2 Timothy 4:9-22
The Abandoned Apostle
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
The Lord Is Faithful
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
Come Before Winter
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
21 Do your utmost to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
Farewell
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Paul the aged (Philemon 1:9) apostle ends this personal letter to his disciple whom he saw as a son in the faith with final words of hope. He mentions many by name who have forsaken and left him but points out faith Luke as having stood by him still and not forsaken him. He also warned Timothy of one who was violently opposed to the gospel and to steer clear of him who did such harm and likely was still intent on doing so to hinder the proclamation and ministry of the gospel as all minions of the adversary (Revelation 12:17) are committed to do. We see one example of loving the world more than the Lord and His work in the man Demas, as well as several others who also forsook the faithful apostle and Luke to go elsewhere. One other, Tychicus, he sent to Ephesus to likely minister to the church there. He asked Timothy when he came to Paul to bring Mark who had previously left him but had reconciled later with him (Acts 15:37-38, Colossians 4:10) as well. We find that disagreements can be reconciled but a lack of commitment cannot endure for the long haul in service to the Lord as some had forsaken the Lord and His servant while others had not abandoned either, just as we are forsaken by men but never abandoned (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5-6) by the Lord. We know that those who harm us do harm the gospel of the Lord and will be repaid for the evil they do by the Lord and not by us; it is never our task to enact vengeance, for that enforcement of divine justice belongs to the Lord alone (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30-31). Above all, we should not wish ill will on any who abandon and forsake the work of God which we are engaged in as Paul wrote here in verse 16 with forgiveness and grace. May we do likewise according to this godly example, for we know and are convinced that the Lord will never abandon or forsake us, but strengthen and empower us to the end that we may finish the work prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10) to complete just as He promised to complete the work of sanctification (Philippians 1:6) in us. We then use Paul’s words as our compass, “the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever.” Let us there greet and encourage one another until the work is done and He returns. We truly are forsaken by some but not abandoned by God! Amen.
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