2 Timothy 4:9-18: All Men Forsook Me
2022-03-26
2 Timothy 4:9-12
This section is Paul’s urging for Timothy to come to him. He had left his cloak in Troas (2 Timothy 4:13), and winter was coming (2 Timothy 4:21). While his execution was soon, there seems like there is some period before it will happen.
Many of Paul’s companions deserted him at the end of his life. They may have been involved in his defense during his trial, or they were supposed to have been, which we will discuss shortly (2 Timothy 4:16). He mentions a bunch by name. Here they are:
Demas. This man is mentioned in two other places in the Scriptures (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24). Paul would have written Colossians and Philemon from Rome while imprisoned (Philemon 1:10). Demas’ departure from Paul is the only one where a reason was given for his departure: “having loved this present world.” We do not really know how he loved the world. He could have been ashamed of Paul’s imprisonment. It is mere speculation, but likely given the context. From Rome, we went to Thessalonica.
The man is also mentioned in ancient sources in the Acts of Paul and Thecla (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0816.htm), but this source is not reputable, because Tertullian criticized parts of it and exposed the author as being deposed after confessing that he wrote the work (On Baptism XVII, Of the Power of Conferring Baptism, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0321.htm).
Crescens. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. The next oldest reference is Apostolic Constitutions VII:46, where he is mentioned: “Of the churches of Galatia, Crescens.” (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/07157.htm). Other suspicious references connect him with the churches in Gaul (France). He was listed as one of the seventy the Lord sent out (Luke 10:1, 17) according to Pseudo-Dorotheus.
The Bible says he went from Rome to Galatia, but that is all we know. This does not mean that he left on negative terms like Demas did.
Titus. Titus was a Gentile (Galatians 2:3) who served the Lord with Paul. He brought good news from Corinth to Paul concerning their repentance, acting as a messenger between Paul and the church of Corinth. (2 Corinthians 7). He also accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1-3). Titus was left in Crete just as Timothy was left in Ephesus, as one who was to establish the church there. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5). Here, Paul mentioned that Titus went to Dalmatia, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Luke. Luke was the only one still with Paul at the time of the writing of 2 Timothy. He is mentioned by name in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24, the same verses that Demas is mentioned. He was a physician per Colossians 4:14. Many presume he was a Gentile because he was not listed among those considered “of the circumcision” in Colossians 4:10-11. To me, this is a stretch. We really do not know for sure. As the author of Acts, during Paul’s travels, he used the first-person plural, signifying he was there (ex. Acts 21:1).
Mark. John surnamed Mark is the author of the Gospel bearing his name. Timothy was supposed to pick Mark up on the way to Rome because “he is profitable to me for the ministry.” The neat part about this is that Paul did not always esteem Mark this way. Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys at first (Acts 12:25). He abandoned them in Perga to return home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance on the next missionary journey, but Paul dissented. They could not agree on the matter, that they parted ways. Mark went with Barnabas, and Paul took Silas instead (Acts 15:36-41). Barnabas might have favored Mark because they were related (Colossians 4:10). Mark rejoined with Paul later, being with him at the writing of Colossians and Philemon, just like Luke and Demas (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). At one point, Mark ministered with Peter also (1 Peter 5:13). Mark clearly proved himself useful to Paul since his desertion.
Tychicus. Tychicus was a man from Asia Minor and a companion with Paul (Acts 20:4). He presumably delivered the Pauline epistles to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:21) and Colossians (Colossians 4:7), and otherwise was a messenger of various tasks (cf. Titus 3:12). He was likely doing some similar task here in 2 Timothy 4:12.
2 Timothy 4:13
Paul needed some items he left in Troas, in which Timothy was to bring with him. It may have been the case that Paul was arrested in Troas very suddenly, which is why he did not have the items with him in Rome.
First was a cloak. Winter was coming (2 Timothy 4:21), and he probably did not have appropriate attire.
Second, he desired books and parchments. It is not clear what these are for sure. The word for parchments is hapax legomenon. These could be copies of the Scriptures. While he likely knew these by heart in a very literal sense, it makes sense that he still wanted his own copy to read. His spiritual needs were more important than his physical needs.
2 Timothy 4:14
It was enough for Paul to suffer abandonment from friends. Alexander the coppersmith was such a man who intentionally afflicted Paul in some way. Perhaps he was a man who led to Paul’s arrest.
We know he is a coppersmith. We do not know if he is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Alexander is a common name, and there are other Alexanders mentioned. His vocation being appended to his name is likely there to differentiate him from any other Alexander, because Timothy may meet him at some point, as he needed to be careful when he did.
This is an example of an imprecatory prayer. Paul’s reaction is not to personally retaliate against the man. Consider Matthew 5:38-42. The eye-for-eye mentality in the Old Testament was to make sure the punishment was appropriate for a given crime, neither more nor less. This was the law of the land. However, it is not the job of the Christian to ensure his rights are upheld as much as deferring to others. It is human nature to want others pay for their crimes against us (cf. Genesis 4:23-24).
Jesus did not command this and then ignore it Himself. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
“And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?” (Mark 14:60)
“And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.” (Mark 15:4-5)
Jesus could have destroyed all of them right there. But He didn’t. “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” (Matthew 26:53-54). To show grace to all, He allowed His rights to be taken away.
There is a place to speak up for justice for yourself. “And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25).
What is the difference? Ask yourself, can grace be extended to others by me forfeiting my rights? Can I avoid harm to others if I forfeit my rights? I think this is the bottom line here.
Paul deferred to the Lord concerning Alexander. “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence” (Deuteronomy 32:35). It is not our place to seek vengeance. The Lord will do it in His time if that is what is needed.
2 Timothy 4:15
Timothy would possibly run into Alexander at some point. Maybe this man was in Rome, and since Timothy was going there, he was to avoid him. He was not to attempt to give him the gospel or befriend him, because he had resisted others in the past. “...he hath greatly withstood our words.” This is likely a case of reprobation. He heard the gospel, a message of love and peace toward humanity, but he responded with great wrath against God’s people.
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6). It does not help to give the Gospel to someone who keeps rejecting it. There is a place to pursue someone who has a chance of being saved. “And this will we do, if God permit” (Hebrews 6:3). Seek the Lord on how much time to pursue someone who is rejecting the Gospel. “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name” (Acts 9:13-14). To Paul, it was obvious that Alexander was not someone to spend time on. Timothy should stay away, or he will end up in prison as well.
2 Timothy 4:16
Paul was on trial for charges relating to his faith in Christ. When he went before the judge (possibly Nero) the first time (“first answer”), apparently there were people that could have supported him in the trial. These men either did not show up or did not defend him while they were on the stand. This was a matter of life and death for Paul, and these men failed him.
However, we notice his tenor is different than it was concerning Alexander. There is no vengeance sought from the Lord here. These men chickened out in some way; it was not intentional harm that was inflicted upon Paul. He prayed for their forgiveness. This trial probably decided against his life.
If people wrong us personally, even if it is in a severe way such as this, the model here is forgiveness. It is both personal forgiveness and forgiveness from God. Pray for their reconciliation with the Lord. Pray that the circumstances will be used for those people to experience the grace of God.
This was Jesus’ attitude on the cross. He is in agony, His shredded back rubbing against the splintered cross, with hands and feet with nails in them. He is looking at people dividing his clothes. He is humiliated, partially naked. And this is what he says. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).
2 Timothy 4:17
During this abandonment, Paul was confident the Lord was with him. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9). If he were to put confidence in people, he would have every reason to be disappointed. The Lord strengthened him. Nobody else would be able to. All his friends were gone, except Luke and a few others mentioned at the end of the epistle. Whoever was supposed to support him during his trial, whether these be the same or different men, failed him. It was at this time that his confidence had to be in the Lord alone, because there was no one else left.
Paul was strengthened so that he would continue to be a testimony to the risen Christ even in his final hours. All the Gentiles present at the trial knew of Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. Thus, the Scripture was fulfilled, “...he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15).
Paul “was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” He was not condemned yet. He still had some time left, because otherwise he would not have Timothy come to him from wherever he was at the time, possibly Ephesus still. He still wanted his copies of the scriptures with him. He was delivered for now, just like countless times before.
2 Timothy 4:18
Here, we see a shift in verb tenses, from past to future. He was physically delivered in the past. Now, he will be spiritually delivered.
For us, God may deliver us from any ordeal we face, but if he does not, we know we will be with Him. Consider Philippians 1:18-23. Paul’s goal was to preach Christ, regardless of the outcome, including death. For Paul, death was preferred (Philippians 1:21-23)! He was about to experience this. The Lord “will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.”
Have the same perspective. To be with the Lord is better than being here. He will preserve us. There is nothing here that can stop us from going to be with Him. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). But before that glorious day, when we will see Him, continue to be in His service.
The thought of Paul seeing Christ results in a doxology. “to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”