Summary of 2 Timothy, Chapter 4

Paul charges Timothy before God and Jesus Christ, Who is going to be the judge of the living and the dead, and by His coming and His kingdom -- to preach the word, to apply himself to it, whether the time be opportune or inopportune, to correct, reprove, exhort, in all long-suffering and doctrine. For a time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, according to their whims, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, since they will be wanting to have their ears tickled. They will turn aside their ears from the truth, and will turn instead to fables.

But Timothy should be sober in everything, should endure evil, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill his ministry. Paul is already being poured out like a libation. The time of his being loosed from this life is at hand. Paul says he has fought the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith. For the rest, there awaits him the righteous crown which the Lord, the Just Judge, will give to him on that day -- not only to him, but to all who have loved His coming.

He asks Timothy to come to him quickly, for Demas, loving this world, has left him and gone to Macedonia. Crescens went to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with him. He asks Timothy to take Mark along, for he would be very useful for the ministry. Paul has sent Tychicus to Ephesus. He asks Timothy to bring the cloak he left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did Paul much harm. The Lord will repay him according to his works. Paul asks Timothy to watch out for Alexander, for he has greatly resisted Paul's words.

At Paul's first hearing and defense, no one stayed with him, all left him. He prays the Lord may not hold it against them. But the Lord stood by him and gave him strength so that through him the preaching might be completed and all the gentiles might hear it. Paul was delivered from the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver him from every evil work, and will save him for his kingdom, which is in the heavens. To Him be glory for ages of ages. Amen.

He asks Timothy to greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus has stayed at Corinth. Trophimus was left behind, sick, at Miletus. He asks Timothy to hurry to come before winter. Eubulus greets Timothy and Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. May the Lord Jesus be with Timothy's spirit. May grace be with him.

Comments on Chapter 4

After charging Timothy most solemnly to preach the truth in season and out of season, Paul predicts a time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, will prefer fables, will listen to various teachers, wanting their ears tickled.

If one believes in the Fatima prophecy of the conversion of Russia, followed by a "certain" period of peace, then he will not think we have the fulfillment of this prophecy today, for Paul seems to refer to the time shortly before the end. Before that end must come the period of peace, which has not yet been seen. But there is a multiple fulfillment of many prophecies, and so one could say that today we have in our evils such a fulfillment, indeed, a dress rehearsal as it were.

Paul in a touching way reveals he knows his death is near. He, without violation of humility -- which is truth (cf. comments on Philippians 2:13) -- says he has fought the good fight and has kept the faith. He looks forward to a crown due to him in justice from the Just Judge. This does not contradict his great theme of justification by faith (unearned). No, it refers to something extra, and also, since he has in mind the covenant, within the covenant we can speak of two levels of reasons why God gives good things. On the most basic level all is mercy, unearned, since no creature by its own power can generate a claim on God. But on a secondary level, i.e., given the fact that God has freely entered into a covenant, then if people do what is required, He owes it to Himself to give, to reward. Please recall our comments on Romans 2:6. The Council of Trent speaks of three stages: 1) We receive sanctifying grace for the first time, justification, without any merit at all: DS 1532; 2) that grace makes us adopted children of God. Children have a claim to inherit. A claim can be called merit: DS 1582. 3) Being made children of God, with even a share in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), our works acquire a great dignity, which makes it suitable that they be rewarded. So we can earn increases of sanctifying grace (that is, increases in the ability to take in the vision of God in the next life). In all, though, inasmuch as we are members of Christ, and are like Him, we get in on the claim He generated: we are not saved as individuals, but as His members, who are like Him.

Even though he previously wanted Timothy to stay in Ephesus, now, temporarily, he wants his help in his last hours. Only Luke is with him -- probably the Evangelist, who often traveled with Paul. Paul, forgetful of self, has sent others on missionary work to various places.

He asks Timothy when he comes through Troas -- which would be naturally on his route -- to bring his cloak, books, and parchments. When arrested he must have had to leave suddenly. He speaks again of the harm done to him by Alexander the coppersmith (cf. 1 Timothy 1:20 and Acts 19:33). He says God will repay him, not in spirit of revenge, but citing Psalm 62:12, as he did in Romans 2:6.

He says the Lord delivered him from the mouth of the lion. This is figurative, for as a Roman citizen, Paul could not be thrown to the lions.

He sends greetings to Prisca and Aquila, with whom he stayed at Corinth (Acts 18:2; Rom 16:3;1 Cor 16:19), and to Onesiphorus (cf. 1:16-18). Erastus was an official, perhaps a treasurer, at Corinth (Acts 19:22; Romans 16:24). Trophimus was from Ephesus, mentioned in Acts 20:4; 21:29. We know nothing of Eubulus. There is a tradition that Pudens was the first senator converted by St. Peter. Claudia, according to the Apostolic Constitutions⁵ was the mother of Linus, who is probably the first successor of St. Peter at Rome.