2Ti 4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Tim 4:1-8: 4:1-8 Timothy stood in the presence of God and was to work in view of Jesus’ coming to judge and set up his Kingdom (see 1 Tim 5:21 ; 6:13-14 ). Christ’s appearing will bring cleansing (2 Tim 2:19 ), accountability (3:8-9 ), salvation, vindication, and reward (4:8 , 18 ). See also 1 Cor 3:10-15 ; 4:4-5 ; 2 Cor 5:10 . 4:1 judge the living and the dead: See Matt 25:31-46 ; Acts 10:42 ; Rom 14:7-12 ; Rev 20:11-15 . • when he comes (literally his epiphany ): See study note on 1 Tim 6:14; see also 2 Tim 1:10 ; 4:8 ; Titus 2:11-13 ; 3:4 .

Summary for 2Tim 4:1-8: 4:1-8 ^a Timothy stood in the presence of God and was to work in view of Jesus’ coming to judge and set up his Kingdom (see 1 Tim 5:21 ^b; 6:13-14 ^c). Christ’s appearing will bring cleansing (2 Tim 2:19 ^d), accountability (3:8-9 ^e), salvation, vindication, and reward (4:8 ^f, 18 ^g). See also 1 Cor 3:10-15 ^h; 4:4-5 ⁱ; 2 Cor 5:10 ^j. 4:1 ^k judge the living and the dead: See Matt 25:31-46 ^l; Acts 10:42 ^m; Rom 14:7-12 ⁿ; Rev 20:11-15 ^o.

• when he comes (literally his epiphany): See study note on 1 Tim 6:14; see also 2 Tim 1:10 ^p; 4:8 ^q; Titus 2:11-13 ^r; 3:4 ^s.
Summary for 2Tim 4:5-8: 4:5-8 ^t Paul effectively hands the mantle of leadership to Timothy (cp. Deut 31:7-8 ^u; 34:9 ^v; 2 Kgs 2:1-18 ^w). 4:5 ^x This final charge summarizes what has been said before (1:6-14 ^y; 2:1-15 ^z, 24-26 ^aa; 3:12 ^ab).
Summary for 2Tim 4:6-8: 4:6-8 ^ac Paul’s faithfulness, vindication, and reward are a model and a challenge to others—particularly Timothy—to follow Paul’s example after he is gone. 4:6 ^ad Paul pictures his death as a drink offering that is poured out . . . to God (see Exod 29:40-41 ^ae; Lev 23:13 ^af; Num 28:7 ^ag; Phil 2:17 ^ah); this offering participates in Christ’s own sacrifice (see Col 1:24 ^ai; see also Rom 12:1 ^aj).
4:7 ^ak Paul had remained faithful to the trust that was committed to him (see study notes on 1:12; 1 Tim 6:20; cp. Acts 20:24 ^al). He had preserved the integrity of the Christian faith and wanted Timothy to follow his example (see 2 Tim 2:3-7 ^am; 1 Tim 1:18 ^an; 6:12 ^ao; cp. Rom 15:30-31 ^ap; 1 Cor 9:25-27 ^aq; Heb 12:1 ^ar; Jude 1:3 ^as).
4:8 ^at Only one thing remained for Paul: the victor’s crown (see also Jas 1:12 ^au; 1 Pet 5:4 ^av; Rev 2:10 ^aw; 3:11 ^ax).

• If we live expecting that Christ is indeed coming again, we can eagerly look forward to his appearing (see 1 Tim 6:14 ^ay) to set up his kingdom (2 Tim 4:1 ^az). If we don’t follow Christ’s commands, we cannot look forward to his coming as Judge and King.
4:9 ^ba Paul makes explicit his summons for Timothy to come to Rome (see 1:4 ^bb).
4:10 ^bc Demas: See Col 4:14 ^bd; Phlm 1:24 ^be.

• deserted: See also 2 Tim 4:16-17 ^bf; cp. Ps 22:1 ^bg; Mark 15:34 ^bh.

• Loving the things of this life contrasts with the anticipation of Christ’s glorious return (2 Tim 4:8 ^bi).

• Crescens is otherwise unknown; his and Titus’s absence seems to have heightened Paul’s isolation.

• Titus was Paul’s effective and reliable co-worker. Perhaps he had gone to Dalmatia (northwest of modern-day Greece) on a mission for Paul.
4:11 ^bj Luke, the author of Luke and Acts, accompanied Paul in his journeys at various times. It is often supposed that Luke was with Paul as his physician (Col 4:14 ^bk). Luke was the only one of Paul’s co-workers who was continuously present with him. Thus Paul wished for Timothy to come quickly.

• Mark: Paul’s assessment that he will be helpful to me tells a story of forgiveness and redemption (see Acts 13:13 ^bl; 15:36-40 ^bm; see also Col 4:10 ^bn; Phlm 1:24 ^bo).
4:12 ^bp Tychicus was apparently a Greek (implied in Col 4:7-8 ^bq, 10-11 ^br) from Asia Minor (see also Acts 20:4 ^bs; Eph 6:21-22 ^bt; Col 4:7-8 ^bu; Titus 3:12 ^bv). He was possibly going to Ephesus to deliver the present letter and take over for Timothy (assuming that Timothy was in Ephesus; see study notes on 2 Tim 4:13, 19).
4:13 ^bw Paul’s arrest and transfer to Rome apparently did not allow him to gather his things.

• the coat: Winter was coming (4:21 ^bx).

• Carpus might have been Paul’s host in Troas. The reference to Troas implies that Timothy was still in Ephesus and would travel through Troas, a port town.

• my books ... my papers: These writings may have included Scriptures, personal notes, letters addressed to Paul, copies of Paul’s own letters, and other Christian and Jewish materials.
4:14 ^by Alexander was a common name (cp. Mark 15:21 ^bz; Acts 4:6 ^ca; 19:33 ^cb). Alexander the coppersmith was probably the same person as in 1 Tim 1:20 ^cc.

• did me much harm: Apparently he did more than merely oppose Paul’s teaching. Perhaps he had a hand in Paul’s arrest.
4:16 ^cd The first time I was brought before the judge: A Roman trial was divided between an initial, preliminary investigation and the trial proper. Paul was probably referring to the first of these. It could also refer to his first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28 ^ce; see 2 Timothy Book Introduction, “Date of Writing”).

• Everyone abandoned me: See study note on 2 Tim 4:10.
4:17 ^cf so that I might preach the Good News: Paul had turned his defense in court into proclamation of the Good News—just as in his earlier experiences (Acts 22:1–24:27 ^cg; 26:1-29 ^ch; see also 2 Tim 2:9-10 ^ci; Phil 1:12-14 ^cj).

• for all the Gentiles to hear: Paul sensed that he had completed his task (2 Tim 4:7-8 ^ck). The Old Testament specifically anticipates the conversion of the nations (e.g., Ps 22:27-29 ^cl).

• from certain death (literally from the mouth of a lion): The lion is often a metaphor for enemies (see Pss 7:2 ^cm; 35:17 ^cn; cp. Dan 6 ^co; Heb 11:33 ^cp). Here, it might refer to literal lions in the amphitheater, to the emperor, to the false teachers, or to Satan (1 Pet 5:8 ^cq; cp. Ps 22:21 ^cr).
4:18 ^cs God would continue to strengthen Paul and keep him strong in the faith (4:7 ^ct) to the end of his life (see 1:12 ^cu).

• The Lord’s heavenly Kingdom contrasts with the earthly kingdom that was about to pass judgment on Paul (see also 4:1 ^cv; 1 Cor 15:48-49 ^cw; Heb 12:18-29 ^cx).

• All glory ... Amen: Paul’s doxology in the face of execution expresses confidence that God’s glory will be upheld (cp. 1 Tim 1:17 ^cy; 6:15-16 ^cz).

• to God (literally to him): The Greek suggests that this praise is ascribed to “the Lord” of the preceding sentence—namely, to Jesus (cp. Titus 2:13 ^da).
Summary for 2Tim 4:19-21: 4:19-21 ^db As in several of Paul’s epistles, the letter closes with greetings and final instructions (e.g., Rom 16:1-23 ^dc; 1 Cor 16:19-21 ^dd; 2 Cor 13:12 ^de). 4:19 ^df Priscilla and Aquila had been in Ephesus (Acts 18:26 ^dg; 1 Cor 16:19 ^dh) and were probably there at this time. They had also lived in Rome (Acts 18:2 ^di; Rom 16:3 ^dj), where Paul currently was. This might imply that Timothy was still in Ephesus (see 1 Tim 1:3 ^dk).

• Paul appreciatively mentions Onesiphorus in 2 Tim 1:16 ^dl as having ministered to him in prison.
4:20 ^dm Erastus was a resident of Corinth (Acts 19:22 ^dn; Rom 16:23 ^do). Modern excavations have found an inscription at Corinth mentioning an Erastus who was the city treasurer; he was probably the same man.

• Trophimus (Acts 20:4 ^dp; 21:29 ^dq) was an Ephesian associated with Tychicus (2 Tim 4:12 ^dr).
4:21 ^ds before winter: Paul was probably concerned there would be an extended delay if Timothy missed this chance to travel in the fall (see 1:4 ^dt; 4:9 ^du). Winter closed travel across the Adriatic Sea from November to March (see Acts 27:12 ^dv). Paul might also have been concerned to receive his coat (2 Tim 4:13 ^dw) for the unheated prison. Eubulus is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, but he was obviously well known to Timothy.

• Pudens was a name used in upper class families.

• Eusebius and Irenaeus later identified Linus as the first bishop of Rome.

• Claudia is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament.

• brothers and sisters: Greek adelphoi, a generic term that refers to members of the same family, both male and female.
4:22 ^dx The precise phrasing here is unique, perhaps to emphasize what had already been said in 1:6-8 ^dy; 2:1 ^dz (cp. Gal 6:18 ^ea; Phil 4:23 ^eb; Phlm 1:25 ^ec).

• with all of you: This letter would be read publicly.