Thursday
Evening Bible Study
May
21, 2018
Introduction
Next week we have a treat for you…
The history recorded in the book of Acts ends around AD 60, with Paul being
confined under house arrest in his own apartment in Rome.
We believe that Paul was released after a couple of years, and would travel
to Ephesus, Macedonia, Crete, Nicopolis, and then be rearrested in Troas and
taken back to Rome.
In AD 64 Nero burned Rome, blamed it on the Christians, and kicked off a
period of persecution.
This time, Paul would be confined in the Mamertine Prison.
Everyone has abandoned Paul except for his friend Luke the physician.
(2 Timothy 4:11
NKJV) Only Luke is with me.
It’s from here that Paul writes this letter, his final letter somewhere
around AD 66-67, just prior to his death.
Paul is hoping that Timothy would come to him, but that isn’t going to
happen.
Paul will shortly be taken outside the city of Rome where he will be
beheaded.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written around AD 66-67 while Paul was
in prison in Rome, being held in chains in the Mamertine prison.
These are Paul’s last words, written just days away from being led out of
the city where he will be beheaded.
Paul has expressed a concern for doctrinal purity throughout the letter.
Some were teaching strange doctrines.
Timothy, as a servant of God, needed to be able to help those who were
going off track in doctrine.
This was the essence of Paul’s charge to Timothy last week:
(2 Timothy 4:2
NKJV) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
And now Paul winds up his letter to Timothy.
4:6-8 Finishing Well
:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of
my departure is at hand.
:6 I am already being poured out as a drink offering
being poured out –
spendo – to pour out as a drink
offering, make a libation
in the NT to be offered as a libation; fig. used of one whose blood is
poured out in a violent death for the cause of God.
Present tense, he is being poured out as a drink offering.
Paul is describing his own coming death in terms that paint a picture of
sacrifice.
Every morning and every evening a sacrifice was made at the Tabernacle and
Temple:
(Numbers 28:4–7
NKJV) —4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you
shall offer in the evening, 5 and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed
with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil. 6 It is a regular burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai
for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. 7 And its drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each
lamb; in a holy place you shall pour out the drink to the Lord as an offering.
That’s about one quart of liquid.
Paul had already used this picture a few years back with the Philippians
(Philippians 2:17
NKJV) Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the
sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
It’s a picture of a life being poured out.
:6 the time of my departure is at hand
time – kairos – due
measure; a measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time
departure – analusis – an unloosing (as of things
woven); departure; a metaphor drawn from loosing from moorings preparatory to
setting sail
is at hand – ephistemi –
to place at, place upon, place over; to stand by, be present
This is that moment at the airport gate when you are on the phone saying
your last minutes goodbyes, and the announcement comes on the intercom that
your flight is now boarding.
Paul is talking about his own soon death.
:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.
:7 I have fought the good fight
good – kalos – beautiful,
handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable,
commendable, admirable
fight – agon – an assembly; the assembly of the
Greeks at their national games; hence the contest for a prize at their games;
generally, any struggle or contest; a battle; an action at law, trial
fought – agonizomai – to enter a contest: contend
in the gymnastic games; to contend with adversaries, fight
Lesson
Fight
Paul is using the language of a competition.
Life is a battle.
Sometimes it seems in the competition of life, the odds are against us, the
competitor seems to be cheating, and there’s no hope.
We need to be careful about who we are “fighting”.
(Ephesians 6:12
NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We need to fight the “good” fight, the one against our spiritual enemies,
not the people we’re struggling with.
:7 I have finished the race
race – dromos – mission,
course; running
finished – teleo – to bring to a close, to finish, to end; to perform, execute,
complete, fulfil, (so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said,
the order, command etc.)
Lesson
Finish
Sometimes we get knocked down in the race of life.
Just because we’ve been knocked down doesn’t mean that we’re out of the
race.
We need to remember why we’re running the race.
Keep in mind where Paul is when he’s writing these things.
He’s sitting in chains in the Mamertine prison.
Paul is days away from losing his life.
And he knows it.
How can he sound so “victorious”, like he’s won a race? Doesn’t it seem
like Satan has won?
:7 I have kept the faith.
kept – tereo – to attend
to carefully, take care of; to guard; metaph. to keep, one in the state in
which he is
Lesson
Faithful
Paul didn’t see death as defeat, he simply considered it the finish line.
The critical thing here is how we cross that finish line.
Paul is crossing that line having “kept the faith”.
As we are seeing on Sunday mornings in the book of Hebrews, the
difficulties in life can cause us to rethink what we believe.
If following Jesus is this difficult, do I really want to do it?
(Hebrews 3:12–14
NKJV) —12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while
it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin. 14 For we have
become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast
to the end,
Paul is holding on to Jesus until the end.
:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but
also to all who have loved His appearing.
:8 the crown of righteousness
crown – stephanos – a
crown; a mark of royal or (in general) exalted rank; the wreath or garland
which was given as a prize to victors in public games
The picture is of the awards ceremony at the end of a race.
It may be that Paul is saying that the crown he’ll receive is made up or
righteousness – that righteousness is the reward.
It may be that Paul is saying that he will receive a crown for having lived
a righteous life, having found the righteousness that comes from trusting in
Jesus. (probably the better idea).
:8 all who have loved His appearing
Paul seems to suggest that this is what leads to winning the crown of
righteousness.
love – agapao – to
welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly; to be well pleased, to be
contented at or with a thing
Perfect tense – something that’s
happened in the past and continues on into the
present.
appearing – epiphaneia –
an appearing, appearance
Is this talking about Jesus’ future coming, or is it talking about His
first coming?
The word is used for both.
It’s used for His first coming. Paul
is talking about salvation …
(2 Timothy 1:10
NKJV) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus
Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel,
Here it’s the incarnation
It’s used for the second coming.
(Titus 2:13 NKJV) looking for
the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ,
Here it’s the future return of Jesus
Are you glad He came?
Are you glad He’s coming?
What you love shapes the course of your life.
(1 John 3:2–3 NKJV)
—2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be
like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He
is pure.
The phrase “when He is revealed” translated the Greek word phaneroo, which is the root of epiphaneia (“appearing”)
It’s you love His “appearing”, it will show in your actions.
We’ll see in a few verses someone who loved something other than the
appearing of Jesus.
4:9-16 Abandoned
:9 Be diligent to come to me quickly;
be diligent – spoudazo –
to hasten, make haste; to exert one’s self, endeavour, give diligence
Paul is lonely for his friend Timothy. Timothy will not make it in time.
:10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has
departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
:10 Demas has forsaken me
forsaken – egkataleipo –
abandon, desert; leave in straits, leave helpless; totally abandoned, utterly
forsaken; to leave behind among, to leave surviving
Demas – Demas – “governor
of the people”
Demas had been one of Paul’s companions the last time he was in Rome.
(Colossians 4:14
NKJV) Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
But he abandoned Paul this time and had headed to Thessalonica, the chief
city of Macedonia (northern Greece).
:10 having loved this present world
this present – nun – at this time, the present, now
world – aion – for ever,
an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; the worlds, universe; period of time, age
having loved – agapao – to
welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly; to be well pleased, to be
contented at or with a thing
While Paul is challenging Timothy to “love His appearing”, Demas chose to
love this present world, and as a result chose to abandon Paul and run from
difficulty.
Perhaps Demas was like that seed sown among the thorns that Jesus talked
about –
(Matthew 13:22
NKJV) Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word,
and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and
he becomes unfruitful.
:10 Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia
Crescens and Titus didn’t leave Paul for the same reason as Demas, but
nevertheless they are no longer with Paul.
Crescens – Kreskes –
“growing”
Crescens was said to be one of the “seventy” disciples. There is no other reference to him. (Luke
10:1)
(Luke 10:1 NKJV) After these
things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and
sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself
was about to go.
He would be heading to Galatia, an area of Asia Minor (Turkey)
Titus was another of Paul’s core disciples, we’ll be looking at Paul’s
letter to him after 2Timothy. Paul’s letter
to him was while he was in Crete.
Dalamatia – An area north of Greece.
Perhaps to look for missing puppies?
J
:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful
to me for ministry.
:11 Only Luke is with me
Luke – Loukas – Lucus =
“light-giving”
Luke has been one of Paul’s longest traveling companions through his
journeys.
He’s the author of the gospel of Luke, as well as the Acts of the Apostles.
This probably means that Luke is the only one who has visited Paul in
prison. There are other believers still
in Rome. We’ll see their names at the
end. (2Tim. 4:21)
(2 Timothy 4:21
NKJV) Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as
Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
:11 Get Mark … he is useful
Mark – Markos – “a
defense”.
Cousin to Barnabas, author of the book of Mark.
Apparently Mark is with Timothy in Ephesus.
useful – euchrestos – easy
to make use of, useful
ministry – diakonia –
service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others
Lesson
Fresh Start
The name “Mark” did not always bring a smile to Paul’s face.
On Paul’s first missionary journey, though he is not mentioned initially
Acts, Barnabas had apparently brought Mark along.
A problem came up, and Mark bailed on the team. It becomes a point of contention later
between Barnabas and Paul when they decided to make a second trip.
(Acts 15:36–40
NKJV) —36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and
visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas
was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul
insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them
in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the
contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul
chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
Well that was years ago, and now while Paul sits in prison, he has
apparently heard things about Mark, and now feels that Mark would be “useful”.
Because you’ve had past failures doesn’t mean that God can’t use you in the
future. Learn to work past your
failures.
:12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
:12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus
Tychicus was from Asia Minor (Acts 20:4), the area of Ephesus, and a part
of Paul’s main ministry team.
Tychicus – Tuchikos –
"fateful"
(Acts 20:4 NKJV) And Sopater
of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the
Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of
Asia.
Paul used him often to send messages and find out about churches. You’ll see him mentioned in Ephesians,
Colossians, and Titus.
(Ephesians 6:21
NKJV) But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing,
Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all
things known to you;
(Colossians 4:7
NKJV) Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant
in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
(Titus 3:12 NKJV) When I send
Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have
decided to spend the winter there.
Keep in mind, Paul is writing to Timothy, who is in Ephesus.
:13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the
books, especially the parchments.
:13 the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas
cloak – phelones – a
traveling cloak, used for protection against stormy weather
Moms, don’t get too mad at your kids for
forgetting to bring their jacket home from school. Paul forgot too.
Paul is facing wintertime in Rome (2Tim. 4:21), and
wants Timothy to bring his heavy coat.
We don’t know who Carpus is.
Troas is ancient Troy.
:13 the books, especially the parchments
The words describe documents that are made of both papyrus as well as animals
skins.
These could be Old Testament books, the sayings of Jesus, or even some of
his own writings.
books – biblion – a small
book, a scroll, a written document; a sheet on which something has been
written.
Probably written on papyrus. Could
be copies of Old Testament Scriptures and maybe even some of his own letters.
parchments – membrana –
parchment, made first of dressed skins
More expensive than papyrus, probably including copies of the Old Testament
books and possibly the sayings of Jesus.
I wonder if these are Paul’s greatest treasures – his “books”
:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him
according to his works.
coppersmith – chalkeus – a
worker in copper or iron, a smith
harm – kakos – of a bad
nature; base, wrong, wicked; troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive,
baneful
did – endeiknumi – to
point out; to manifest, display, put forth
repay – apodidomi – to
deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell; to pay
off, discharge what is due; to requite, recompense in a good or a bad sense
:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm
Alexander – Alexandros –
“man defender”.
We’re not exactly sure who this individual is, though there are a couple
“Alexanders” connected to Paul – they may all be different individuals, or all
the same guy.
There was an Alexander at the church in Ephesus that was taken by the crowd
during the riot.
(Acts 19:33 NKJV) And they
drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And
Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make
his defense to the people.
This Alexander never got a word in edgewise because the crowd was out of
control.
There was an Alexander that had rejected the faith.
(1 Timothy 1:19–20
NKJV) —19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected,
concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Whether these are all different people or the same we aren’t sure.
:14 May the Lord repay him
Paul simply puts Alexander into the Lord’s hands.
:15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
beware – phulasso – to
guard; to watch, keep watch; to guard or watch, have an eye upon: lest he
escape; to observe for one’s self something to escape; to avoid, shun flee from
greatly – lian – greatly,
exceedingly, exceedingly beyond measure
resisted – anthistemi – to
set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose; to set against
It is noteworthy that Paul has mentioned this Alexander by name.
He doesn’t speak in vague terms leaving Timothy wondering who he is talking
about.
:16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it
not be charged against them.
:16 At my first defense no one stood with me
defense – apologia
– verbal defense, speech in defense; a reasoned statement or argument
The “first defense” would seem to refer to a preliminary hearing for Paul’s
current imprisonment.
Nobody was there to stand with Paul, but that didn’t stop Paul from
preaching the gospel at this hearing.
stood with – sumparaginomai –
to come together; to come to one’s help
forsook – egkataleipo –
abandon, desert; leave in straits, leave helpless; totally abandoned, utterly
forsaken; to leave behind among, to leave surviving
may it not be charged – logizomai
– to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
4:17-18 Faithful Lord
:17 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. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the
lion.
:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me
stood with – paristemi –
to place beside or near; to stand beside, stand by or
near, to be at hand, be present
strengthened – endunamoo –
to be strong, endue with strength, strengthen; to receive strength, be
strengthened, increase in strength
might be fully known – plerophoreo
– to bear or bring full, to make full; to cause a thing to be shown to the
full; to fulfil the ministry in every part; to carry through to the end,
accomplish
delivered – rhoumai – to
draw to one’s self, to rescue, to deliver; the deliverer
Lesson
He stands with you
Even those closest to you might forsake you, but Jesus won’t.
(Psalm 27:10 NKJV) When my
father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will
take care of me.
This makes me think of some of the stories in Daniel
Dan. 3 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego thrown into the fiery furnace for
taking a stand. But they weren’t alone
in the furnace, there was another with them.
Dan. 6 – Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den for praying. He is rescued from the lions by the Lord.
It also makes me think of Stephen, the first martyr, when he was on trial
before the Sanhedrin:
(Acts 7:54–56 NKJV)
—54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw
the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said,
“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand
of God!”
Normally we read that Jesus is “sitting” at the right hand
of God, but when Jesus sees Stephen dying, He stands.
Paul was there when this happened.
:17 I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion
Paul could be talking about being delivered from Satan.
He could be talking about a biblical image – Daniel being saved from the
lions, or even David mentioning being delivered from the lion.
I think he might be talking about the decision not to have him thrown to
the lions during the games, but instead to be beheaded.
:18 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!
will deliver – rhoumai –
to draw to one’s self, to rescue, to deliver; the deliverer
preserve – sozo – to save,
keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
:18 the Lord will deliver me from every evil work
Lesson
Ultimate Victory
We might get confused at Paul’s confidence because we know that he would be
shortly put to death.
Was Paul wrong?
Did God let him down? No.
God delivered Paul right into heaven.
The evil didn’t touch Paul.
Heaven is our victory.
Paul died, but Satan couldn’t keep Paul from the Lord.
We might think that God’s victory means that our tough circumstances would
get easier.
Paul’s victory came through death.
4:19-22 Farewell
:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila
These were two of Paul’s oldest friends.
They met when Paul first came to Corinth (Acts 18), and they had a common
occupation – tentmaking.
Prisca – Priska –
“ancient”, also known as Priscilla, the wife of Aquila.
Aquila – Akulas – “an
eagle”; a Jew of Pontus, a tent maker convert to
Christ, companion and ally of Paul in propagating Christianity
It seems they are in Ephesus with Timothy, though some suggest they might
have been heading to Ephesus with Paul’s letter.
:19 the household of Onesiphorus
Onesiphorus – Onesiphoros –
“bringing profit”.
He’s the one that had come to Rome and had “refreshed” Paul (2Tim. 1:16-18)
(2 Timothy 1:16–18
NKJV) —16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often
refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought
me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may
find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he
ministered to me at Ephesus.
:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth
Erastus – Erastos –
“beloved”.
A traveling companion of Paul and Timothy, he had gone on a mission trip
with Timothy (Acts 19:22) to Macedonia.
(Acts 19:22 NKJV) So he sent
into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he
himself stayed in Asia for a time.
Corinth – in Achaia, southern Greece
:20 Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick
Trophimus – Trophimos –
“nutritious”.
He was one of Paul’s main traveling companions (Acts 20:4) from Ephesus, and would have been known well to Timothy.
(Acts 20:4 NKJV) And Sopater
of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the
Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of
Asia.
He was involved in Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:29) because some
people thought that he, as a Gentile, had been taken into the Jewish temple in
Jerusalem by Paul.
(Acts 21:29 NKJV) (For they
had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed
that Paul had brought into the temple.)
Miletus was a city near Ephesus, where Paul had met with the Ephesian
elders (Acts 20:17)
(Acts 20:17 NKJV) From Miletus
he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
sick – astheneo – to be weak,
feeble, to be without strength, powerless; to be weak in means, needy, poor; to
be feeble, sick
Lesson
Think Globally
If I were Paul, I would probably be thinking about nothing but the four
stinking walls I’m facing, the rats that are walking through my cell, the lack
of light, the sewage, the rotten food, and how everybody has abandoned me.
Granted, Paul has talked a little about being abandoned, but he doesn’t end
the letter there.
Instead, Paul has his heart’s eyes scattered throughout the world that he
has journeyed through.
He’s taking time to fill Timothy in on where their “team” is scattered
throughout the Roman world.
Paul is in Rome, but he’s mentioned:
Thessalonica, Galatia, Dalmatia, Ephesus, Troas, Corinth,
and Miletus.
I think that sometimes it’s good to get our head out of our “cell”, and
spend some time thinking about the rest of the world, expanding our vision, and
grasping the things that God is doing beyond the reach of our own miserable
cell.
:21 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as
Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
:21 Do your utmost to come before winter
do your utmost – spoudazo –
to hasten, make haste; to exert one’s self, endeavour, give diligence
winter – cheimon – winter;
stormy or rainy weather, a tempest; winter, the winter season
This is why Paul wants Timothy to bring Paul’s
cloak with him.
:21 Eubulus …Pudens, Linus, Claudia
Eubulus – Euboulos –
“prudent”.
Pudens – Poudes – “modest”
Linus – Linos – “a net”
Claudia – Klaudia – “lame”
These are the believers still in Rome that Paul knows about.
We know very little of these folks.
The only possible connections we have are:
Pudens may have been one of the 70 disciples.
Linus would be the first bishop of Rome after the apostles (AD 64).
We think he also had a friend named Charlie Brown. And carried his blanket
everywhere.
:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
It would be just days later that Paul would be put to death.
The account is recorded in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs:
“Paul, the apostle, who before was called Saul, after his great travail and
unspeakable labors in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered also in this
first persecution under Nero. Abdias, declareth that under his execution Nero
sent two of his esquires, Ferega and Parthemius, to bring him word of his
death. They, coming to Paul instructing the people, desired him to pray for
them, that they might believe; who told them that shortly after they should
believe and be baptized at His sepulcher. This done, the soldiers came and led
him out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers
made, gave his neck to the sword.”