2 Timothy 4

     4:1.  Paul makes his charge to Timothy as absolutely serious as words can say.  He is charged in the presence of God the Father and the Son, and reminded that Christ Jesus is coming to judge both the living and the dead.  Whether the last phrase, by His appearing and His kingdom, also refers to the second coming, or is in reference to his first coming (or to both) is hard to say.  The word appearing can be used of either coming: cf. 2 Thess.2:8 (the second); 2 Tim.1:10 (the first); 2 Tim.4:8 uses that day to refer to the second coming, and I believe that all who have loved His appearing then refers to those who have loved him as their Lord and Savior in the work of his first coming; Titus 2:11 (the first); 2:13 (the second).  It seems to me that Titus 2:11-12 is a good match with Paul’s meaning here in v.1.  God the Son has visited us, bringing salvation to all kinds of people, and has established his eternal kingdom of righteousness, now ruling at his Father’s right hand.  It is on the basis of this that Timothy is charged to fearlessly preach the gospel.

     4:2.  He is charged to be ready to preach in season and even when it does not seem seasonable (cf. Ecc.11:4-6).  It is hardly ever seasonable to tell men that they are sinners under judgment, to reprove and rebuke them, and exhort them to change their ways and their minds.  Yet this is how the gospel must often first be heard.  Still, they must be urged with great love and patience.

     4:3-4.  There is urgency in preaching, because men will not long endure a hard truth, when they can find a pleasant or entertaining alternative.  Again, as in 3:5, this is a problem Timothy will face, for it is characteristic of the last days (3:1), and common to the age.

     4:5-6.  It was especially important for Timothy to fulfill his ministry as an evangelist, because Paul’s time of departure from this life had come.  His life was even then being poured out as a drink offering (undiluted wine) (6; cf. Phip. 2:17).  When an animal was being sacrificed as a burnt offering, a meal offering and a drink offering was also burned on the altar with the animal (see Num.28 and 29). Blood was poured out (Lev. 4:7, etc). The libation, like the grain offering of flour mixed with oil, was part of the burnt offering (Ex. 29:41; Lev. 23:18; and vv. In Nu. 15, 28, 29).  All this was a type of the sacrifice of Christ.  Paul saw his life as a libation of wine poured out upon that sacrifice.

     4:7-8.  Paul offers his faithful life as an example for Timothy (and all) to follow.  The crown of righteousness that is laid up for him is his share in the reign of righteousness that the faithful receive on that day when Christ comes to vindicate his people in the judgment.

     4:9-13.  Paul’s support team has scattered for various reasons.  Demas has deserted Paul, having loved this present world (10).  Exactly what this means is debatable, but if it is not a fatal abandonment of the faith, it is certainly a serious lapse (cf. Mark 8:34-38).  Crescens and Titus are not so charged, but have none-the-less gone away, or have been sent, as has Tychicus.  Since only Luke remains, it is imperative that Timothy come soon, and bring Mark, whom Paul finds useful (cf. Acts 15:37-39; Col.4:10).

     4:14-15.  Alexander was a prominent Jew from Ephesus (Acts 19:33) who was apparently converted, but later became a vigorous enemy of the faith (1 Tim.1:20).

     4:16.  When charges were brought against Paul, Demas was apparently not the only witness to desert out of fear for his life.  No one came forward who could have spoken as a witness in Paul’s defense.

      4:17.  Never-the-less, Paul rejoices that he was able in the strength of the Lord to proclaim the gospel fully in that forum to the Gentiles, and was delivered out of the lion’s mouth (cf. Ps.22:13, 21; Dan.6:20-22; 1 Peter 5:8).  Surely the lion foremost in Paul’s mind was the devil, whether or not he was delivered from a literal one.

     4:18.  But Paul knows he will not escape a sentence of death, but will be delivered safely through it into God’s heavenly kingdom of eternal glory.

     4:19-20.  Some suggest that Onesiphorus had died, since he was not with Paul, nor does he appear to be at home, since only his household is mentioned here and in 1:16.

     4:21.  Come before winter; later might be too late; also, Paul needed his cloak and books (13); and winter sea travel was very dangerous (cf. Acts 27:9 ff.).  These others who send greetings are not associated with Paul’s evangelistic ministry as were those above, but were probably leaders in the church at Rome (i.e., the brethren).

     4:22.  Your is singular, directed individually to Timothy; you is plural, directed to the church.