8).

2Tim 4:13. His request to bring his cloak and the books shows once more that Paul is an ordinary man. He cares for both his body and his spirit. It is a real human letter from someone who is just a man like we are with his needs and desires. In the place where he is imprisoned it could be cold and his cloak would be useful. With winter approaching (2Tim 4:21) his desire for his cloak is greater.

Paul would also be grateful to have the books and the parchments. Those are not necessarily the inspired Scriptures. He may have asked for scrolls of books and parchments (made of animal skins) with data that are valuable to him. He wants to refresh his spirit with those. It will not have been novels, as those today often filled with unbiblical fantasies of the writer from a vague memory of the Bible.

2Tim 4:14. Paul is also not indifferent about the harm that other people do to him, like Alexander the coppersmith. You can fight physical cold with a cloak, but from this man comes a spiritual cold that is not to be fought. It is not said in what way this man caused Paul harm. Any way it is “much harm”. Nevertheless Paul doesn’t call for revenge, but leaves the judgment to the Lord.

2Tim 4:15. While Paul puts this matter concerning himself into the hands of the Lord, he warns Timothy of this man. Timothy must keep on going; he is still in the midst of battle. We need to warn each other sometimes of people who oppose the Word. He is a dangerous man, who finds his own words more important than those of the Scripture. At the same time it is a test for ourselves, how we stand and how we respond. Such people teach us lessons on patience.

Now read 2 Timothy 4:7-15 again.

Reflection: Do you love the appearance of the Lord?