Chapter 4
Preach the Word
4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Using similar wording Paul used in his first epistle to Timothy (see 1 Timothy 5:21), he charges him (Greek diamartyrromai, to bear witness) in the presence of God the Father and Jesus, who will judge both the living and the dead when He comes, to preach the Word. And to be ready at all times to reprove (Greek elenxon, to prove one wrong, to convict), rebuke (Greek epitimēson, to rebuke without conviction), and exhort (Greek parakaleson, to aid, to encourage, to call upon someone to do something) all while exhibiting complete patience and complete teaching the whole counsel of God (the entire Bible).
4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Once again we see Paul prophesying, since only God knows the future, Paul was told by God about the future mindset of people as he reported in the first nine verses in chapter three, and now he is reporting that people will become not only ’numb’ to hearing God’s Word, but hostile. But instead of listening to the truth they have become eager to hear from those that share the same opinions and approve of their passions and way of life. Paul says these people pursue myths (see also 1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7) a tale or fable fabricated by man.
4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Paul returns to his charge to Timothy and instructs him that he should always be sober-minded (Greek nēphe, watchful, circumspect, self-controlled, see also 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8), endure suffering (like Paul had endured, see 2 Timothy 2:9), to do the work of an evangelist, telling people the good news of the gospel. Paul desired Timothy to fully accomplish his ministry that God gave him.
4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
In these three verses we hear Paul acknowledging that he is at the end of his ministry. He says that he is in the process of being poured out as a drink offering. Borrowing the language from the Old Testament protocol of a drink offering (see Genesis 35:14; Exodus 29:40-41; Leviticus 23:13), Paul uses the metaphor of being “poured out” to express the fact that he has done all that he can. He knows that he will soon die. He notes that he has fought the good fight, finished the race, all while keeping the faith. Which means a crown of righteousness is waiting for him and Jesus as the righteous judge will give it to Paul when he dies. Paul could have ended the epistle there, but instead, he added that the award is not just for him but for all who have loved His appearing (that should be all believers).
With these somber words Paul is announcing that he is ready to “hand the baton” over to Timothy.
Considerations
Crowns
The Bible speaks about many crowns. Some are crowns of royalty and others for non-royalty. In the New Testament we read about several crowns given for certain accomplishments, but what do we do with them? Walk around heaven with our crowns on (could be more than one)? Revelation 4:10 may give us a hint, we toss them back to God! Here is a brief rundown on the crowns found in the New Testament:
In the NT two words for crown are used. One, stephanos, is strictly speaking a chaplet or circlet, usually a laurel wreath worn at banquets or given as a civic or military honor. Paul contrasts this withering crown to the Christian’s imperishable one (1 Cor. 9:25; 2 Tim. 2:5), seeing his converts as his own garland (Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:19).
The Christian is urged to train as an athlete to gain his crown (1 Cor. 9:25), which God will award in the last day (2 Tim. 4:8), and to beware of losing it (Rev. 3:11). As a victor’s wreath a crown is the glory of Christ (Heb. 2:7, 9), the eternal life won by Christians who persevere (James 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2:10), and the victory of Christ (Rev. 6:2; 14:14) and others (Rev. 9:7; 12:1). Normally stephanos does not indicate royalty, for diadēma (diadem) is the royal crown; but Christ’s crown of thorns, while apparently in part an ironic parody of the victor’s wreath (Mark 15:17), was in combination with robe and scepter a royal symbol (Mark 15:26), showing a flexibility in the use of the term. The bleeding Christ was mocked as a comic king as well as a helpless victor.
Diadem (diadēma) is rare in the NT. It is a symbol of royalty in each use: the dragon, the beast from the sea, and Christ (Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12).[1]
Personal Requests
4:9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
Paul has been abandoned by many of his friends, some had rejected the gospel message, others we don’t know why they left other than the fact that Paul is in jail and perhaps wanted to avoid incarceration themselves. Luke, the author of the gospel account known by his name and the book of Acts of the Apostles (the book of Acts) was the only one that remained with Paul. He asks for Timothy to come to him soon and to bring Mark with him. He also asks for him to bring his cloak that he left in Troas. This is the only place the Greek word translated here as cloak (phailonēn) is found in the New Testament, some believe it is not a garment but a container where Paul kept his books and parchments in, which he also asks for.
4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
Since Alexander was a common name, this person may not be the same individual Paul listed in 1 Timothy 1:20 who Paul had handed over to Satan because he and Hymenaeus had deliberately “shipwrecked their faith.” Here he identifies him as a coppersmith who did great harm to Paul, no further information is given. But warns Timothy to avoid him as he strongly opposed the gospel message.
4:16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
When Paul was first brought before a judge to defend himself everyone apparently abandoned him, as they all deserted him. Although not stated specially, Paul requests that God not charge that offense against them. He then announces that Jesus stood by him and strengthened him so that the gospel message could be fully proclaimed through him so that all Gentiles could hear it. He further announces that he was rescued from the lion’s mouth (a Biblical figure of speech referring to being out of mortal danger, see Psalm 22:21; 35:17; Daniel 6:16-23; 1 Peter 5:8). Paul’s final thought before his greetings, is this, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18, ESV) A true statement for every believer!
4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
In a typical closing of epistles he wrote, Paul relays greetings to others involved in kingdom work. He also asks that Timothy come before winter. He closes with, “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” (2 Timothy 4:22, ESV)
Considerations
Preach the Word
In this epistle Paul encouraged Timothy to preach the gospel message and teach God’s Word. Here in Chapter Four Paul charges him in front of God to do just that (verses 1-2). But then in verse three he tells him about a time that is coming that people will not endure sound teaching. This was probably not news for Timothy as he had already encountered opposition in Ephesus (see Acts 19:21-41). And then we hear about how Alexander strongly opposed the gospel (verses 14-15). This epistle was undoubtedly made available to us in the Bible for us to be encouraged as Timothy was, but what about all that opposition? Paul didn’t sugar-coat the truth for a reason, that was a reality then and it is even more a reality today. We are not to fear rejection, opposition, or even hostility, don’t let any of them stop you in presenting the gospel message to others. If you get closed out by someone pray for them and move on. Always pray before engaging in a conversation about Jesus, the Bible, or God. Ask God for discernment, direction, understanding, guidance, and His wisdom!
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[1] Elwell, W. A. (2001). In Evangelical dictionary of theology: Second Edition (p. 311). Baker Academic.