# 2 Timothy 04 📖: Finishing the Race [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-2 Timothy Overview]] | [[2 Timothy 03]] | [[Titus 01]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Charge to Timothy Repeated **Principle**: Final words to a spiritual son. [[#Verse 01.]] I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  [[#Verse 02.]] Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction.  [[#Verse 03.]] For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.  [[#Verse 04.]] [^1] And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.  [[#Verse 05.]] You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.  [[#Verse 06.]] For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand.  [[#Verse 07.]] I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!  [[#Verse 08.]] Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. ### Travel Plans and Concluding Greetings **Principle**: God is faithful- Whether we are or not. [[#Verse 09.]] Make every effort to come to me soon.  [[#Verse 10.]] For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. [[#Verse 11.]] Only Luke is with me. Get [[-Mark Overview|Mark]] and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry.  [[#Verse 12.]] Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  [[#Verse 13.]] When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.  [[#Verse 14.]] Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. _The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds_.  [[#Verse 15.]] You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words.  [[#Verse 16.]] At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me—may they not be held accountable for it.  [[#Verse 17.]] But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!  [[#Verse 18.]] The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen. [[#Verse 19.]] Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.  [[#Verse 20.]] Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus.  [[#Verse 21.]] Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.  [[#Verse 22.]] The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. - Powerful. This is the same Mark that Paul would let go on one of his missionary journeys because he Mark had deserted him. Mark had earned his way back onto the team. This is also likely the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark. (As a “ghost writer” of sorts for Peter.) ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. "Poured out as an offering" (4:6) pictures a drink offering, an image Paul also uses in Philippians 2:17. 2. "Departure" (4:6) was used for a ship setting sail or a soldier breaking camp. 3. Demas, who deserted Paul (4:10), had earlier sent greetings with him (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24). 4. Paul asks for Mark because he is useful for ministry (4:11), showing their relationship had been restored. 5. Paul asks for his cloak, scrolls, and parchments (4:13). Parchments were made from animal skins. 6. Alexander the coppersmith (4:14) did Paul great harm. He may be the Alexander of 1 Timothy 1:20. 7. Rescue from "the lion's mouth" (4:17) echoes Psalm 22:21. 8. Priscilla and Aquila (4:19) were tentmakers who worked with Paul in Corinth and Ephesus (Acts 18:2-3, 18-19). 9. Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus (4:20), showing that Paul did not heal everyone. 10. Paul urges Timothy to come "before winter" (4:21) because sea travel largely shut down in the winter months. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Judge of the living and the dead, whose appearing and kingdom motivate faithful ministry (4:1). He stood by Paul when everyone else deserted him (4:17), and He will give the crown of righteousness to all who long for His appearing (4:8). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Paul tells Timothy to preach the message and be ready whether convenient or not (4:2). What does readiness look like in your life? 2. Paul says he has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith (4:7). What would it take for you to say that at the end of your life? 3. Everyone deserted Paul, but the Lord stood by him (4:16-17). When have you sensed the Lord's presence when others were absent? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: Preach the message, and be ready whether it is convenient or not. - 📖 verses 3-5: People will gather teachers to suit their desires, so stay self-controlled and do the work of an evangelist. - 📖 verses 7-8: Paul has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith, and the crown of righteousness awaits. - 📖 verses 17-18: The Lord stood by Paul and will rescue him from every evil deed. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Acts 20#Verse 24.|Acts 20:24]] - Finishing the course the Lord gave. - 🔗 [[Philippians 02#Verse 17.|Philippians 2:17]] - Poured out as a drink offering. - 🔗 [[James 01#Verse 12.|James 1:12]] - The crown of life for those who endure. - 🔗 [[Psalm 22#Verse 21.|Psalm 22:21]] - Rescue from the lion's mouth. - 🔗 [[Acts 18#Verse 02.|Acts 18:2-3]] - Priscilla and Aquila, tentmakers. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[2 Timothy 04 - SOAP|Spiritual Confidence]] ## 📂 Internal Notes [^1]: [[Series_BAssurance_1_1Peter1.1-12]]