2 Timothy 4

This is the final chapter of 2 Timothy. Following the statement in 2 Timothy 3 that Scripture is given by inspiration of God, Paul gives Timothy a final charge to preach the word. He then reports on his own circumstances and on his coworkers, and closes the letter with greetings.

Outline

• Verses 1–5 Paul gives a solemn charge before Christ, who will judge, and in view of His appearing (the Second Coming). He tells Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season. A time will come when people will turn away from sound doctrine and seek out teachers who please their ears, so Timothy is to be watchful and fulfill his ministry.
• Verses 6–8 Paul says that he is being poured out like a drink offering (an offering of wine poured over a sacrifice) and that the time of his departure is at hand. He declares that a crown of righteousness is laid up for him.
• Verses 9–13 He urges Timothy to come quickly. He reports that Demas has left him and that only Luke is with him. He asks Timothy to bring Mark, along with the cloak and books he left at Troas, especially the parchments.
• Verses 14–18 He warns Timothy to beware of Alexander the coppersmith. He says that at his first defense everyone deserted him, but the Lord stood with him and delivered him.
• Verses 19–22 He sends greetings, repeats his request that Timothy come before winter, and closes with a benediction.

Key Verses

• 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season": widely cited as a summary of the calling of a minister of the word.
• 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith": Paul's testimony as he looks back on his life. Together with verse 8, it forms the promise of the crown of righteousness.

People and Places

• Demas: having loved this present world, he departed for Thessalonica.
• Crescens: a coworker who went to Galatia. The same verse reports that Titus went to Dalmatia (a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea).
• Luke and Mark: Luke remains with Paul, and Mark is the one Timothy is asked to bring. Tychicus was sent to Ephesus.
• Alexander the coppersmith: a man who strongly opposed Paul's words.
• Priscilla and Aquila: in this text she is called "Prisca." Onesiphorus is mentioned in chapter 1 as one who helped Paul.
• Erastus remained in Corinth, and Trophimus was left sick at Miletus.
• Linus: there is a tradition that identifies him with the figure remembered as a leader of the early church in Rome.

Points for Reflection

• Traditionally, this is read as the last letter Paul wrote shortly before his martyrdom in Rome. The martyrdom itself, however, is recorded not in the text but in church tradition. Many critical scholars hold that the Pastoral Epistles were written by a later disciple of Paul, whereas conservative denominations and scholars hold that Paul wrote them himself.
• Interpreters differ on whether the "first answer" (first defense) refers to a preliminary hearing during the present imprisonment or to an event during an earlier imprisonment. Many interpret "the mouth of the lion" as a figure for grave danger rather than a reference to literal wild beasts.
• Mark, who occasioned the split between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15, is here called "profitable to me for the ministry." In Colossians 4 and Philemon 1, Demas and Mark both appear as Paul's coworkers.

In the Korean Church

• Verses 7–8 are frequently read at funeral services and at retirement services for pastors.
• Verse 2 is often used as the text of the charge at pastoral ordination services and installation services.