II Timothy Chapter 4

We come now to Paul's last charge to Timothy; it is a farewell commission from a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, a high ranking officer in the "armed forces" of the Spirit. The Apostle commands Timothy before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to faithfully fulfill his responsibilities. Paul is not concerned about himself, but only for those he leaves behind, and for Timothy in particular.

Vs.1- 2…"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

"who shall judge the quick [living] and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom” This judgment will not occur until after the close of the millennial kingdom. I believe Paul is telling Timothy and therefore us that not only will the Lord Jesus Christ judge the unsaved living and dead at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15), but believers of this dispensation will be called upon to stand before Him at His appearing to catch away His own (the Rapture) when the Body is complete. It is at this bema, or "judgment seat," (Rom. 14:10) that our Lord will "reward" some and appoint them to "reign with Him," while others will "suffer loss" and be "denied" this honor (I Cor. 3:13-15; 4:5; I Thess. 4:17; II Tim. 2:12 & 4:8).

Paul is reminding Timothy that there is a crown to be won "at that day" (vs. 8) and a position to obtain (reigning with Christ in glory). Would Timothy, in the long run, be as faithful? Would Timothy win the prize? And just how was Timothy (or you and me) to go about obtaining this crown and position from the Lord? Verse 2 tells us…"Preach the Word”. There, in the Book, rightly divided, is the light men need in the darkness of the age; there is the life that is "the light of men"; there is the truth by which men are convicted of their sins and their need of Christ. There is the "doctrine" God's people need for guidance, the "reproof' they need when they go astray, the "correction" they need when they are mistaken, the "instruction in righteousness" they need when uncertain as to what is right and what wrong. There is the food they need for sustenance, the grace they need for courage to stand strong in the battle, the armor they need for protection and the weapons they need for victory.

"Be instant in season, out of season (be alert; on your toes); reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine” …It is sad to witness the irresponsibility of so many who stand in the pulpit and preach the social gospel (feed the hungry, house the homeless, build an orphanage, dig a well, etc.) but do not "preach" or proclaim the Word. Preaching the Word is more than merely using a text from the Bible as a "launching pad" for proclaiming personal ideas, but do not teach it rightly divided.

Vs. 3-4…"The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” This is a little like the proverbial “which came first; the chicken or the egg?” Did failure to “preach the Word” cause the time when people will not endure sound doctrine or did people not like to endure sound doctrine and the preachers quit preaching the Word as a result? Regardless of which came first, Paul admonishes Timothy that because the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine---just keep on preaching the Word. Paul does not try to diagnose the problem of “abandoning grace doctrine”; however he does give him the perfect solution---preach the Word.

I think a fair-minded person would have to conclude that Christians today are living in just such a time. Christians do not desire sound, sensible teaching; they cannot endure it. They would rather remain willfully blind to their spiritual condition and seeking to fulfill "their own desires," they "heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears". The fact that these teachers offer only a Babel of confusion does not seem to bother them, as long as they do not teach the truth of the Bible.

Never forget that when you willfully turn from the truth, you, by necessity, turn to something or someone else to fill the void. Everything in nature tends to avoid a vacuum. The Holy Spirit through Paul lets us know the preferred substitute for truth---“fables”!

What is a “fable”? I believe it consists of at least two components: 1. A story written or spoken to encourage, instruct or promote a certain moral application. Paul is not prohibiting our personal testimony of salvation (Acts 22 & 26) or illustrations to clarify a certain doctrine (II Tim. 3). The problem with turning to stories is that they can be used to prove almost anything! Go to a Christian bookstore and you will find most of them filled with novels, biographies, success stories and “how to’s”; everything but the teaching of the Word. 2. The story must contain some mixture of lies. (John 8:44)

Now why is it so important to the Holy Spirit that Christians "Preach the Word”? Because Romans 10:17 tells us that "faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”. There is no other means of salvation or of building up the saints. It is only as the Spirit of God uses His own Word to convict and convert, that men are saved and added to the Church, the Body of Christ.

Vs. 5-6…"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

“do the work of an evangelist”…evangelist means proclaimer or heralder. Paul's ministry was far-reaching and the impact of his written ministry is still felt to this day. However, Paul would never fit the description of a modern day evangelist (Acts 19:8-10). No pastor would even consider inviting him to speak at their church because Paul was much too outspoken and even argumentative at times. Evangelists today must put on a good show for Christians by mimicking a Hollywood performance or spotlighting a sport’s celebrity. Chief among the desirable attributes of an evangelist today is popularity, a positive message assuring the people that “Christ is the Answer”, the unique ability to speak on a subject for thirty minutes in a way that offends no one and no one recognizes that he said nothing of substance, and possess the “spiritual gift” of making people feel good. Paul did not enter the synagogues like the proverbial bull in a china shop, but he cared enough for people to proclaim the Word boldly. His trumpet gave a clear sound, as he explained to his kinsmen how the long-promised Messiah and His kingdom had been rejected and how the kingdom was now vested in the crucified, risen, glorified Christ Himself. He cared enough to debate with them from the Scriptures and to seek to persuade them as to the truth of these things.

This phrase “do the work of an evangelist” also informs us that Paul was till his dying day concerned with what was going to happen to “the revelation of the mystery” and who was going to carry it on for the Lord. Who could have blamed Paul if he would have been focused on his imminent death and personal concerns? But rather than thinking of himself or now simply "leaving everything with the Lord," he kept still planning for the future, still concerned with the ministry which the glorified Lord had committed to him.

Vs. 7-8… "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”

Here is another important dispensational lesson---during the period covered by the Book of Acts and especially during the early part, God intervened openly in the affairs of men. During the Pentecostal period there were supernatural demonstrations, such as the gift of tongues and other miraculous signs. Later an angel delivered Peter from a prison cell (Acts 12:6-11) and still later, at Philippi, Paul was delivered by an earthquake (Acts 16:25-39); but all this changed. There is no evidence of any angelic appearance, no earthquake, not even a voice from heaven to cheer and encourage the Apostle. Rather he is left in his cell as "an ambassador in bonds." This is because a new dispensation had been ushered in. The long-promised King and His Kingdom had been finally rejected even though God had cerified the apostles witness "with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost” (Heb. 2:4). God had now spoken His last word to mankind until He speaks to them in His wrath, and vexes them in His sore displeasure (Psa. 2:5). Meantime, however, He has shown His great mercy and love by ushering in (through Paul) the present "dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph. 3:2-3), a signless, timeless dispensation never promised or predicted, and prolonged only according to the riches of His grace.

"I have fought a good fight”…Paul is not commenting on what a good job he has done over his 30 year ministry for the Lord. Surely he had done a great job! It was the fight, the battle, that was "good," in that it was for a good and right cause. Whether wrestling with the principalities and powers in the heavenlies, or with men about the truth (Col. 1:28 - 2:1; Eph. 6:10-20). This is a good conflict!

"I have kept the faith”… the faith which he had begged Timothy to "keep," to guard and defend, the "one faith" of Eph. 4:5. As a steward of the "mysteries of God," and of that whole body of truth which he calls "the mystery," he had truly been faithful. As we look around us we see many who have "erred concerning the faith (I Tim. 6:10) or who, "concerning the faith have made shipwreck (I Tim. 1:19) or who have "departed from the faith (I Tim. 4:1). And we see others who have never really examined themselves "whether they be in the faith (II Cor. 13:5) and still others who, though they be "in the faith," do not clearly understand "the faith" to which Paul refers, the great body of heavenly truth revealed to him by the glorified Lord.

And how does all this relate to his future?

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing”

In order for a Christian to honestly say that he is looking forward to receiving a crown of righteousness at that day (Judgment seat of Christ), he must truly be able to say “I love His appearing”. The question is which appearing? Is Paul referring to the “Rapture” or the day a Christian dies and meets Jesus? No! I believe he is referring to Christ’s appearing to Paul on many occasions to give him the revelation of the mystery. It is only as we understand and embraced the plan, purpose and program God revealed to the Church, the body of Christ of this dispensation can we truly say “there is a crown of righteousness laid up for me”. This is a Fox News Alert---looking forward to Christ’s appearing for the Church at the Rapture is not going to earn you a crown of righteousness. Please keep in mind also that Paul had seen the glorified Lord Jesus Christ many times throughout his ministry. It makes no sense that Paul is longing to see Jesus so desperately as though he would be seeing Him for the first time at his soon death. Paul is thankful that Jesus appeared many times and gave to the Church a SUPERNATURAL PROGRAM OF GRACE!!!

Vs. 9-13…"Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me; For Demos hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments."

"Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me”… On the one hand Paul seems convinced that the end of his earthly life is "at hand." He has finished his course. On the other, however, he recalls how many times God has delivered him when the outlook seemed hopeless, and who could tell how God might yet intervene. Also, this was a time when, more than ever, he needed Christian fellowship. This we know to be true because of what he says next…

"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world and is departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia”… Demas, who had until recently been Paul's "fellow-laborer" (Col. 4:14; Phile. 24), had now abandoned the Apostle. Before we condemn Demas too harshly, however, let us ask ourselves whether we have stood faithfully by Paul and his God-given message of grace, or whether temporal considerations have made cowards of us. The praise of men, financial advantage, prestige, power, popularity on the one hand and the fear of man, or hard circumstances, etc., on the other, have made cowards out of many Christians and Christian leaders. This is why Paul so exhorts Timothy: "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (II Tim. 1:8).

Are you living for "that day," when you shall stand before Christ, or merely for the personal gain you can acquire in "this present evil world"?

“And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus”…Perhaps to substitute for Timothy as he hurried to Paul's side. At least, where Tychicus is concerned, we know he did not desert Paul.

"Take Mark, and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the ministry”…Here is an example of the greatness of Paul’s heart and of his determination to make known to others the blessed message committed to him. Mark, Barnabas' nephew, had been chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas on Paul's first apostolic journey. But as soon as the going got tough Mark had deserted the two men and had returned to his mother at Jerusalem (Acts 12:12; 13:13). His irresponsibility was the cause of a division between Paul and Barnabas later, when Barnabas wanted to take his nephew with them on another journey and Paul had flatly refused (Acts 15:36-40). Paul forgave Mark and put the drama behind him. "If he [Marcus] come unto you, receive him” (Col. 4:10). This also assures us that Mark changed his mind about the purpose and plan God had for Paul. Ultimately God chose Mark, the failing servant (He was an attendant, waiting on Paul and Barnabas, Acts 13:5) to write about the perfect Servant in his "Gospel According to Mark"!

“The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments”… "The books" would probably have been done on papyrus, but the Scriptures, due to their great importance were generally written with extreme care on parchment, which would be much more durable. Paul had left some part or parts, of these Scriptures with Carpus.

Paul who, in a lonely Roman cell, with a soldier always at hand, and faced with execution by the sword, still counted the study of the Word of God of highest importance.

Vs. 14-22… “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: [15] Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. [16] At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. [17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. [18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [19] Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. [20] Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. [21] Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. [22] The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

"Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words”… The addition of the word "coppersmith" to Alexander's name suggests he is the Jew of Acts 19:33. Alexander may well have been one of those Jews who harrassed Paul wherever he went. In any case, Paul says that he did him "much evil," and "hath greatly withstood our words".

“the Lord reward him according to his works”… Two things must be taken into account to understand these words--- (1) Paul spoke – as we cannot - as an apostle, and (2) this was not a personal matter and his words do not assure us that Paul is bent on personal revenge. Paul is simply reminding us that the Lord will take care of him. "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written: Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).

"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge”… All those who might have testified in his behalf were afraid to become involved lest they risk their own lives. Paul understood their fears, however, and though he needed their help at this time he still loved them sincerely and prayed that their cowardice might not be held against them.

Paul's situation at his "first answer" was very similar to that of the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ…"they all forsook Him and fled” (Mark 14:50). But there was a great difference in the results. Paul was not condemned to death at his first trial before Caesar, but rather was released to further pursue his ministry, going perhaps even as far as Spain (Rom. 15:24,28).

"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”… Paul knew that this time he was headed to the "heavenly places" where, by grace, we are seated in Christ (Eph. 2:6) and are blessed with "all spiritual blessings" (Eph. 1:3). The "kingdom" is that in which believers today already enjoy a place positionally. The Apostle refers to this in Col. 1:13: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

The kingdom of God's dear Son will one day encompass the earth where He will reign over Israel and the nations for a thousand years. But we, His heavenly people, will not reign on earth at that time. Rather we will reign over it, much as "the principalities and powers in heavenly places" do now. The believing member of the Body of Christ, even in the face of death, may triumphantly look forward to deliverance from the adversities, sorrows and temptations of this life, and preservation "unto His heavenly kingdom."

“Salute Prisca and Aquilla, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Paul sends greetings to Prisca (perhaps using Priscilla's nick name) and Aquila, her husband, who together had been so faithful to him in the ministry (Rom. 16:3-5). Also "the house of Onesiphorus," for whom he had expressed such deep gratitude earlier in the epistle (1:16-18).

“but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick”… Trophimus was the innocent cause of Paul's arrest at Jerusalem (Acts 21:29). This news about Trophimus appears to be recent. Why would he want to announce a sickness that had taken place years ago?

This verse also assures us that the sign gifts that God had given to the first generation of the Church the body of Christ (till we come to the unity of the faith) (Eph. 4: 11-13) had been gradually phased out just as Paul had predicted they would. (I Cor. 13: 8-13). If the gift of healing had still been operational what could possibly have been the reason for Paul's writing to Timothy that he had left a faithful companion, sick?

“Erastus abode at Corinth”… Erastus was apparently the “chamberlain” (a city treasurer or an administrative assistant to a high ranking city official) at Corinth (Rom. 16:23).

“Do thy diligence to come before winter”… Once more Paul pleads with Timothy to visit him "before winter".

“The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” As in all his epistles, Paul closes with a benediction of grace: grace to save, grace to bless and use, and grace to sustain in times of trouble. This was the essence of his great message, the message for which he was soon to be behead.