Heb 13:20-25 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 13:20-21: 13:20-21 Benedictions were an important element of letters, speeches, and sermons. The author of Hebrews weaves a number of important themes from the book into his benediction. • The image of our Lord Jesus as the great Shepherd of the sheep (cp. Ps 23 ) communicates God’s provision for and protection of his people (see also John 10:11-18 ; 1 Pet 2:25 ) and is specifically tied here to an eternal covenant .

Summary for Heb 13:20-21: 13:20-21 ^a Benedictions were an important element of letters, speeches, and sermons. The author of Hebrews weaves a number of important themes from the book into his benediction.

• The image of our Lord Jesus as the great Shepherd of the sheep (cp. Ps 23 ^b) communicates God’s provision for and protection of his people (see also John 10:11-18 ^c; 1 Pet 2:25 ^d) and is specifically tied here to an eternal covenant.
13:22 ^e this brief exhortation: This probably indicates that Hebrews was a sermon (cp. the same term in Acts 13:14-15 ^f, translated “encouragement”).
13:23 ^g This Timothy may have been Paul’s traveling companion (see profile for Timothy at end of chapter); if so, his imprisonment is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. He clearly knows the author and the recipients of this letter.
Summary for Heb 13:24-25: 13:24-25 ^h The book closes with a formal greeting and a blessing.

• The believers from Italy: The author is probably writing back to Rome from elsewhere in the Mediterranean world; some scholars, however, have thought that the author was writing from Rome.

Profile: Timothy
Timothy traveled with Paul for much of his missionary career and was one of Paul’s best-loved and most trusted assistants. Two of Paul’s last letters were written to Timothy at a time when Timothy was providing leadership for the church in Ephesus, near the end of Paul’s life.
Timothy had a devout mother and grandmother (2 Tim 1:5 ⁱ), and he was highly respected by the Christians in his hometown, Lystra, and in nearby Iconium. He joined Paul’s missionary team on Paul’s second missionary journey. Paul speaks of prophetic words that confirmed Timothy’s selection. Timothy also received a special gifting for service through the laying on of the hands of the elders and of Paul (1 Tim 1:18 ^j; 4:14 ^k; 2 Tim 1:6 ^l). Out of deference to the Jews in the area, Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:1-3 ^m).
Over the next fifteen years, Paul sent Timothy on special assignments to several different churches (Acts 19:22 ⁿ; 1 Cor 4:17 ^o; 16:10-11 ^p; Phil 2:19-23 ^q; 1 Thes 3:1-6 ^r; 1 Tim 1:3 ^s; see also Acts 17:14-15 ^t; 18:5 ^u). Paul included Timothy’s name as coauthor of several of his letters (2 Cor 1:1 ^v; Phil 1:1 ^w; Col 1:1 ^x; 1 Thes 1:1 ^y; 2 Thes 1:1 ^z; Phlm 1:1 ^aa). It is clear that Paul had a close relationship with Timothy and held him in high regard (see Rom 16:21 ^ab; 1 Cor 4:17 ^ac; 1 Thes 3:2 ^ad; 1 Tim 1:2 ^ae; 6:11 ^af; 2 Tim 1:2 ^ag). As Paul neared the end of his life and awaited his sentence in prison, he longed to see Timothy (2 Tim 1:3-4 ^ah). Of all Paul’s coworkers, Timothy especially is commended for his selfless concern for Christ and his people (Phil 2:20-22 ^ai).
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy), written shortly before Paul was killed, he encouraged Timothy to be bold and fearless in his proclamation of the Good News, willing to suffer for Christ (2 Tim 1:8 ^aj; 2:1-3 ^ak; 4:1-2 ^al, 5 ^am)—a strong word to one who might have been timid by nature (see 2 Tim 1:6-7 ^an). Timothy himself seems to have become a prisoner later on (Heb 13:23 ^ao).
Timothy was exemplary in the way he faithfully served the cause of Christ behind the scenes, devoting himself selflessly and with single-minded focus to the work of Christ and the people of Christ wherever help was needed. He serves as a reminder that believers should seek to become strong and effective witnesses for Christ.

Passages for Further Study
Acts 16:1-3 ^ap; 17:14-15 ^aq; 18:5 ^ar; 19:22 ^as; 20:4 ^at; Rom 16:21 ^au; 1 Cor 4:17 ^av; 16:10-11 ^aw; 2 Cor 1:1 ^ax, 19 ^ay; Phil 1:1 ^az; 2:19-23 ^ba; Col 1:1 ^bb; 1 Thes 1:1 ^bc; 3:2-6 ^bd; 2 Thes 1:1 ^be; 1–2 Tim ^bf; Phlm 1:1 ^bg; Heb 13:23 ^bh