Faithful followers of Jesus Christ, and some not so faithful.

2 Timothy 4:9-22

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titusfor Dalmatia. OnlyLuke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.” 2 Timothy 4:9-16

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that some among us will abandon faith in Jesus Christ, some will remain faithful to the work of the Gospel of Christ, some will do much harm to our efforts to share the message of the Cross, and some will run away when we need their support and comfort. Sometimes, all we have is the word of God and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter.

Who were the people mentioned in the verses of this post?

• Timothy is the one to whom Paul was saying, “Be diligent to come to me quickly…” Paul was extracting Timothy from his leadership position at the Church of Ephesus to visit him in Rome, where he was in prison. Sometimes we need a reprieve from the difficult people around us to be refreshed and strengthened in Jesus Christ.
• With Timothy absent from Ephesus, Tychius was sent to Ephesus as his replacement. In that light, we know that Tychius was a leader within the body of Christ.
• Demas left Paul and turned away from Jesus Christ to live for the ways of this world. Today, the majority of people reject Jesus Christ to live for the god of this world. That god is the beast that has power over physiology to give people a love for this world. They are empowered with feelings of physical comforts and sensual pleasure, uncanny knowledge, heightened intuition, extraordinary skills and talents, uncanny authority over others, amazing physical abilities, fabricated emotions, etc.
• Paul sent Crescens to Galatia to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Paul sent Titus to Dalmatia. Titus is the one who Paul was writing to in the book of Titus. Paul led Titus to Jesus Christ and calls him a son, “To Titus, a true son in our common faith…” Titus 1:4 Titus was a Gentile who showed that being circumcised was not necessary to serve God, “Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.  Galatians 2:3
• Luke started the missionary journey with Paul and continued with him to the every end. Luke is the one who wrote the Gospel of Luke.
• Paul wanted Mark to be brought to him because he was useful in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark.
• Alexander the coppersmith did much harm to Paul’s ministry. Paul warned Timothy to be wary of him. There are many people in today’s atheistic culture that habitually works to bring harm to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all of Christianity. We have to be cautious of those seeking to devour whoever they can.
• Paul was in a Roman prison, and during his last days, Nero was the Roman Emperor. Nero was notorious for persecuting and killing Christians. When it was time for Paul to appear in court for the first time, no one stood with him but abandoned him. Paul did not want that to be held against them. It’s understandable that some followers of Jesus Christ are not prepared to be persecuted and face death by stepping up against the governing authorities to testify on the behalf of Jesus Christ and fellow Christians. That happened to the Apostle Peter who denied Jesus Christ three times rather than face persecution and death [Luke 22:54-62]. Our Lord Jesus knew Peter would, and said so, [Luke 22:31-34]. Jesus forgave Peter, as described in Luke 21:15-19.
• What were the books and parchments that Paul wanted brought to him? Probably the Old Testament scriptures, early Christian writings, or personal notebooks for writing. 

“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.” 2 Timothy 4:17a

When Paul spoke the words, “…that all the Gentiles might hear…”, he had little idea that “all the Gentiles” included people in parts of the world that he never knew existed, such as the Americas. The strength he had in the faith of Jesus Christ, while in a Roman prison, is the reason we are reading his letters today. As followers of Jesus Christ, never underestimate what a simple statement of faith in Jesus Christ can make. Like Paul, all the acts we perform while on the missionary journey through this world may mean much less than the one “letter” we speak. “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32

“Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 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!” 2 Timothy 4:17b-18

While Nero was the Emperor of Rome, he would put a bunch of Christians in a coliseum then release hungry lions. The coliseum was filled with spectators just to see the Christians being mauled by the lions. The Lord spared Paul from that fate as Paul could have been taken at any time and fed to the lions. During that time of intense pressure, with torture and death hanging over him day-by-day, Paul continued to write the letters we are reading today, such as 1 and 2 Timothy. To many people, Paul seemed rugged and tough, but within his heart and soul was the Holy Spirit. By the process of sanctification, Paul’s spirit was cleansed of anything except his devotion to God through Jesus Christ. He was walking in Holiness. Paul is our example of facing the hostilities, threats, and terror of this world, while maintaining faith in Jesus, and living the life of Holiness.

Jesus says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.” 2 Timothy 4:19-21

Paul’s ministry in Miletus is described in the posts on Acts 20:13-38

There is no greater joy than being greeted and united with brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Also, this verse reminds us that people become sick, grow old, die, and otherwise become physically hindered. There are no promises made of physical healing for the body nor of eternal life on this earth. There is only the promise of healing for the spirit and soul by the forgiveness of sin and eternal life in the New Jerusalem of the new heaven and earth, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1