2 Timothy 4
# 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4 is the fourth and final chapter of the Second Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The letter is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle, the last one written in Rome before his death (c. 64 or 67), addressed to Timothy. Some scholars argue that it is the work of an anonymous follower, after Paul's death in the first century AD. This chapter contains intensely personal material, more so than elsewhere in the pastoral epistles, in relation to Paul's imminent death, ending with personal comments and salutations.

## Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 22 verses.

### Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

* Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330–360)
* Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
* Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450; complete)
* Codex Freerianus (c. 450; extant verses 1, 8–10, 18–20)
* Codex Claromontanus (c. 550)

## Location

Places mentioned in this chapter (with the related persons) are:

* Corinth (Erastus)
* Dalmatia (Titus)
* Ephesus (Tychicus and Timothy)
* Galatia (Crescens)
* Miletus (Trophimus)
* Thessalonica (Demas)
* Troas (Carpus)

## The final charge to Timothy (4:1–8)

Paul directs Timothy to step into Paul's place in the worldwide mission.

### Verse 1

    In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

In view of the imminent end of his life, Paul is expressing himself with the utmost solemnity three facts in his concluding charge: 'the reality of the judgment of Christ, the certainty of his return, and the establishment of his kingdom'.

### Verse 2

    Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Timothy's commission is outlined with five imperative verbs (preach, be prepared, correct, rebuke, encourage) which will be described further in the following verses.

## Final instructions and personal information (4:9–18)

Here Paul mentions many individuals, friends and companions, as well as some personal requests for Timothy to do.

### Verse 10

    for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
* "Demas": was once one of Paul's close associates (mentioned together with Luke and Mark in Philemon 24 and Colossians 4:10-14), but now has deserted Paul, perhaps because 'the going was too hard for him and the pull of the world too strong'; this is considered the saddest of all the brief notes.
* "Crescens" is only mentioned here in the New Testament. The Revised Standard Version (RSV) notes that some ancient authorities refer to Gaul rather than Galatia.

### Verse 11

    Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
* "Luke": The 'beloved physician' (Colossians 4:14) and the writer of the "Gospel of Luke" and "the Acts of the Apostles". He was Paul's faithful companion in his travels and sufferings.
* "Get Mark, and bring him with you": who at that time might be at Ephesus, or somewhere along Timothy's way to Rome. Presumably the same John Mark of Jerusalem, the son of Mary (Acts 12:12), Barnabas' sister, who was with Paul and Barnabas in their first journey (Acts 12:25), and departed from them at Pamphylia, causing a great quarrel between Paul and Barnabas leading to their separation in ministry (Acts 15:37–39), but now Paul had a better opinion of him, and was apparently reconciled to him, that he wants his assistance as later noted in Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24.
* "For he is helpful (NKJV; KJV: "profitable") to me for the ministry": to assist in preaching the Gospel.

### Verse 12

    And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
* "Tychicus": a friend of Paul, mentioned 5 times in the New Testament (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21–22; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12).

### Verse 13

    Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
* "Cloak": see Phelonion
* "Carpus": only mentioned here.
* "Troas": ancient Troy, a point of departure from Asia to Europe (Acts 16:8–12; 2 Corinthians 2:12–13).

### Verse 14

    Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
* "Alexander the coppersmith" or "the metalworker" could be identified with the person in Acts 19:33 or in 1 Timothy 1:20, who at this point gave a hard opposition to Paul's message.

### Verse 16

    At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!

Drury considers it uncertain which events might be referred to as Paul's "first defense". Philippians 1:6, 17 relate Paul's imprisonment to his "defense of the gospel", but in this verse he appears to be referring to "a more technical court appearance".

## Final greetings (4:19–22)

This section mentions some familiar and some unfamiliar names, which may be known in the community, before closing it with a blessing modelled on the ones in Galatians 6:18, Philippians 4:23 and Philemon 25.

### Verse 19

    Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

Catholics regard this verse as an implication that Onesiphorus was already dead, as it is implied previously in 2 Timothy 1:16–18, since Paul directly greets Aquila and Priscilla (here shortened as "Prisca") and seems to give greeting to "the house of Onesiphorus" to comfort his family.

### Verse 20

    Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
* "Erastus": a city-treasurer of Corinth (Romans 16:23; cf. Acts 19:22).
* "Trophimus": one of Paul's close friends during his missionary travels (Acts 20:4; 21:29).
