2 Timothy

Studies completed with Joe Focht, Chuck Smith, Damian Kyle, Jon Courson, NIV Study Bible,
Warren Wiersbe, Matthew Henry, Kenneth Wuest, David Guzik, Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, and
Homer Kent.

Introduction:
There are some notable differences between the books of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy is
Paul’s final letter and includes much heart-felt emotion.

In 67/68 AD, Paul was arrested and sent to the Mammertine dungeon in Rome. 2 Timothy seems to be
written at that time.
- On July 19, 64AD, Nero burned Rome; he then blamed it on the Christians. That initiates a
concerted persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire that will include Paul’s arrest and
execution.

2 Timothy was written to summon Timothy to meet Paul in Rome before his impending execution.
(2 Tim. 4:9)

Chapter 1:
1:1 – “apostle” – Lit. “one sent forth.” The idea is “ambassador or messenger.”
- Paul is in prison at this time, but still sees himself as being sent by God.
- “the will of God” – (Greek “thelema”) Lit. “purpose, end, will.” This is a word of heart-felt
desire on God’s part.
- “promise of life” – This would be especially important to Paul at this time as he nears death.

1:2 – “Timothy” – means “one who honors God.”

- “Grace…peace” – They always come in that order, as we cannot experience the peace of God
until we have first experienced the grace of God.
- “mercy” – This is not generally included in the Paul’s introductions. This seems to be added
with a particular concern for the ministers Paul will address in this letter.

1:3-4 – “without ceasing I remember you…greatly desiring” – There is great passion and emotion
throughout this entire letter.

1:3 – “I thank God” – Even while in prison and facing his own execution, Paul remains thankful.
- There is not a word of complaint in any of the pastoral epistles.
- “serve” – (Greek “latreuo”) Lit. “to render religious service.”
- “pure conscience” – This is the mark of life not encumbered with intentional or hidden sin.
- We only ever walk in the authority of the throne you bow your knee to.
- “forefathers” – Paul is pointing to his Jewish heritage.
- “prayers” – The men God uses are men of prayer.
- “prayers night and day” – This is the heart of a father praying for his child.
- Paul knows from experience about the heightening conflict arising against Christians.

1:4 – “your tears” – Timothy may have seen Paul taken away from the last time.
- It is clear that Paul would rather be with his friend, than in prison.
1:5 – “genuine” – (Greek “anupokritos”) Lit. “without a mask, sincere, or non-hypocritical.”
- Timothy’s faith was without airs and pretense. He lived in such a way that what you saw
was what was true of him.
- “grandmother Lois…mother Eunice” – They were both Jewish believers.
- Timothy’s father was a Greek and apparently a non-believer at the time we see Timothy in
Acts 16.
- “I am persuaded is in you” – The only real chance we have at passing this faith onto out children
is for it to be non-hypocritical. There is nothing that turns kids off more than hypocrisy.
- The greatest detriment to the cause of Christ, and our relationship with Christ, is hypocrisy.
You cannot relate with someone who isn’t open and honest with you. That is why Jesus
was so forceful with the Pharisees in Matt. 23.

1:6 – “stir up” – Lit. “to stir up the embers, fan the flames, or rekindle a fire.”
- “the gift of God” – The gift given to Timothy wasn’t Timothy’s gift, it was God’s gift given to
Timothy. He ought, therefore, to use it accordingly. (1 Tim. 4:14 and 2 Tim. 4:5)
- God’s gifts are not given in full bloom; they need to be developed through use.

1:7 – “spirit” – The idea of this word is “disposition.”

- “fear” – Lit. “cowardice.” This is the only time in the NT this particular word is used.
- A coward is someone primarily concerned with self-preservation.
- Fear is a favorite tool of Satan.
- “power…love…sound mind” – These are the opposite of what we had before coming to Christ.

1:8 – “do not be ashamed” – The tense implies, “do not start being ashamed.” This is a preemptive
warning for something that may tempt Timothy in the future.
- Timothy’s mentor, Paul, is soon to be executed for the Christian faith. That alone would be
a potential reason for Timothy to be ashamed of “the testimony of our Lord.”
- “His prisoner” – Paul saw himself as God’s prisoner, not Rome’s.
- He was in that prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ (not for embezzlement or stealing
or murder.)
- “power of God” – There is a cost to stand firm and speak the truth in the midst of some of the
difficulties and to live up to God in any situation.
- Jesus condescended to be our brother (Heb. 2:17) and God is not ashamed to be called our
God (Heb. 11:16), yet many times we are the ones who are ashamed of Him. It should
probably be the other way around.
- There are going to be tough times either way. They might as well be tough for doing what
is right.

1:9 – “who has saved us and called us” – This is where Timothy’s power came from.
- “holy calling” – It cannot be holy and originate with us. God is holy; He is separate from us.
- “not according to our works” – For it to be good, it must start with God.
- “grace” – This is extended to us, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
- “before time began” – Lit. “before the eternal ages.”
- Jesus Christ was slain from the foundations of the world. (Rev. 13:8) God has made a
provision for fallen humanity.

1:10 – “abolished death” – It is not that it doesn’t exist anymore, but that it cannot do what it used to
do. It has no more power or sting anymore. (1 Cor. 15:55)

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1:11 – “preacher” – This role is for sharing the gospel with the unsaved.
- “teacher” – This role is for teaching the body of believers.
- The Church today is failing because there is too much preaching and not enough teaching.

1:12 – “not ashamed” – These seems to be an important theme of Chap. 1. (1:8; 1:16)
- “whom…He…Him” – Faith is grounded in the person of God. It is a relationship, not a religion.
(Rom. 7:24; 8:1)
- He is a real God, and that is why we don’t have to be ashamed.
- “committed”- This is a Greek term for a bank deposit. The idea is “entrusted.”

1:13 – “the pattern” – Paul taught “the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)
- “sound words” – Lit. “healthy words.”

1:15 – “Asia” – Persecution was heightening in Asia at this time.

- “turned away from me” – They turned their backs on Paul after Paul is imprisoned for the sake
of the gospel.
- “Phygellus and Hermogenes” – Paul publicly names these guys by the Holy Spirit.

1:16 – “Onesiphorus” – means “help-bringer, or profit-bearer.” He certainly lived up to his name.

- Paul names the ones willing to unashamedly endure with him as well.
- “chain” – Lit. “manacle, handcuff.”

1:18 – “mercy from the Lord” – Because Onesiphorus was willing to grant mercy to Paul, Paul asks
God to grant mercy to Onesiphorus.
- “ministered” – (Greek “diakoneo”) Lit. “served.”

Chapter 2:
2:1 – “Therefore” – These next instructions will come in the context of Paul’s encouragement to
Timothy not to be ashamed and to stick to the things that matter.
- “strong in the grace” – This is not being strong in works.
- Everything from God comes through Christ’s work, not through ours.

2:2 – “faithful men who will be able to teach others” – This is not a pyramid discipleship scheme.
- Jesus’ discipleship formula is go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. (Matt. 28:19-20)
- Chuck Smith taught a handful of men 5 nights a week for 2 years through the Bible before
establishing those men as home Bible study leaders.
- “faithful” – This is the primary thing to look for, even above being highly skilled.
- “others also” – (Greek “heteros”) Lit. “others of a different kind.”
- The work of the Church is to equip the people so they can share with those around them.
(Eph. 4:16)

2:3-7 – “good soldier…athletics…farmer” – After the encouragement to be strong in grace, Paul uses
these illustrations to show Timothy how. If we are strong in grace, it will work its way out in
our lives.
- Growing in grace always happens inside-out. It never happens by our effort and work.

2:3 – “a good soldier” – Paul uses this illustration to speak of order.

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2:4 – “entangles himself with the affairs of this life” – This is a picture of commitment and focus.
- “entangles” – Lit. “to be woven.”
- “affairs of this life” – These things are not necessarily things that are evil or wrong, but they are
things that are not expedient. Some of these things may be ok for citizens, but not for soldiers.
- “The legionary soldiers among the Romans were not permitted to engage in husbandry,
merchandise, mechanical employments, or anything that might be inconsistent with their
calling.” (Clarke)
- Paul is causing Timothy to check the purpose of his life and the purposes for the things he
is involved in.

2:5 – “competes in athletics” – (KJV “strive for the masteries”) This is Greek terminology for the
wrestling competition in the Olympics.
- Paul uses the athlete to illustrate the necessity of following the rules.
- “competes according to the rules” – This is a picture of discipline and obedience. In Christianity,
as in athletic competitions, there are rules and parameters to work within while trying to reach
the goal. As followers of Christ, the ends never justify the means. We are to do God’s things in
God’s ways for God’s purposes.
- God has a prescribed way to do what He wants done. It has been foreordained.
- We will all get the same kind of crown (2 Tim. 4:8) as Paul. The rewards are based on
faithfulness and not on course or scope of ministry.
- “the rules” – The Bible is our rulebook.

2:6 – “hardworking farmer” – Paul uses the illustration of a farmer to speak of diligence and endurance.
- “first to partake of the crops” – This is a picture of fruitfulness and rewards.
- “hardworking” – The idea is laboring to the point of exhaustion.
- “first to partake” – The farmer knows he is the first to get from his work.
- The servant of Jesus ends up receiving far more from Him than was ever given to the
people. God will be a debtor to no man.

2:7 – “Consider” – Lit. “be considering.” This is Paul’s challenge to Timothy.

2:8 – “Remember” – Lit. “be remembering.”

- “raised from the dead” – Lit. “raised out from among the dead.”

2:9 – “evil doer” – This is a word for the common criminal. This word was also used of the criminals
who were executed with Jesus.

2:11 – “if we died with Him” – This verse is in the context of persecution. (Gal. 2:20)

2:12 – “endure” – (Greek “hupomone”) Lit. “to bear up under pressure.”

- “if we deny Him” – In context, this is referring even to times of persecution. (Matt. 10:33)

2:13 – “He remains faithful” – Humanity’s unbelief doesn’t diminish God’s rule or position.

2:14 – “strive about words” – These are meaningless arguments.

- “ruin” – (Greek “katastrepho”) Lit. “to turn over, turn under.” We get our English word
“catastrophe” from this Greek word.

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2:15 – “approved” – Lit. “one who has been tested and found acceptable.” The word was used for
testing and approving metals.
- “approved to God” – We are to be concerned with God’s approval, not other people’s approval.
- “rightly dividing” – We must be careful to get the meaning out of the Word, and not read into it.
- This is the verse that motivated Schofield to lay out the dispensations of the Old Schofield
Bible.

2:16 – “ungodliness” – The goal of all this is Godliness. Timothy must stay in the Word, for himself
and for others, to grow in Godliness.

2:17 – “spread” – (Greek “nome”) Lit. “to take pasture.”

- “cancer” – A cancer is when the cells of one’s own body turn against the rest of the body.
- There are times it is better to cut the body to remove the cancer that would end up killing
the body if it remained.
- “Hymenaeus and Philetus” – Paul is willing to publicly name these men. (1 Tim. 1:20)
- Paul probably had to deal with the letters from offended people then too.

2:19 – “the foundation of God stands” – This is an amazing coming from Paul’s perspective in jail,
awaiting his execution, seeing the problems of the Church, etc. and still knowing that God will
make it stand.
- “The Lord knows those who are His” – Num. 16:5.
- “depart from iniquity” – This keeps the Church from sending mixed and confusing messages to
the world.
- The faith is to be the type that works itself out in our lives.
- “If faith isn’t enough to change us now, how will it be enough to glorify us then?” –
Charles Spurgeon.

2:21 – “the latter” – This refers back to the profane babbling, ungodliness, and speaking the name of
Christ while in sin. (v. 19)
- “vessel for honor” – This speaks of the value or quality of the vessel.
- “prepared for every good work” – God has to first work in us (to prepare us) before we can do
any good work.
- God has good works for us that were prepared for us to do. (Eph. 2:10)

2:22 – “flee” – We are not to play with these things, but run away from them.
- Joseph is the perfect example of this. (Gen. 39:7-12)
- These sins are a part of our fallen nature – we don’t reform it, we are to crucify it.
- “youthful lusts” – This is not speaking merely of age, but of category. Timothy is likely between
35-40 years old at this time and he still needs this reminder.
- David was likely over 50 when he fell into adultery with Bathsheba.
- “lusts” – Lit. “strong desires.” Not just sexual lust.
- Our world doesn’t help us to flee these lusts.

2:23 – “foolish” – Lit. “stupid.”

- “ignorant” – Lit. “uneducated, unknowing.”
- God has not called us to speak a stunted or retarded message of the Gospel. We must stay
focused on the task of sharing the full story of the good news of Jesus Christ.

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2:26 – “come to their senses” – Lit. “awaken.”
- By getting involved in strange and unprofitable things, some have sleep-walked from the
faith. Our task is to pray for them to be awakened.
- “taken captive” – There are some that Satan has taken captive for his own will.
- Satan has blinded the eyes of some to the truth. (2 Cor. 4:4)

Chapter 3:
3:1 – “the last days” – Biblically, this is the time frame from Pentecost to the end of the Tribulation.
We are currently in the last days.
- The Spirit is laying these things out for us ahead of time.
- “perilous” – Lit. “fierce.”

3:2-4 – “lovers” – Paul lists three main areas of worldly love: 1. “lovers of themselves,” 2. “lovers of
money,” and 3. “lovers of pleasure.”
- These conditions are all results of those who love themselves. Selfishness leads to these
things.
- When Adam sinned, he covered himself. Self-focus and self-preservation are results of
self-love.
• In our culture, loving oneself is no longer seen to be a bad thing. Even much of
the Christian community seems to foster this idea of self-love with self-worth,
self-esteem and the like.

3:2 – “unthankful, unholy” – These qualities are often connected.

- Only those who walk by God’s grace will live genuinely holy lives.

3:3 – “unloving” – (Greek “astorgos”) Lit. “without natural affection.” This speaks of the lack of love
between parents and children and points to a breaking down of the family.
- Without natural affection, affections can go any other “unnatural” way.
- “unforgiving” – (KJV “trucebreakers”) Those breaking promises and commitments (for
example - divorce).
- “slanderers” – (Greek “diabolos”) We get our English word “devil” from this word.
- “without self-control” – Undisciplined.
- “brutal” – Lit. “savage.”

3:4 – “traitors” – They do not honor their word. They will break any vow or contract when it
doesn’t suit them. (Ps. 15:4)
- “lovers of pleasure” – Pleasure and the enjoyment of pleasure is not a bad thing in itself. God
made pleasure and wants us to enjoy it. But when it runs our life and rules our decisions, it
is wrong.
- When pleasure and the search for God conflict, people will often choose pleasure. It is a
choice and we see which is more important when they conflict.

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3:5 – “form of godliness” – These are those holding onto a religious form without substance.
- This description from v. 2-4 is of those professing to be Godly (ie. the Church).
- “power” – (Greek “dunamis”) The Gospel of Christ is the power for salvation. (Rom. 1:16;
1 Cor. 4:20; 1 Thess. 1:5) This power saves and changes a life.
- The measure of one’s spirituality is in the life, not in the godliness one merely
professes to hold.
- If the power of God can’t change you, then the power of God can’t save you.
- “turn away” – Lit. “keep turning away.”

3:6 – “creep” – This implies sneakiness and deception.

- “women loaded down with sins” – This is referring to unsaved women.
- Those who speak it, not living it, lead the gullible away into sin, because the gullible are
“ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (v. 7). They cannot
and do not apply what they say to the world in which they live.
- “led away by various lusts” – The cure for this type of vulnerability is to build a life off of the
Word of God. (v. 15)

3:7 – “knowledge” – (Greek “epignosco”) Lit. “knowledge from personal experience.”

3:8 – “the faith” – The Biblically Christian faith “which was once for all delivered to the saints”
(Jude 1:3).
- Taking from or adding to the true faith will be the message of the last days. The
solution Paul offers to us is to stick to the Word of God. (v. 3:14-4:5)
- “Jannes and Jambres” – These are Egyptian names. The Targum of Jonathan and Hebrew
tradition say these were the Egyptians who opposed Moses when Moses came to Pharaoh.
- They were counterfeits, impersonating the work of God. Imitating miracles, imitating the
faith, and opposing the deliverance extended to all men marked the work of those who
opposed Moses.

3:9 – “they will progress no further” – At some point in the future, God reveals the counterfeit for
what it was all along.

3:10 – “But you” – This is in contrast to all that Paul listed in 3:1-3:9.

3:11 – “persecutions” – It is the sincere who get persecuted. This also stands in contrast to the
counterfeits.
- “Antioch” – Acts 13:50
- “Iconium” – Acts 14:5
- “Lystra” – Acts 14:19

3:12 – “all who desire to live godly” – This is a promise to all who seek to live in a godly manner.
- “persecution” – This is anything that opposes and challenges the faith. (John 16:33; Acts 14:22;
1 John 3:13)

3:13 – “worse and worse” – This is the direction of this world. There is nothing anyone can do about it.
- “being deceived” – They will come to believe their own lies.
- Sincerity is not the only, or even the best, measure for truth.

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3:14 – “continue” – or “abide.” (1 John 2:24)
- “whom” – Plural. Paul is not only referring to himself, but no doubt referencing Timothy’s
mother, grandmother, and others. (2 Tim. 1:5)

3:15 – “Holy Scriptures” – In light of the people that surround us, the counterfeits among us, the
persecution to us, and the worsening of the world around us, Paul points Timothy to the Word,
the Bible. It is absolutely necessary. And if it is getting worse, as Paul said it would, then we
need it more than Timothy.
- The Word is our safety; the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. (John 17:17)
- Church doctrine and practice is established on three criteria: 1. it was taught by Jesus in the
Gospels, 2. it was practiced in the book of Acts, and 3. it was expounded in the epistles.
- “salvation” – This is the key benefit to the unbelieving world. The Bible delineates the truth of
sin, hell, and the consequences to sin, as well as Jesus’ provision for eternal life.
- “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

3:16 – “inspiration” – (Lit. “God-breathed.”) The Bible is not only inspired, but also preserved in a
way God has desired.
- No higher critics, no questions on original manuscripts, no doubts…“all Scripture.”
- “doctrine…reproof…correction…instruction” – These are the key benefits for the believers.
- The Bible teaches us how to get right (“salvation’ – v. 15) and stay right (“instruction” –
v. 16).
- The Bible is sharper than any double-edged sword (Heb. 4:12)…but no man or woman
holds the handle.

3:17 – “complete” – Lit. “fully mature.”

- “thoroughly” – God’s preparation is His Word, nothing more and nothing less are necessary.

Chapter 4:
4:1 – “before God” – Paul is reminding Timothy that the most important member of his congregation
is God Himself.
- “and the Lord Jesus Christ” – Lit. “even the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- “His appearing and His kingdom” – These are two distinct judgments.

4:2 – “Preach the Word” – This is not preaching about the Word or preaching out of (from) the Word.
But this is simply teaching the Word of God simply.
- This is especially important during the last days of perilous times full of evil men and
imposters. It is just as important, maybe more so, to continue to preach the Word in a
degraded society even if most of the people do not want to hear it.
- “True preaching is the explanation and application of Bible doctrine. Anything else is just
religious speechmaking.” (Warren Wiersbe)
- “in season and out of season” – Isaiah 40:8 says “the grass withers and the flower fades, but the
Word of the Lord stands forever.” Generally, grass is pretty resilient (it comes back every time
I mow it), but it withers out of season. The Word of God is never out of season.
- “convince, rebuke, exhort” – These are all to happen within the framework of the Scriptures
through patient teaching.
- Pastor-teachers are to enforce all that is Biblical, and to refuse to enforce anything that is
not Biblical.
- “convince” – This could also be translated “correct.”
- Pastors are commanded to convince and rebuke.

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4:3 – “time will come” – This is a definite.
- “endure” – There is an endurance factor to it. Acts 2:42 says they “continued steadfastly” in the
apostles’ teaching. To remain in the Word takes some commitment.
- The Word of God creates an appetite for the Word of God. Where else do you go after the
Word of God? (John 6:68 – “You have the words to eternal life.”)
- “sound doctrine” – This refers to good, Bible teaching.
- “according to their own desires” – They make the church center around what they want.
- “itching ears” – People are more attentive to entertainment than to instruction.
- “heap” – Lit. “to accumulate in piles.” This speaks of the gathering around ourselves those who
say what we want to hear.

4:5 – “But you” – Paul gives Timothy a 4-fold instruction: 1. watch, 2. endure, 3. evangelize, and
4. carry the ministry to completion.
- “evangelist” – This word is only used 3 times in the NT. (Acts 20:8; Eph. 4:11)
- “the work of an evangelist” – God called Timothy to be an evangelist and gifted him thusly
(1 Tim. 4:14). It is very important to know how God has gifted you and called you so you
can be faithful to that calling.

4:6-9 – “I…my…me” – Paul is concluding this writing with a personal touch. He is telling his own
personal story, and by doing so, passing the baton.

4:6 – “I am already” – Lit. “As for me, I am already.” It is emphatic. Paul gives this final exhortation
with great passion.
- “poured out as a drink offering” – This is the oblation, the drink offering poured out next to the
sacrifice. (Exod. 29:40-41; Lev. 23:13: Num. 15:1-10)
- “departure” – Lit. “to pull up the tent stakes.” He no longer needs to tabernacle in this body.

4:7 – “fought…finished…kept” – Paul uses 3 metaphors to speak of his life: 1. a wrestler-boxer in the
“good fight,” 2. a runner in the “race,” and 3. a warrior guarding (“kept” – NKJV) the faith.
- “the good fight” – Paul won the fight, even though he didn’t win every round. (2 Cor. 1:8)
- “finished the race” – In Phil. 3:12-14, Paul said he had not apprehended “that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
- “the race” – We each run our own course. (Acts 20:24) I don’t run Paul’s, but I have to finish
mine.

4:8 – “Finally” – The idea is “In conclusion” or “So what then now.”
- “crown” – Paul uses the metaphor of a wreath given to the winner of a race. (1 Cor. 9:25)
- “Judge” – This is not the courtroom judge, but the judge at the Olympic games.
- “but also to all” – This same crown is offered to all who loved His appearing. We can get one of
the same crowns Paul will have.
- “His appearing” – (Greek “epiphaneia”) Lit. “epiphany.” This is His coming, His being made
visible.

4:9 – “quickly” – Paul wants Timothy to hurry.

- Does Heb. 13:23 give us a clue on the writer to Hebrews and Timothy’s situation at this
time?
- This would be the late fall of 67 AD.

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4:10 – “forsaken” – (Greek “egkataleipo”) Lit. “to abandon, desert, leave helpless.” This Greek word
gives us our modern phrase, “to leave in the lurch.”
- Keeping association with Paul at this point could mean execution for them as well.
- “Demas has forsaken me” – Demas left the faith and the company of the saints. He stands in
contrast to Paul’s being poured out. (Col. 4:14 and Philemon 24)
- Demas had the perfect situation, the right balance and proper expression of all the spiritual
gifts, great teaching, wonderful worship, and seeing God work the miraculous through the
ministry…and yet that wasn’t enough to keep him around.
- “loved this present world” – Are we allowing ourselves to be tied to the temporary-present world
and to other things that aren’t expedient? Or are we setting our minds on things above?
- The world puts out the good stuff first, but God saves the best stuff for last. (John 2:10)
- “Crescans…Titus” – It is not said that they loved this present world. It seems these guys are still
in the faith, but taking their ministries to other locations (possibly against Paul’s advisement).
- “Dalmatia” – Present-day Albania and a portion of Yugoslavia, also known in the Scriptures as
Illyricum. (Rom. 15:19)

4:11 – “Luke” – He is called the “beloved physician” in Col. 4:14.

- “Mark” – Mark had forsaken Paul and Barnabas earlier (Acts 13:13) and the conflict over Mark
split up Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41). Apparently, Mark and Paul have been restored.
(Col. 4:10; Philemon 24)
- Every Demas can be a Mark. Prodigal sons can come home.

4:12 – “Tychicus” – He carried the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. (Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21;
Col. 4:7; Titus 3:12)

4:13 – “books…parchments” – A good teacher keeps studying and learning.

- Paul maintains a serious study of the Scriptures despite knowing that he will soon die.
- “You can tell what is important to a man by what he does when he doesn’t have to do
anything” – Jon Courson.

4:14 – “Alexander” – Possibly the same Alexander spoken of in Acts 19:33 and 1 Tim. 1:20.
- “coppersmith” – This title referred to anyone who worked with metal.

4:16 – “not charged against them” – This is the same thing Stephen prayed as they stoned him, and as
Paul held the coats of them that killed Stephen. (Acts 7:58-60)

4:17 – “so that the message might be preached” – Paul got to give his testimony one final time as he
stood before Nero.
- If he testified in the Pauline Basilica, he may have testified before thousands.
- “the lion” – This is likely not a literal lion. Paul, being a Roman citizen, would not have gone to
the lions (and also would not be allowed to be crucified). He is probably speaking of Nero.

4:18 – “the Lord will deliver me” – The first time he stood before Nero, he was delivered from the
sword. This time he will be delivered by the sword through execution.
- This is great faith. The world cannot win against this kind of faith.
- Deliverance doesn’t always and only come through healing.

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4:19 – “Prisca and Aquila” – They are Paul’s old friends who worked with Paul in Ephesus and
Corinth. (Acts 18:2, 26; 1 Cor. 16:19)
- “Onesiphorus” – He may have given his life already for Paul, the ministry, and the faith. That
may be why Paul greets his household twice in this letter. (2 Tim. 1:16)

4:20 – “Trophimus…sick” – Paul obviously didn’t practice positive confession. (Acts 21:29)

4:21 – “Do your utmost” – Of all the other friends, Paul seems to love to see Timothy most of all.
- Our circle of friends is God-given.
- “before winter” – The Adriatic shipping lanes would freeze during the winter and that would
keep Timothy from coming until the spring. Plus, Paul wanted his cloak for the winter.
- Paul would be executed in the spring of the next year.
- “Linus, Claudia” – Eusubius and Ignatius speak of Linus as the first bishop of Rome. History
speaks of a Linus, who was a senator and the son of a Claudia, the wife of a king. History
refers to Claudia as a princess from Britain.

4:22 – “your spirit” – This is singular. Paul is speaking to Timothy specifically.

- “you” – This is plural. Paul would be referring to his entire listening audience. (This includes
us too.)
- This is Paul’s final letter. He would be executed by beheading under the direction of
Caesar Nero shortly after writing this letter in the spring of 68 AD.

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