2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

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4 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: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in the scripture. The bible can correct our false assumptions and rationalizations we use to water down God's Word. Sometimes our preaching will rebuke those who are stuck in sin, or have become rebellious against God and and/or the church. Finally, preaching needs to encourage the body of Christ.  Life can be burdensome. Some burdens we bring on ourselves, but many burdens we face come from circumstances, or the actions of others. 

Hebrews 4:12 says, "God's Word is living and active sharper than any double edged sword. It penetrates dividing joints and marrow, soul and spirit. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

It is not the preacher's job to do any of this, but to be prepared to preach God's Word when things are going well and when they are not. Preaching the Word always means preaching the Gospel of Jesus. When the bible convicts of our sin and we repent, we need assurance of God's forgiveness through Jesus. This gives us peace. Through these course corrections we become more mature and lacking nothing. 

"This tells us when the pastor should be ready to preach the word. He should be ready always. He should preach it when it is easy and preach it when it is hard. He should preach it when the fruit is evident and preach it when the fruit seems invisible. He should just preach it." - Guzik

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 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.

Paul is in prison in Rome and writes this letter thinking he does not have many days left. Paul has given up everything for the sake of the Gospel. He has not held back or shrunk back from preaching the whole counsel of scripture. Paul has a sense of closure knowing that he had been faithful to God's call on his life. Was he perfect? No. But he was able to leave his past life behind, as he strained forward with all of his effort to serve His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Importantly, he did not lose faith. He did not give up or quit. He finished the race of faith. He was confident that His reward from the Lord awaited him when either the Lord returned, or he returned to the Lord in heaven. 

“This is most probably the last letter the apostle ever wrote and it is impossible to see him in a more advantageous point of view than he now appears, standing on the verge of eternity, full of God, and strongly anticipating an eternity of glory.” - Clarke

" Some feel that Paul was too focused on rewards and that it isn’t proper for Christians to think much about the reward they will receive in heaven. Yet God has no problem motivating us with heavenly reward. It will be worth it. We must hang in there now. We will be rewarded." - Guzik

Personal Remarks

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.

Paul gives Timothy various details about the people around him and even some personal items he would like Timothy to return to him. As you read these verses, one gets the feeling that Paul is lonely. Three of his friends have deserted him. Only Luke is with him. This is Luke, the writer of the third gospel. It is probable that much of Luke's gospel was gathered in this time he was with Paul. He is especially concerned about Alexander, who gave him quite a bit of trouble and was strongly opposed to the message of the Gospel. 

Luke, who had traveled with Paul on many of his missionary journeys, remained with Paul. Everyone else was gone. This was a significant contrast to Paul’s first Roman imprisonment ten years before, where he received many visitors (Acts 28:30-31). - Guzik

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.

Though Paul was disappointed with the lack of support from these people, he asked that it not be held against them. This shows the strength of Paul's character as he became like Christ Though he might have felt alone in a human sense, he knew that the Lord was with him so he might continue to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Apparently Paul was also miraculously rescued from a lion's mouth. 

God had delivered Paul before so he had no doubt about God’s power or goodness. Paul just didn’t know if this time his fate would end with be delivered out of the mouth of the lion or being preserved for His heavenly kingdom. - Guzik

Some think the lion was the Emperor Nero. Some think it was a reference to being thrown to the lions in the amphitheater. Other feels it is figurative in nature, and some even feel it is a reference to Satan. Whatever the lion represented, it is clear Paul trusted that God would deliver him from it, as he says, "The Lord will rescue me!'" 

The last words from the pen of Paul.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. The last words of Paul reflect a man who simply loved Jesus and had received His grace. This simplicity, and all the power that went with it, marked the entire ministry of Paul. - Guzik

“Here a very close personal association between the Lord and Timothy is prayed for.” - White

Amen: Paul invited Timothy to affirm all this by an agreeing “Amen.” Paul had fulfilled his ministry and was ready to receive his reward, and he wanted Timothy to do the same.

Do you feel as confident as Paul did about his fate, his reward, and God's protection and deliverance as we awaited his own departure? 

Where do you think you are in the race? At the starting line? Off to a great start? At the halfway point? Needing a rest? Hitting the wall? Heading toward home?

Wherever you are at in the race know that He (Jesus) who began a good work in your will be faithful to complete it. Philippians 1:6