2 Timothy 4:9-22

Personal Instructions

9 ¹Do your best to come to me soon.

10 For ²Demas, ³in love with ⁴this present world, ⁵has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, ^{[a] 6}Titus to Dalmatia.

11 ⁷Luke alone is with me. Get ⁸Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

12 ⁹Tychicus 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.

14 ¹⁰Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ¹¹the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. ¹²May it not be charged against them!

17 But ¹³the Lord stood by me and ¹⁴strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and ¹⁵all the Gentiles might hear it. So ¹⁶I was rescued ¹⁷from the lion’s mouth.

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. ¹⁸To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Greet ¹⁹Prisca and Aquila, and ²⁰the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left ²¹Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.

21 ²²Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. ^[b]

22 The Lord be ²³with your spirit. ²⁴Grace be with you. ^[c]

2 Timothy 4:9-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 4

In this chapter the apostle charges Timothy to perform his office as an evangelist with great diligence, constancy, and faithfulness, with reasons for it; gives some hints of several particular persons mentioned, which made him very desirous that Timothy would come quickly to him; relates how things were with him when he made his first defence at Rome; and concludes the epistle with salutations, and his usual blessing. The charge is made in the most solemn manner in the sight of God; and of Christ, as Judge of quick and dead; and directs to the several parts of the ministerial work, and the manner in which they should be performed, 2Ti 4:1,2. The reason of which charge is, because the time was hastening on that sound doctrine would not be endured, and men would depart from the truth to fables and false teachers, 2Ti 4:3,4. Wherefore the apostle repeats his charge and exhortation to Timothy, though in other words, to be vigilant, patient, courageous, and faithful in the discharge of his office, 2Ti 4:5 adding a fresh reason moving to it, taken from the apostle's death being at hand; which is expressed by a sacrifice, and by a departure out of the world, 2Ti 4:6 which leads him to give an account of his past conduct in fighting the good fight, finishing his course, and keeping the faith, 2Ti 4:7 and of his firm belief of eternal glory and happiness, 2Ti 4:8 and next he desires Timothy to use all diligence to come quickly to him, 2Ti 4:9 his reasons for which were, because he had scarce anybody with him: one had forsook him through love of the world; another was gone to Thessalonica; a third to Galatia, and a fourth to Dalmatia; only Luke the evangelist was with him; and as for Tychicus, he had sent him to Ephesus: he therefore desires he would bring Mark with him, and his cloak, books, and parchments he had left at Troas, 2Ti 4:10-13 and then takes notice of persons that had used him ill, particularly Alexander the coppersmith; he wishes justice might be done him; and advises Timothy to beware of him, because of his opposition to the doctrines of the Gospel, 2Ti 4:14,15 and also of others that neglected him, who forsook him when he defended himself: however, he prays that this might not be charged upon them; and observes the goodness of God in standing by him and delivering him; and expresses his faith and confidence that he should be delivered and preserved safe to eternal glory, 2Ti 4:16-18 and next follow the apostle's salutations of some persons at Ephesus, and an account of two others, one at Corinth, and another at Miletum; and a repetition of his request to Timothy, to come quickly to him, and before winter; and then some salutations of persons at Rome, sent by Timothy; and the whole is concluded with the apostle's usual benediction, 2Ti 4:19-22.

Cross References

• 1. 4:9 ch. 1:4
• 2. 4:10 Col. 4:14; Philem. 24
• 3. 4:10 See 1 John 2:15
• 4. 4:10 1 Tim. 6:17; Titus 2:12
• 5. 4:10 [ch. 1:15]
• 6. 4:10 [Titus 3:12]
• 7. 4:11 [See ver. 10 above]
• 8. 4:11 See Acts 12:12
• 9. 4:12 Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; Titus 3:12
• 10. 4:14 See 1 Tim. 1:20
• 11. 4:14 Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12; [Neh. 6:14; 13:29; Ps. 28:4; Rev. 18:6]
• 12. 4:16 [Acts 7:60]
• 13. 4:17 Acts 23:11; 27:23; [Matt. 10:19]
• 14. 4:17 See 1 Tim. 1:12
• 15. 4:17 See Acts 9:15
• 16. 4:17 ch. 3:11
• 17. 4:17 Ps. 22:21; [1 Sam. 17:37]
• 18. 4:18 See Rom. 11:36
• 19. 4:19 See Acts 18:2
• 20. 4:19 ch. 1:16
• 21. 4:20 Acts 20:4; 21:29
• 22. 4:21 ver. 9
• 23. 4:22 Gal. 6:18; Philem. 25
• 24. 4:22 See Col. 4:18

Footnotes

• [a] 4:10 Some manuscripts 'Gaul'
• [b] 4:21 Or 'brothers and sisters'. The plural Greek word 'adelphoi' (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, 'adelphoi' may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church
• [c] 4:22 The Greek for 'you' is plural