2 Timothy 4:16

2 Timothy 4:16 says, 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.  Paul said that when he first answered those who had accused him and were ready to arrest him that no one stood with him, but they all had forsaken him.  He then said he prayed that God would not hold them accountable for this.  He didn’t want the worst for them, but the best.  As followers of Christ, if someone we know was arrested for their faith in God and proclaiming His word to the world, would we forsake them or stand with them?  If we were arrested for our faith and proclaiming God’s word and were forsaken by everyone around us, would we ask God to not hold them accountable or would we want them punished?  We need to learn from Paul’s example.  

Verse seventeen adds, 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.  Paul said that even though he was forsaken by all those around him, that the Lord stood with him.  He said God did this so that he might be strengthened and that by his preaching, God’s word might be fully known, and that the Gentiles might hear.  Even if the whole world deserts us as we stand for Christ and proclaim God’s word, God never will.  We will be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we might continue to proclaim God’s word.    

Verse eighteen continues, 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 said that God would one day deliver him to his heavenly home.  Even if we are killed for our faith, God still will not have forsaken us, but He will bring us to our heavenly home.  

Verse nineteen states, Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  Paul then told Timoty to salute certain people who had been of help to him and who stood firm in their faith.  He named Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.  There may be certain people who have helped us in our walk of faith that we want others to acknowledge.  

Verse twenty adds, Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.  Paul then said he had left Erastus in Corinth and Trophimus in Miletum.  These two had not deserted Paul but had been left behind to continue God’s work where they were.  We should not expect all our close fellow believers to remain near us at all times but should expect them to go where God leads them to do God’s work that they have been called to do.  

Verse twenty-one continues, Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.  Paul asked Timothy to do his best to come before winter, possibly because Paul asked him to bring a cloak to him.  He then mentioned some men there who greeted Timothy, so even if they may have forsaken Paul at one time, they were now standing with him.  There will always be other Christians standing for Christ even if at times we feel all alone in the world.   

Verse twenty-two concludes, The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.  Paul then asked that the Lord Jesus Christ be with Timothy in his spirit and that the grace of God be with Him.  As followers of Christ, God is always with us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace will always be with us as well. 

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.