11. I Have Fought the Good Fight (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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6 For I am already being poured out like
a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now
there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also
to all who have longed for his appearing.
9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10
for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to
Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only
Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me
in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When
you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls,
especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a
great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You
too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our
message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to
my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But
the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message
might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was
delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from
every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the
household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left
Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before
winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the
brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace
be with you. (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
I find myself coming back to this part of 2 Timothy again
and again. It contains Paul's last words to his beloved colleague Timothy.
Earlier in both 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul has pretty much abstained from personal
references, but now he shares his heart. He is about to die, and you can tell
he is reflecting on his life.
Paul has just exhorted Timothy to preach diligently because
of the spread of false doctrine and wickedness. Now he tells us the reason for
the urgency he feels personally.
"For I am already being poured out like a
drink offering, and the time has come for my departure." (4:6)
This figure of "being poured out like a drink
offering"485comes from the Old Testament:
"The accompanying drink offering is to be a
quarter of a hin [about a quart] of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out
the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary." (Numbers 28:7)
He says something similar when he writes to the Philippian
church during an earlier imprisonment (Philippians 2:17). Being poured out
offers the image of being expended to the last drop, ready now for the blood
sacrifice to follow.
"... The time has come for my departure/"486 (4:6b)
The word for "departure" means "loosening
up," and carries images of breaking up a camp or loosening a ship from its
moorings for departure. It is a euphemism of "departure from life,
death." Paul senses that the time has come.
Finishing the Race Well (4:7)
Earlier, he had said to the Ephesian elders:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to
me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task (diakonia,
"ministry, service") the Lord Jesus has given me -- the task of
testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24)
Now he has come to the end of this long and arduous race.
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"I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith." (4:7)
Paul uses athletic, not military, metaphors here.
"Fought" is originally, "to engage in a contest," then is
used generally as, "to fight, struggle."487The contest referred to is probably a race, so "fight the good fight"
would mean "that he ... has been running in the noblest, grandest race of
them all -- the ministry of the gospel."488He has finished489his racecourse.490
The phrase, "I have kept the faith" (4:7)
uses the word tēreō, "to cause a state, condition, or
activity to continue, keep, hold, reserve, preserve someone or something,"
of holding on to something so as not to give it up or lose it.491He had exhorted Timothy to "guard the good deposit that was entrusted to
you" (1:14) intact, uncorrupted, faithfully transmitted from what he had
received. Now Paul has completed his portion of the race.To extend the
analogy, Paul is passing the baton to Timothy, and, through him, to those
Timothy is teaching, "who will be able to teach others also" (2:2, RSV). I
think of the stirring exhortation in Hebrews that refers to the stadium filled
with observers eagerly watching the outcome:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1)
I have often thought that Paul's words, along with the words
of Jesus, would make a good epitaph for a Christian man or woman at the end of
a life well lived. A report and the response:
The Report: "I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (4:7)
The Response: "Well done, good and
faithful servant.... Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21,
RSV)
The Crown of Righteousness (4:8)
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Paul's vision is now future, towards heaven which awaits him
soon:
"Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his
appearing." (4:8)
The metaphor continues on the athletic theme. The
"crown"492in this image is not a kingly coronet, but the laurel or olive wreath that was placed
on the heads of the victors at the ancient Olympic games. The "crown of
righteousness" is the crown that consists of righteousness,493purchased at great cost by the blood of Jesus. Moreover, this crown is "in
store" (NIV), "laid up" (KJV), which means, "to reserve as
award or recompense, reserve, a common term in honorary documents expressing
appreciation for a sense of civic or other communal responsibility."494The reward of righteousness is being kept aside to be given us on that day.
Paul is not the only one who will receive this anticipated
reward. He says:
"... and not only to me, but also to all who
have longed for his appearing." (4:8b)
"Longed for" (NIV, NRSV), "loved" (KJV)
is agapaō, "love," here with the sense, "to have
high esteem for or satisfaction with something, take pleasure in," hence,
"long for something."495The word is used of Demas in verse 10, who "loved this world" so much
that he deserted Paul.
I've wondered: Do I really "long for" Christ's
appearing or Second Coming? I do want to know him better and serve him with all
my heart. Perhaps that's the same idea.
Co-Workers, Faithful and Unfaithful (4:9-12)
Now Paul calls Timothy to come to his side. He misses him.
"9 Do your best to come to me
quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me
and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to
Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you,
because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to
Ephesus." (4:9-12)
Have you ever had people leave you? Even when they leave on
good terms, it hurts to see them go -- especially when your own world seems to
be diminishing.
It was especially hard for Paul to see Demas go. The word
translated here and in verse 16 as "deserted" (NIV, NRSV),
"forsaken" (KJV) is enkataleipō, "to separate
connection with someone or something, forsake, abandon, desert."496When Paul had been imprisoned in Rome previously, he had referred cheerfully to
Demas as his "fellow worker" (Philemon 24, Colossians 4:14). Now Demas has
deserted him with others when Paul's execution drew near. Instead of having his
hope firmly fixed on the Kingdom of God, Demas had succumbed to the allurements
of "this present world" (KJV, NRSV)497and left for Thessalonica in Macedonia. Nevertheless, Paul is not alone. With
him is the One who has said:
"I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews
13:5, NRSV, quoting Deuteronomy 31:6)
Other co-workers had left also -- on missions for the
gospel.
"Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus
to Dalmatia ... I sent Tychicus to Ephesus." (4:10, 12)
We know nothing of Crescens (whose name means
"growing") than what we read here. Titus, however, has had
quite a ministry career. He worked with Paul in Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:13;
7:6, 13-15; 8:8, 16), and travelled to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas
(Galatians 2:1, 3). Paul wrote him the Letter to Titus with instructions for
his ministry in Crete (Titus 1:4), and now he is off to Dalmatia, a Roman
province east of the Adriatic sea. To the Corinthian church Paul had commended
him as:
"... My partner and fellow worker among
you." (2 Corinthians 8:23)
Probably Tychicus (whose name means
"fortuitous," i.e. "fortunate") is the one bearing this
letter and will take over for Timothy in Ephesus, since he is an experienced
colleague in ministry (Acts 20:4; Titus 3:12). Twice Paul extols him to the
churches:
"He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and
fellow servant in the Lord." (Colossians 4:7; cf. Ephesians 6:21)
Of Paul's trusted missionary team, only Luke, "the
beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14) and author of The Gospel of Luke and the
Acts of the Apostles, remains in Rome with Paul. Yes, there are members of the
Roman church that see him, but it's not the same.
Bring Mark with You (4:11)
Now Paul asks Timothy to find John Mark (Acts 15:37, probably the
author of the Gospel by that name).
"Get498Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."
(4:11)
It's interesting that Paul should call for Mark just after
being deserted by Demas, since Mark himself had deserted499Paul and Barnabas on a their First Missionary Journey (Acts 15:38). But Mark
had proved himself faithful to Paul during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome
(Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24). Later we find Mark with Peter in Rome (1 Peter
5:13). Praise God! People mature. Paul has found Mark especially
"useful"500in his ministry.
Bring Paul's Cloak and Scrolls (4:13)
Now more instructions for Timothy:
"When you come, bring the cloak that I left
with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments."
(4:13)
Carpus (whose name probably means
"fruitful") is probably a Christian. The cloak refers to a heavy
woolen garment that travelers would wear in cold or rainy weather. No doubt
Paul wants to be ready for winter (4:21). The cloak will feel good to an old
man in prison, no longer under house arrest.
The scrolls501no doubt refer to Paul's books, probably both of papyrus and the more expensive
parchments (membrana). Parchment is
not tanned, but animal skins stretched, scraped, and dried under tension,
creating a stiff white, yellowish or translucent writing surface. What was
contained in these books? We'd love to know! Perhaps they included parts of the
Old Testament Scriptures.
No doubt Paul assumes that Timothy will travel
to Rome by going through Troas -- then overland through Macedonia along the
Egnatian Way (a road built by the Romans in the second century BC), then by
ship across the Adriatic Sea to Brundisium (now
Brindisi), and on to Rome.
Watch Out for Alexander the Metalworker (4:14-15)
But why did Paul leave his cloak and books in Troas? Very
likely it was because he was arrested nearby, perhaps in Miletus (4:20) or
Troas itself. Which brings us to an enemy he warns Timothy against who may have
been behind the arrest.
"14 Alexander the metalworker did
me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You
too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our
message." (4:14-15)
Probably this is the same Alexander whom Paul had
excommunicated when he was still in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:20).502He had been a strong opponent503and hurt Paul badly. He can hurt you, too, Timothy, says Paul, so be careful!504
Operating on the theory of a second Roman imprisonment as
outlined in the Introduction,
we believe that Paul was initially brought to Rome, stayed there under house
arrest for about two years (Acts 28:30-31), and was then released. His second
imprisonment seems much worse. He is in jail rather than under house arrest,
and at the preliminary hearing, hopes of an acquittal have faded.
"16 At my first defense, no one
came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me
the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I
was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from
every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory
for ever and ever. Amen." (4:16-18)
According to Fee, Paul's "first defense"505refers to "the Roman juridical practice of a prima actio, a
preliminary hearing before the emperor or a magistrate, roughly comparable in
purpose to a grand jury hearing. This would then be followed by the actual
trial."506
But those he expected to appear as witness on his behalf507failed to come. No one wanted to be associated with a person who was seen as an
enemy of the state, likely to be executed. At his first trial, Paul expected
acquittal and release (Philippians 1:25), but not now. "Everyone deserted508me" (4:16), Paul says. And like his Lord on the cross (Luke 23:34; cf.
Acts 7:60), he prays: "May it not be held against them" (4:16b).509But with God's help he had a chance to give his testimony at the hearing:
"But the Lord stood at my side510and gave me strength,511so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles
might hear it." (4:17)
Though, for the most part, Christianity was spreading among
the poor, through Paul those in high places -- probably in this case before magistrates
close to the emperor Nero himself -- heard the gospel, fulfilling what Jesus
had spoken to Ananias at Paul's conversion.
"This man is my chosen instrument to carry my
name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel."
(Acts 9:15)
From our standpoint, the best outcome would have been
acquittal and release. But from God's point of view, the message is fully
proclaimed and death is just an entrance into God's presence in a fuller way (2
Corinthians 5:6; Philippians 1:22-23).
The Lord's Deliverance (4:17b-18)
This is how Paul views it, too.
"17 But the Lord stood at my side
and gave me strength ... and I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The
Lord will rescue me from every evil attack512and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and
ever. Amen." (4:17-18)
The phrase "delivered from the lion's mouth" is
metaphorical. Roman citizens were executed by decapitation by the sword, not
fed to the lions. Probably he is thinking of the themes of suffering and
deliverance in Psalm 22.
"Rescue me from the mouth of the
lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen." (Psalm 22:21)
If he is to be "rescued from every evil attack" (4:18a),
doesn't that mean that he won't be martyred? No. Recall Jesus' teaching about
persecution and death:
"They will lay hands on you and persecute you....
You will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
This will result in your being witnesses to them ... and they will put some of
you to death. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm
you will gain life." (Luke 21:12-19)
Though men may attack us and even kill us, they cannot pluck
us out of the Father's hand (John 10:27-28). They cannot cause us any lasting
harm. They are powerless to prevent our final deliverance.
"The Lord will rescue me from every
evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom." (4:18a)
Paul uses two words in verse 18 to describe this eternal
salvation that are largely synonymous here:
"Rescue" (NIV, NRSV), "deliver"
(KJV) is rhyomai, "to rescue from danger, save, rescue, deliver,
preserve."513
"Bring safely" (NIV), "save"
(NRSV), "preserve" (KJV) is sōzō, "save,"
here, "bring Messianic salvation, bring to salvation."514This is the more common word in the New Testament to refer to eternal
salvation.
After having declared God's great salvation that he is
looking forward to, Paul can't help but offer a spontaneous doxology:
"To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
(4:18b)
We may face death by martyrdom or by natural means. But our
hope is the same: That he will bring us safely to his heavenly kingdom. And for
that we offer God praise and glory forever!
We've concluded the theological portion of the letter. Now
Paul finishes with some personal comments about co-workers.
"19 Greet515Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus
stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your
best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus,
Claudia and all the brothers." (4:19-21)
Of course, Priscilla (Prisca) and Aquila had a long history
with Paul. Paul worked for them as a tentmaker in Corinth (Acts 18:2-3) and
ministered with them in Ephesus (Acts 18:18, 26; 1 Corinthians 16:19). Later
they went to Rome (Romans 16:2-3) and have now returned to Ephesus. He calls
them "my fellow workers in Christ Jesus ... [who] risked their lives for
me" (Romans 16:3-4). Since Priscilla's name usually appears first, she
probably had the more prominent ministry of the couple.
Onesiphorus had searched for Paul in Rome: "he
often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains" (2 Timothy 1:16).
Since Paul speaks of "the household of Onesiphorus," probably he has
since died.
Erastus (whose name means "beloved," from eraō,
"to love) is a co-worker mentioned only here.
Trophimus (whose name means "nutritive,"
from trephō, "to feed, nourish") was from the church at
Ephesus (Acts 20:4; 21:29), but Paul had left him ill in Miletus, a city just a
few miles south of Ephesus. "Sick" (NIV, KJV), "ill" (NRSV)
is astheneō, "be weak," here, "to suffer a
debilitating illness, be sick."516One of the sad truths is that even those with the gift of healing -- including
St. Paul -- can't heal everyone all the time. Here on earth healing is only
temporary. The final healing is the resurrection of the dead when Christ
returns (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16).
The final four mentioned are probably Christian leaders from
the Roman church who are known to Timothy. Only Linus is known to history:
Eubulus (whose name means "of good counsel"
or "good-will").
Pudens (whose name means "modest" in
Latin).
Linus (the name of three sons of Apollo in Greek
mythology) is mentioned once in Scripture. But according to Irenaeus, St. Linus
was the second bishop of Rome (ca. 67–78 or 80 AD),
succeeding St. Peter.517
Claudia (derived from Latin claudus,
meaning "lame, crippled") was a common name in Rome, since gens
Claudia was a prominent Roman family.
"Do your best to get here before winter."
(4:21a)
Paul's final plea urges Timothy to make haste. "Do your
best" (NIV, NRSV), "do diligence" (KJV) is spoudazō,
"hurry," here, "to be especially conscientious in discharging an
obligation, be zealous/eager, take pains, make every effort, be conscientious."518
Travel became more difficult in winter. Because of storms,
the Mediterranean was closed to shipping between November and March and ships
would winter over in safe harbors (Acts 27:9-12). If Timothy was to get to Rome,
he would have to leave quickly or he would lose the opportunity forever to
assist Paul in the last days before his execution in approximately 65 AD. Did
Timothy go? Did he find John Mark, collect Paul's books, find his cloak, and
come to Rome in time? We don't know.519Doing what we need to do without delay is one of the marks of a person with his
priorities in order.
The Lord Be with Your Spirit (4:22)
Paul ends as he began, with grace.
"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with
you." (4:22)
Several of Paul's epistles end: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit" (Galatians 6:18; Philemon 25; Philippians 4:23). Grace is what has sustained the Apostle Paul in this
difficult time and grace will be needed for Timothy's journey to join him in
Rome.
But at the end, Paul also includes a word to the larger
church, which may be reading this letter, since the final "you" is
plural, as they say in the American South: "Grace be with y'all." I
receive that! Amen!
Prayer
Lord, thank you so much for your faithfulness to us in the
difficult times. Help each of us to run with perseverance the race that you set
before us and to finish that race well with your help. Help us to keep the
faith and the teaching that you have entrusted to us and pass it on faithfully
to those in the next generation who can teach others also. We know you will be
with us to the end. We know that your grace is sufficient. In Jesus' name, we
pray. Amen.
Key Verses
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
(2 Timothy 4:7-8)
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and
will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever.
Amen." (2 Timothy 4:18)
References
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