He left the military but continued to drink heavily. Emperor Nero had ordered the inferno so he could rebuild Rome according to Not just theoretically, but spiritually and practically and in the end, financially. Claudius expulsion of the Jews from Rome, And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Do you best to come to me soon (2 Timothy 4:9). His Greek (Gentile) father is not mentioned by name. Timothy means "honoring God.". "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. We dont want to die alone, and we dont want to be forgotten. He seized the throne following Nero's suicide. Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. God gives us what we need: strength, love for others, and self-discipline. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. 10:22). Some old friends gave lots of support, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Bud Weiser. He served in the military in various hot spots around the worldSaudi Arabia, Somalia, South Koreagetting drunk every chance he had. The Sadness and Beauty of Pauls Final Words, John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. on a charge of rape (Genesis 39:1920; 41:1). Though I havent emphasized it, the title of the series is Passing the Torch. That perfectly describes the message of this book. I have a few weeks yet to live, and they help me die. Youre all in school, and thats a good place to be for a season, and I hope you just stay in love with God-centered, Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting literature until you breathe your last. I remember the feeling that radiated out from me at that moment, for the first time I truly understood the term born again in Christ. Then he adds these wonderful words: Not only was I saved but the Lord has given me the strength to resist alcohol but has also blessed us with a baby girl. Answer. Friends will forsake you and never come back, and other friends will let you down, and then they will be there for you, and you dont have to write them off. Well-grounded in Paul's teachings, Timothy was a reliable evangelist skilled at presenting the gospel. Luke alone is with me (2 Timothy 4:10). Isnt that crazy? But most of all, I beg and beseech your clemency to be urgent with the commissary that he will kindly permit me to have the Hebrew Bible, the Hebrew grammar, and a Hebrew dictionary, that I may pass the time in that study. Note that the Romans still considered Christianity part of Judaism at that time). Zero chance of this, Augustus Caesar died in AD 14. 2 Timothy 4:20: Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. Meet the Apostle Paul: Christian Missionary Giant, Overview: the Epistles of the New Testament, Examine the Core Theme of Reconciliation in the Bible, Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. Used by permission. The accusation that Roman Christians hated humanity likely took root in Get Mark and bring him with you (v. 11). Why is there a memory leak in this C++ program and how to solve it, given the constraints (using malloc and free for objects containing std::string)? Known in earlier times as the Tullianum dungeon, its If you hear the Lord knocking at your hearts door, do not delay, go now and open the door and invite Christ into your life as Savior and Lord. WebIt was this which made him write this second letter to St. Timothy, in which, after many words of advice and exhortation, he urges his friend with repeated eagerness to come, to come at once, to come before winter, to come before it is too late, and see him, and help him, and receive his blessing before he died. The King James Version translates the last part of verse 21 with three simple words: Come before winter. Timothy, if youre going to come at all, come now. Above everything else, he wanted Timothy to come see him in prison before he died. First of all, look at 2 Timothy 4:11: Luke alone is with me. 3. Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Once, there had been this team. Its relationally hard. Philemon 1:1. We too must recognize the need for Christian fellowship in our lives and surround ourselves with Christian brothers and sisters who will encourage us and pray for us. He was in prison just north of Brussels. The job is larger than anyone can do, so part of the job is recruiting, training, and passing it along to others. How can I recognize one? What is your life? During the winter the weather made travel by sea difficult and sometimes impossible. All his companions had forsaken him except Dr. Luke. He is grateful that Luke has remained in Rome to give him comfort while in prison. Remember that Timothy is probably in Ephesus, hundreds of miles Ask a friend for a coat in Rome. So, I want to give you a warning. rev2023.3.1.43269. Whether youre in a missionary team on a field somewhere thats unbelievably stressful relationally, or whether youre in a local church or just a family or a single person its going to be hard, and the Lord will stand by you. The past was forgotten. In his 20s, he got involved with a girl from whom Delilah could have taken lessons. 2 Timothy 4:17: But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, even when nobody else did. He just wanted to go home. I will be preaching four messages leading up to Commitment Sunday on September 28, when we will ask everyone to make a personal commitment to support this project financially. Dont delay. veneration or reverence which was due to the rank of emperor. If the dates ascribed to the events in Acts Chapter 27 are correct, then Paul came before Nero. He could have been on a trip somewhere else in Italy, but nobody showed up, including Luke. The doctor says you have a week, maybe. My own understanding is that Paul came before Caesar Augustus (Claudius Caesar, died in 54 AD) and was exonerated. He writes his last letter to the man who had worked with him the longest. Afterwards, he wrote (at least) 2 Timothy. The future of the church belongs to the young. He gave a lot of money to the poor in Jerusalem, and he was safe. Many years later he met a woman, they got married, and he and his wife began church hopping. The letter is addressed to the Christian church in Philippi. Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves (1 Thessalonians 2:8). (Acts 18:2), Dio Cassius tells us of this event and also indicates that it wasnt thoroughly enforced (i.e. Eusebius notes that Paul and Peter were executed during the same Neronian persecution, though Peter was crucified upside down, as he requested. Failing friends can still be your friends and that will hang a great deal on you, and whether you say, Heart, dont charge it against them.. It's believed that Paul wrote the letter to the early Christian church in Rome at the same time Nero was in rule. The fourth and last in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Empire for 27 years. Whats with the coat? The Lord delivered him from the mouth of the lion, and will continue to deliver him so that he has complete confidence that he will one day enter the heavenly kingdom. He thought of other good friends (Crescens, Titus, Tychicus) who were serving the Lord in other places. Meet Timothy: Protege of the Apostle Paul. 33-34). Thats the message. . Broaden that out a little more. He wanted to encourage him to continue the good work he was already doing. Can Luke's use of be taken as his way of acknowledging someone who held the office of High Priest? nights, flaring sporadically for an additional three days. their refusal to participate in Romes social and civic life, which Dont delay. But thats not the way Jesus handled it. Here we are faced with a mystery. What service could you render for the Lord and his church? into a cistern, the purpose was to kill him, not imprison him Dont let them drive you away from him. It is important to note that persecution can mean a variety of things, ranging from simply having people spreads lies about you, to ultimate persecution that Jesus Christ endured and overcame. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. We do not know what the tears were about perhaps Timothys sorrow at leaving Paul, thinking that it might be the last time they would see each other. Bring my cloak because its cold in prison in the winter. It is right at this point that all three concerns that I mentioned converge in my mind. Whether for that reason or for the fire, Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! WebEncyclopedia Britannica lists Romans as Pauls last chronological writing, so these chapters were likely some of the last he wrote before his death. Then he added, But was he ready? Good question. He didnt show up emotionally. He can still be your lover. What happened next has been debated for 2,000 years, but it seems most likely that very soon he was beheaded by Nero. It could be his own notes for all I know. Ministry is hard, brothers and sisters. I have said since last September that when you turn 50, you become a philosopher of sorts. I mean, youre going to know, even as you are known, in about two weeks. Because the door to the heart must be opened from the inside. They say that youth must be served. Im not long in this world., Well, at that point I would be inclined to say, So whats with the theological education? The opportunity is today, not tomorrow. If your heart is in love with the world, you just love what unbelievers love. If she loved me, she would touch me. All the conditions laid out. In other words, there would be no difference between saying Paul appealed to Augustus vs Paul appealed to Caesar vs Paul appealed to the emperor. (NLT), He also struggled to overcome fear and timidity. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (v. 13). Paul reminds Timothy of his roots: I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. Paul wants Timothy to continue in this same path. Some of us have to take a long journey in the wrong direction before we finally respond. When Clarence McCartney was a young man, he was called as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What good deed? My brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown (Philippians 4:1). Thanks to an inscription we know with fairly decent precision when Gallio was in office and can date this event in Pauls life to approximately AD 51 (maybe 52). (v. 6). 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. At one point last week, as we were in orientation together, and before we left to come back, I looked at him and saw the excitement on his face, and this thought hit me with enormous gravity, The future belongs to the young. In a sense Ive always known that to be true, but last week I saw the future clearlyand I realized in a new way, that the future always belongs to the young. putting the Bible into English. I think Paul wants Timothy to see this because he says it so many times. He then looked for a scapegoat. The thought of being 20 again makes me want to lie down and take a nap. And since two of the districts untouched by It was first applied to Caesar Get the resources and go back to them and forgive them. Yes, Im sure we would. Joseph languished in The information the apostle provides in todays passage is a fascinating glimpse into the end of the apostles life. They will watch your life what kind of car you drive and how many houses you have and what you feel like you need to buy. Has God placed a young believer in your life to encourage and guide as Paul mentored Timothy? had accused him of being a real pest and a fellow who stirs up Unless indicated otherwise, all scripture quotations on this website are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. So what was on his mind at the end of his life? Failing friends, failing kids, failing wives can be our friends our sweet friends. vegan) just to try it, does this inconvenience the caterers and staff? Despite his young age, Timothy was respected by fellow believers. [1] This reconstruction assumes the Pauline authorship and accuracy of the Pastoral Letters: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. ( Ac 23:6; Php 3:5) He was a Roman citizen from birth ( Ac 22:28 ), his father having perhaps been granted citizenship for services rendered. The painting is true to life and true to the Bible. For this which I have is very thin. And he gives thanks to God for standing by him in his trial, when it seemed that all had forsaken him. I would do it all over again. You cant wait forever to respond to things that are important. Dont feel you must choose between the supreme love and delight you have in Jesus and the pleasures of Christian friends. 27. Learn Religions. Listen to what his says, and how he repeats himself: Do your best to come to me quickly (v. 9). There are enough biblical and historical hints floating around to allow us to reconstruct some of what happened next. As a result of such a reconstruction, perhaps we ought to start talking about Pauls fourth missionary journey.[1]. Dot product of vector with camera's local positive x-axis? 2. But the title Nobody showed up. He converted untold people to the Christian faith. Now its down to Paul and Luke. All his companions had forsaken him except Dr. Luke. Paul is in a cold damp dungeon. He longs for his cloak, his books, and most of all for Timothy. If Paul didn't see Timothy before this winter he would never see him again. Why are you wasting your life on ministry? Did timothy see paul before he died sa Fiction Writing Answer (1 of 3): Nothing was said by any Christian source about the death of Timothy until the fifth-century Acts of Timothy describes him as disrupting a It belongs to the generation rising up beneath us. He says, Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me (2 Timothy 4:10). You either have to leave the Christian ministry because you love the world so much, or you have to change the ministry to be worldly enough to survive in it because you love the world. WebPaul's Desire to See Timothy | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. He is author of. I have longed for many years to come to you (Romans 15:23). Now where am I getting that? Mosaic Law made no Eunice, his Jewish mother, and his grandmother Lois taught him the Scriptures from the time he was a young boy. We had good intentions but somehow we never got around to doing it. Certainly you begin to look at life differently. Keep it simple, really. dissension (24:5) didnt press their case before the emperor. How does the Holy Spirit help me guard the gospel? Timothy appeared to have been intimidated by his youthfulness. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful for me in ministry. We all know that Mark had let Paul down and had left the ministry, and now hes useful. During Pauls time in Ephesus, the following events occurred: 1) Paul encountered strong opposition from someone named Alexander the coppersmith (, After this, I think everything else may have happened in fairly rapid succession without any long stays anywhere. You write your own letter. Do you think Im joking? Second, we are becoming a younger congregation. So, failing friends, imperfect friends, sinful friends will let you down, and they can still be your friends. Were ready for March, although March is no better in Minnesota. More people leave Christ, more people leave the church, more people leave ministry, and more people leave the hope of heaven out of love for the world than anything else. Do your best to come to me soon. Derrick G. Jeter holds a master of theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and served as a writer for the Creative Ministries Department of Insight for Living Ministries. Has China expressed the desire to claim Outer Manchuria recently? Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? Timothy need not be ashamed, nor afraid of prison and death, because he knows that Christ is faithful we can trust our lives to him, and hell keep every promise he has made. You can see it in every service, but especially in the 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. services. We have great dreams and high ideals, but time and neglect and the trivia of life sap our strength and divert us until the day comes when our resolve is gone, our marriage has grown cold, our children have left home, our spiritual life has grown dull. And when your youngest child leaves for college, you begin to think about the changing seasons of life. 2 Timothy 4:10: For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.. governors Felix and Festus (Acts 2426). After I preached the first service on Sunday, I stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air. Paul is not explaining doctrine he is creating a motivational message, mixing commands, personal testimony, and assurance to help Timothy carry on without him. Although he had been released from prison several times before, Paul now senses that death will be his only escape. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? I hate the devil. At that time a pagan group was celebrating the feast of Catagogion, a festival in which they carried images of their gods about the streets. Luke alone is with me. I dont want to drive any of you away from the ministry. Significance of Paul's conversation with the Tribune in Acts 22:26-28. Darkness. Few prisons were as dim, dank, and dirty as the lower Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Time of the events described in Acts 11:28. In the final call she reported that the stairwells were filled with smoke and the elevators were not working. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. It could not be an emperor later than Nero. They all forsook him and fled, and what did he do? Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? He then was under house arrest in Rome for two years (28:30), awaiting an appearance before Nero. Proud member . Youll help your people so much. In his Second Letter to Timothy, written shortly before his death, Paul tells Timothy about his fellow-workers who are still with him in Rome, or who have left Rome Prisoners in the ancient world were rarely sent to prison as punishment. Copy. And youth will be served. (v. 3), Has God given me a gift that I should fan into flame? Timothy has also been appointed as someone who should testify about Christ and the immortality Christ has revealed. Hes going to die for helping people to read the Bible in English. Only one friend can do that. Read acts 27. I would suggest that after Crete, Paul traveled to Ephesus where Timothy was serving. Jeremiah was imprisoned There is a love for the world that is irreconcilable with world-exposing ministry, witnessing-to-world ministry, rescuing-from-world ministry. And as we continue reading this letter, we see that this is what Paul wants him to do. PTIJ Should we be afraid of Artificial Intelligence? Paul, you are the most influential, the most authoritative, the most widely read Christian on the planet. Thereafter he travelled to Spain (some say he managed to get to Britain). The joy of a Christ-centered friendship is meant to magnify the worth of Christ as the common treasure of the friendship, and this deepens the sweetness of the friendship. Thats not the way Paul is relating to them. The procuratorship of Porcius Festus. If he was, in fact, arrested soon after he arrived at Nicopolis as winter was setting in, this would explain how Paul found himself in prison in winter in Rome (. convicted, not so much for the crime of firing the city, as of hatred And in the final analysis, that means living today by letting go of our need to constantly be in control or to think that the future is in our own hands. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Even before God created us, he knew that we would need a Savior, and he forgave us ahead of time. (God had promised Paul in a vision in Acts 27:24 that he would stand before Caesar.) Christian ministry, whether youre in a team on the field or whether youre in a staff or just alone with a small congregation, is relationally hard. Here is a man who decided to come before winter. He heard the call and he ran to the cross. What is it that God is calling you to do? Dont change the message repeat it. Ackermann Function without Recursion or Stack. So we might need to pray for strength, or love, or self-discipline. You must stand trial before Caesar.'. And bring my books and the parchment so I can write while Im here. We all need friends, dont we? Im tired of this traveling. What letter must you write? Did James & the elders in Jerusalem advise Paul to compromise in Acts 21:21-24? People can have a good conscience, thinking that they have done right (2 Tim. Tell him to meet me in heaven.. 2023 Insight for Living Ministries. I mean, I can name people close to me. Thats true. He had sent Timothy on several difficult missions; it seems that Paul was confident in Timothys ability and willingness. WebIn 2 Timothy 4, Paul makes an ambiguous reference to my first defense and claims he was delivered from the lions mouth (2 Timothy 4:16-17). All rights reserved. They wont be at home forever. all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. It says so: For Demas, in love with the present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica., Was there a woman in Thessalonica that he had met along the way? Know you that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. an Egyptian prison for two years, presumably awaiting trial before Pharaoh Too little, too late. People will leave you because of a love for the world. Scholars believe Paul was released sometime in AD 62 because the Jews who had accused him of being a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension (24:5) didnt press their case before the emperor. I have about seven observations about ministry and the ministry in the church or the ministry in missions. If God has given you the means to make a lot of money as a businessman, or if God has given you a church where they pay you well, dont keep all of it. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Augustus name was Octavian. Timothys death is not recorded in the Bible. I am no longer young, no matter what people may think. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. Paul is believed to have been beheadedrather than thrown to the wild beasts or killed in some other inhumane waybecause he was a Roman citizen. Having a solid knowledge of the Bible is more important than titles, fame, or degrees. Paul appeared before Nero some time during his house arrest in Rome. Some have left because of sin Demas, the coworker mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24, has apostatized. See a detailed discussion on the inscription and its significance here (pp. "Meet Timothy: Protege of the Apostle Paul." And if he waited that long, Paul would very likely already be dead. Evidently Demas had been a faithful partner because even in The transcripts include phone calls between people who were told to stay in the World Trade Center and never got out alive. Or it could be Scripture, or it could be books about the Scripture, or things hed written in his journal to help him understand the Scriptures. Pauls two Pastoral Epistles addressed to Timothy reveal concern for his well-being, and he is praised in 1 Corinthians, Philippians, and Romans. Subsequently, he was able to further evangelize the antique world of the empire. worthy of honor and reverence." Nero was emperor till 68. Again, Paul encouraged him in 2 Timothy 1:6-7: "This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. or execution. When it comes to the gospel, many people have a spirit of timidity, but timidity is not from God. I hope youre Christlike enough for that; Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). Friends in ministry can let you down and never care for you again. This refers to a sleeveless, round garment worn for warmth and to protect one from inclement weather. I am a middle-aged manthe calendar does not lie. Sometimes we feel like we cant make it without our friends to help us out. The Bible says, Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Thats just not the way the text reads. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. We mean to write a letter, or make a call but it never gets done. After Pauls arrest, he was taken to Rome and imprisoned, not in a house as during his former internment, but probably in the notorious and cold (2 Timothy 4:13, 21) Mamertine Prison around the time that Nero started to unleash a horrific wave of persecution against Christians in Rome. If you order a special airline meal (e.g. But Paul was very human. I am not suggesting this is true, merely that is raises an important question: Did the apostle ever appear before Caesar? So he stood before caesar. And even while we lead, we must at the same time prepare to hand off leadership to those who are younger. Then well look at some of the most beautiful and some of the saddest words in the Bible that are intended, I think, to establish you in your mission or your ministry. What about the brothers and the sister? After his parents divorced when he was 15, he began to drink heavily and soon his drinking was out of control. The Mamertine Prison could have been called the House of Zavada, Jack. Second, in September we are launching a churchwide emphasis on stewardship relating to the renovation program now underway. Timothy had been trained from infancy to love the holy writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. From there, Paul Many great leaders act as mentors to someone younger, and such was the case with Paul and his "true son in the faith," Timothy. Why didn't Paul and Silas declare their citizenship before they were punished in Act 16:23? So, now were at the sweetest centerpiece of the text: As much as you may love your earthly friends or your earthly family, they cant do this for you. 2 Timothy 4:16, which may be the saddest sentence in the letter: At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. Im going to come back to that, but youve got to feel the force of that. Dont wait. When Paul departed Crete, he left Titus to appoint elders in the cities that held believing communities, some of which were probably planted by Paul and Titus (, The order of events after this gets increasingly difficult. Vitellius was next, but was executed in Rome by Vespasian's soldiers on 22 December 69. This week I received a wonderful e-mail from a man who is 40 years old. Does this mean Augustus Caesar? Finally, people with great influence and great authority dont need great possessions. 1 Peter 2:19 uses it in that sense, referring to a person who is conscious of God aware of his existence. We must not say, Tomorrow is another day. This week the transcripts of messages to and from the Port Authority of New York on September 11, 2001 were released. Crescens, who is otherwise unknown, is ministering in Galatia, and Titus, whom we are well acquainted with from our study of the letter to Titus, is serving the kingdom of God in Dalmatia (2 Tim. Interested in joining the Ligonier team? WebThe Epistle to the Philippians, commonly referred to as Philippians, is a Pauline epistle of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. See answer (1) Best Answer. continued to be used of his successors in office, as denoting the Timothys mother Heres another turn on that, after thirty-two years now of ministry. The one being in the universe who will never ever let you down youre going to let those who let you down drive you away from the One who will never let you down? Paul was aided by the physician Luke, who sought to attend to his needs (2 Timothy 4:11). Paul also taught Timothy about church leadership, including the role of a deacon, the requirements of an elder, as well as many other important lessons about running a church.
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