2 Timothy 4:9

 2 Timothy 4:9 says. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:  Paul asked Timothy to do his best to come to him. He didn't say that it was God's will that this happen, nor did he say that God had promised it. Sometimes, we just have to leave everything in God's hands without making demands.

Verse ten continues, For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Paul said that Demus had forsaken him and gone to Thessalonica because he loved the present world more than he loved God.  Whether he did this because he feared that he would be persecuted like Paul and was unwilling to allow that to happen to him or whether he loved the things of this world more is not clear, but the result was the same.  As followers of Christ, we should never turn our back on our faith for either reason.  Paul said that Crescens had left for Galatia and Titus for Dalmatia, but he did not say they had forsaken him because they loved the world more.  It would seem that they had left to continue to proclaim God’s word.  If we see a fellow believer in trouble today, we may not be able to be with them physically as we continue to do what God has called us to do, but we should not desert them spiritually.  

Verse eleven states, Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.  Paul said that only Luke remained with him, and then he asked Timothy to bring Mark with him when he came to see Paul.  Paul then said that Mark was profitable to him for the ministry.  I don’t believe that Paul asked these things just because they were what he personally wanted but asked them because he believed this was what God was directing him to do.  At one time, Paul may have seen Mark as a failure spiritually, but now he said he was needed.  If someone fails as a Christian at some point, that doesn’t mean that they are to be forever viewed as a failure.  

Verse twelve adds, And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.  Paul said that he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  Once more, I believe this was by God’s leadership and not just Paul’s decision about where he was to go.  I also believe that Tychicus had to feel led by God to go there.  Preachers and missionaries should go where they believe God has sent them, even if they go under the assignment of some group of Christians.  

Verse thirteen continues, The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.  Paul then asked Timothy to bring a cloak he had left with Carpus, the books he had left but especially the parchments.  The cloak would have been for physical comfort, but I believe that the books and parchments would have been for spiritual growth and comfort.  We may need certain things to be physically comforted today, but we also need God’s word to bring us spiritual comfort and guidance, and this should be our priority.  

Verse fourteen says, Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Paul then said that Alexander the coppersmith did him great evil, though he didn’t specify what he had done.  He didn’t ask Timothy to do anything about this but simply asked that God reward him for his actions, and this would not be a positive reward.  As Christians, if someone does us harm today, we are not to seek revenge but should leave their punishment up to God.  

Verse fifteen adds, Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.   Paul then told Timoty to be aware of Alexander because he had greatly withstood Paul’s words, which would have been the word of God that he preached.  There are some people today who are not only going to reject God's word but are going to actively oppose those who do.  We need to be aware of them, but we are never to fear them. 

2 Timothy 4:6

 2 Timothy 4:6 says, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  Paul said that he was ready to be offered or killed, and that the time of his departure from this world was at hand.  He didn’t ask Timothy to try and rescue him but was still only offering Timothy advice on how to live for Christ.  We should be the same today if we are in Paul’s situation if we are a follower of Christ, but we often falter in our faith if things are just going wrong for us financially or health wise without any real persecution for our faith.  

Verse seven adds, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  As Paul looked at his life as he faced his death, he said he had fought the good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith.  This would be a good thing for any Chrisitan to be able to honestly say as they come to the end of their life.  Paul was calling on Timothy to continue the work that he had been doing so that he could say the same thing one day.

Verse eight continues, 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.  Paul said a crown of righteousness was laid up for him that the Lord, the judge of righteousness, would give him.  He said this was true not only for himself but for all who had loved the Lord, which would be shown by putting their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  It was not Paul’s works that saved him, but his relationship with Jesus Christ, just as it is for all people.       

2 Timothy 4:1

2 Timothy 4:1 says, 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;  Paul said that what he was going to charge Timothy with, or ask him to be committed to do, was done before God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This did not signify two God’s, but one Who had revealed Himself in two different ways. Of course, there are three, the other being Jesus Christ, but Paul only specified two here. As preachers, or even just Christians in general, we are to proclaim the truth of God as though we are in His presence, and since we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, we always will be.  

Verse two adds, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  Paul then told Timothy that under God’s leadership he was to preach the word of God in season and out of season.  Timothy was to preach God’s word at all times to correct false teachings, rebuke false doctrine and exhort people to believe in Jesus Christ with longsuffering.  The truths of God’s word might not be fulfilled immediately, but they were to continue to put their faith in them no matter what was happening in the world.  Preachers today should be guided by these same principals, but I believe that all Christians should be as well.  

Verse three adds, For 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;  Paul warned Timothy that there would come a time when people would not follow sound doctrine but would listen to anything that tickled their ears.  Paul warned that this was going to happen in Timothy’s lifetime, and it continues to happen today.  It will happen on an even greater scale as we get closer to the return of Christ.  There are many people who profess to be Christians today who chase after the newest trends in life while deserting God’s word.  

Verse four states, And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  Paul continued to warn Timothy that people would turn away from God’s truth and turn to fables.  Anything that we put our faith in other than what God’s word is a fable, or something invented by man instead of by God.  I don’t believe those who are truly a follower of Christ will ever turn away from His truth, but they still might get caught up in ideas that are manmade.  We need to be careful that we don’t also.   

Verse five adds, But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  Paul then called on Timothy to watch what he did at all times, to endure afflictions, to do the work of an evangelist, and to fully prove his ministry by being obedient to God's word.  This should apply to all Christians today and not just to preachers.   We are all to serve as evangelist, maybe not as one who is set aside for this purpose in the eyes of the world, but because we are all called on to share God’s word with everyone we meet.