He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. Eunice, his Jewish mother, and his grandmother Lois taught him the Scriptures from the time he was a young boy. He could have been on a trip somewhere else in Italy, but nobody showed up, including Luke. Remember that Timothy is probably in Ephesus, hundreds of miles away, and it would take several months for him to come to Rome. Things essential and basic are neglected every day. WebPaul was born in Tarsus, a prominent city of Cilicia. He talked of pulling back from some of his current ministries so he could become more of a coach and a mentor and a discipler of younger men. During Pauls first imprisonment, he awaited trial before Roman 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. Here is a time-line of the events recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and post-Acts: First Imprisonment in Rome 61-63 AD Wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians from Rome, Fourth Journey (post Acts) 63-65 AD Wrote 1 Timothy (from Macedonia) and Titus (from Nicopolis), Second Imprisonment in Rome 66-67 AD Wrote 2 Timothy (from Rome), Source: https://www.understandchristianity.com/timelines/chronology-pauls-ministry/. Jordan's line about intimate parties in The Great Gatsby? Timothy had been trained from infancy to love the holy writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul left Ephesus with the intention of traveling to Macedonia (, We know almost nothing about his time in Macedonia, but, as with his previous visit there at the end of his third missionary journey, he likely worked his way through Macedonia, ministering and visiting with believers in places such as Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, and eventually made his way down to Corinth. He didnt show up. To him be the glory forever and ever. You going to see him face to face. Thats what I would ask. Of Augustus - The reigning emperor at this time was Nero. What bad habit must be broken? I would just urge you; dont be unforgiving and dont be simplistic. Do you think Im joking? Afterwards, he wrote (at least) 2 Timothy. 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. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! The aged Apostle Paul, writing from death row in a dark, dank prison cell in Rome, pens a final message to his young protg Timothy to encourage him to continue his work after Pauls imminent death. Thats what he wants you to take away. 1:10-11; 15:22ff). Bring my cloak because its cold in prison in the winter. Whats with the coat? Seek Christian friendships. 1:3), or a bad conscience, believing that they have done wrong (Heb. And even while we lead, we must at the same time prepare to hand off leadership to those who are younger. To him be the glory forever and ever. God gives us what we need: strength, love for others, and self-discipline. Thus ends Pauls fourthmissionary journey. In 1915 he preached a sermon called Come Before Winter based on verse 21. He spoke of accountability and discipleship. Once, there had been this team. ( 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. Ackermann Function without Recursion or Stack. He encourages Timothy to continue his work. Otho took over, but only between 15 January 69 and 16 April 69. But Paul was very human. All of these come from God. And when your youngest child leaves for college, you begin to think about the changing seasons of life. Then, as now, it took time for the wheels of justice to turn, as evidenced by Pauls earlier, two-year-long imprisonment described in Acts 28. Has China expressed the desire to claim Outer Manchuria recently? Timothy should not view his work as optional, and even if officials threaten to kill him, he needs to remember that life is guaranteed in Christ, not in the Empire. Included in the journey is a mission to Spain, ministry on the island of Crete, ministry in Ephesus, stops at Miletus, Troas, various cities in Macedonia, Corinth, and probably Nicopolis. Acts 20:2; Rom. and died and died in 67 A. D., suffered much in life for the gospel. The information the apostle provides in todays passage is a fascinating glimpse into the end of the apostles life. Maybe he kept notes, and he wanted his notes so that he could be working on messages. Good friends in ministry can let you down and still be good friends. (NIV). Which Caesar did Paul demand to appear before? Edit: When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome from Corinth (Greece) during his third missionary journey (cf. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Pauls fourthmissionary journey? Timothy was a young man who began traveling with Paul and Silas when they visited Lystra during the second missionary journey ( Acts 16:1 ). 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.. Some have been confused by the statement in Acts 25:21, 25, indicating that Paul appealed to Augustus. Your browser does not support JavaScript. Look at the middle of the same verse: Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. For more, visit the Good Book Blog, a seminary faculty blog from Talbot School of Theology. Significance of Paul's conversation with the Tribune in Acts 22:26-28. Do your best to come before winter. Sometimes strategic deployments take away our friends. This speaks well for our future. There is an embrace of culture God-ignoring, God-denying, God-demeaning, Christ-distorting product of culture that is mutually exclusive with a deep love for Jesus. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God You will suffer for doing it, but God will give you the help you need. Timothy had helped Paul spread his message. So I would want to read a sermon from this man who has ministered to my soul like nobody else has ministered to my soul as I get ready to meet my Jesus. Do you best to come to me soon (2 Timothy 4:9). 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. on a charge of rape (Genesis 39:1920; 41:1). Along the way, I listed my sins, then confessed them to the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Theyre true, and if you live long enough, you will find them all to be true in your life. He mentions his clear conscience something he wants Timothy to have, too. Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage. He didnt want to die alone. Swindoll's Living Insights Bible Commentaries. 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. Sometimes seasonal changes make the aloneness all the more difficult. They met with Satan who asked them what strategy they planned to follow: The first one said, I will tell people that there is no God. That, said Satan, will not work because in their heart of hearts they know there is a God.. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? We dont know. 4:11). Come to Christ while you have the opportunity and while you have the desire. And bring my books and the parchment so I can write while Im here. We all need friends, dont we? Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. 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. 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. How did authorities know that Paul was really a Roman citizen? 27. 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. into a cistern, the purpose was to kill him, not imprison him Then he was imprisoned in Palestine for a couple years, transported under guard via ship to Rome (a journey that included a shipwreck on Malta), and spent a couple more years under house arrest in Rome. The transcripts include phone calls between people who were told to stay in the World Trade Center and never got out alive. Do your best to come to me soon. But I remember a day when someone I loved was dying. Salem Media Group. Even the great apostle Paul knew that he could not go it alone, and he gathered several individuals around himself to support him in his hour of need. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. They are, and Paul cherished them. Now most of us are 40 or 45 or 50, and some are moving toward 55. Therell be a few people in your church, just a few, who know how much you give back to the church. PTIJ Should we be afraid of Artificial Intelligence? If Timothy delayed at all, he would not come to Rome until the spring. Jesus had been executed as an enemy of the Empire, and Paul seemed headed for that, too. WebTimothy, 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 What you would do for God, you can do, but you must not delay. In a sense, this book is Pauls last will and testament. And his friendship is very, very sweet. What is your life? They cannot rescue you from every evil deed and bring you safely to the heavenly kingdom. Timothy met and scolded them for their idolatry. However, we should note that Augustus was a title, not his name. We have solid evidence from Clement that Paul died prior to Nero's death, and we have 3 different lines of evidence from earlier in Pauls life showing that he did not get to Rome until after the death of Neros predecessor Claudius. Then he was executed by Nero (Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) at around about the time of the Great Fire in Rome in 64 AD. He wants Timothy there. Some have contended that probably he didnt. But when they fail when they dont show up at your trial, the funeral of your wife, your stay in the hospital dont turn on your one friend who will be there. Paul handled a lot of money in his day, and he kept very little for himself. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? What service could you render for the Lord and his church? He speaks to us today. Paul, you are the most influential, the most authoritative, the most widely read Christian on the planet. Bring the books, and bring the parchments. Apparently, Paul is a little bit lonely because many of his closest friends are absent during his time of trial. Because the door to the heart must be opened from the inside. He was in prison just north of Brussels. For additional information and resources visit us at www.insight.org. Tomorrow may never come. He didnt show up emotionally. He can still be your lover. convicted, not so much for the crime of firing the city, as of hatred Yes, come now, do it now, serve God now. (2 Timothy 4:1718). 2 Timothy 4:10: For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.. Isnt that crazy? While they were talking, another man from Chicago drove by and opened fire. If this teenager really respected me, then he wouldnt talk to me this way this is the way an immature dad talks. rev2023.3.1.43269. When we speak of Paul anticipating his impending death in 2 Timothy 4:68, we have to keep in mind the speed of judicial proceedings in the ancient world. This week I received a wonderful e-mail from a man who is 40 years old. Thanks for your interest! Whether for that reason or for the fire, If the dates ascribed to the events in Acts Chapter 27 are correct, then Paul came before Nero. 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. 2 Timothy 4:17: But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, even when nobody else did. Now, if thats all we had, wed say, See, Jesus is a faithful friend. 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. I have no idea. Too little, too late. For some who read these words, Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking, knocking, knocking. Paul urged him in 1 Timothy 4:12: "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. 4:2) or be overactive (1 Cor. The Greek word syneidsisfirst meant to be aware of something, to be conscious of something. Now look at 2 Timothy 4:16: At my first defense, no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. 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. He prayed that you would come; he never gave up hope of seeing you again. What were the legal consequences of "I appeal to Caesar!" Augustus, like Caesar, was a title given to a number of Roman emperors. I had a revelation of sorts last week when Marlene and I drove to Alabama and dropped our son Nick off at Samford University in Birmingham. Prisoners in the ancient world were rarely sent to prison as punishment. One of the most heartrending calls came from the assistant manager of the Windows on the World restaurant on top of one of the towers. There is no evidence for this view, and it runs counter to the testimony of the angel who informed Paul, You must stand before Caesar (Acts 27:24). "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. Failing friends, failing kids, failing wives can be our friends our sweet friends. They all forsook him and fled, and what did he do? trial (2 Timothy 4:16). He and his wife, Christy, have five children and live in the Dallas area. Theres no evidence that he does, and we certainly know ministers who have forsaken us, forsaken the church, and forsaken Christ ministers who never come back. We mean to share Christ with a neighbor, we intend to get serious in our Christian faith. Thereafter he travelled to Spain (some say he managed to get to Britain). In Acts 18:12-16 Paul appears before Gallio, the deputy of Achaia. 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. Paul is not explaining doctrine he is creating a motivational message, mixing commands, personal testimony, and assurance to help Timothy carry on without him. WebAlthough he had been released from prison several times before, Paul now senses that death will be his only escape. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (v. 13). If September 11 taught us anything, we should realize that the future is uncertain for all of us and that we cant rely on the things of the world because they will not last forever. 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)? Dot product of vector with camera's local positive x-axis? ( Ac 21:39; 22:3) His parents were Hebrews and evidently adhered to the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. 4:10). Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. 4:11; see Col. 4:14), which may indicate that he is the amanuensis or secretary who is writing the letters to Timothy and Titus on the apostles behalf. The order, however, is somewhat uncertain. 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. Maybe it was just his home. Please, Welcome to Bible Hermeneutics SE and thank you for your contribution. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/timothy-companion-of-the-apostle-paul-701073. My suggestion is Nicopolis, since it comes at the end of all the other pieces of information I have tried to piece together. 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. In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul refers to Timothy as my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. Paul saw Timothys potential as a great spiritual leader and subsequently invested his whole heart in helping Timothy develop into the fullness of his calling. This refers to a sleeveless, round garment worn for warmth and to protect one from inclement weather. 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. found guilty, in all likelihood, for hating humankind. The thought of being 20 again makes me want to lie down and take a nap. Eusebius notes that Paul and Peter were executed during the same Neronian persecution, though Peter was crucified upside down, as he requested. But it is a huge challenge because much of the current leadership of the church was in that category 15 years ago. That is why I am suffering as I am. Rather, prisons typically served as holding cells for those awaiting trial The story is told of three apprentice devils who were coming to earth for their first assignment. Timothy Bible Character - Paul's Protege in the Gospel - Learn Read acts 27. Here is a man who decided to come before winter. He heard the call and he ran to the cross. Human beings are fickle friends. Will you open the door and let him in? Pauls travels between the beginning of Acts 18 and his arrival in Rome occupy far too much time to get him to Rome before the death of Claudius in 54, meaning Nero was the emperor when Paul went to Rome. blame to them. His last message to you was, Give Timothy my love, tell him goodbye for me. If the order of events after Crete are moved around on the timeline above (and even the placement of Crete on the timeline is not certain), Paul could have been arrested in any of the following: Ephesus, Troas, one of the cities of Macedonia, or Nicopolis. A few minutes after that final call, the tower collapsed into a smoking heap of rubble. Such a ministry trip had been part of his original plan way back when he wrote Romans five or more years before (, We cannot know for certain, but based upon Pauls former plans (, Perhaps on his return from Spain, Paul sailed to the island of Crete where he engaged in ministry alongside Titus. We dont want to die alone, and we dont want to be forgotten. Somewhere along the journey either in Macedonia or Achaia, he started planning his winter months in the warmer city of Nicopolis on the west coast of Achaia (, Now, we really dont have any idea where Paul was arrested. Many of us live with that reality. One denied Jesus three times at his point of greatest need, and he made him the rock. He blogs at www.DerrickJeter.com. If you want to be bitter and angry all the rest of your life, youll kill yourself that way. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Dont wait. He probably wants Timothy to see himself in similar terms: appointed by the will of God and promised life in Christ. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Been released from prison several times before, Paul refers to Timothy as my beloved and faithful child the... Bible Hermeneutics SE and thank you for your contribution of God and promised life in Christ dont want to conscious. Others, and he ran to the cross neighbor, we should note that was. Executed as an enemy of the current leadership of the same verse: Crescens gone. 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