370. THE FINAL WORK OF PAUL
"I am now ready to be offered"
In our last lesson we left the apostle Paul in his own hired house preaching and teaching the Gospel. Evidence shows that he was later released, upon which he undertook an extensive preaching tour but had to quickly return to Rome at the outbreak of persecutions. It was at this time that he was again imprisoned awaiting trial. The second letter to Timothy was written giving us his final advice before his death after 30 remarkable years of service to Christ and the ecclesias. The aim of this lesson is to grasp the apostle Paul's attitude when faced with death and to be inspired to dedicate our lives to Christ in our day of opportunity.
2 Timothy 4
PAUL AT THE END OF HIS COURSE.
The great apostle Paul, the bondslave of Jesus Christ, who for approx imately 30 years had been a chosen vessel bearing Christ's name before Gentiles, Kings and his fellow Jews, was now ready to be offered. The time of his departure from life was at hand. He had fought a good fight, finished his appointed course, and had kept the Faith (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
Christ had told Ananias that he would show the newly converted Paul, "how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Now, some 30 years later, an aged man in his 60's, Paul, could look back over those years, see his commission as an apostle and teacher and say, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed" (2 Tim. 1:12). And in another place, "I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2:9, 10).
We cannot fail but be impressed by the example of dedication to Christ set by the apostle Paul. We marvel at his dogged determination, despite colossal odds, to fulfil his commission. We wonder at his calm accep tance of trials seeing them as a fellowshipping of Christ's sufferings. But it is his love for his brethren and sisters that is one of his most outstanding attributes. As he said to the Corinthians, "whether we be afflicted. . .or comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation" (2 Cor. 1:6). That love motivated his daily care for all the ecclesias (11:28; cp: vv.23-27).
PAUL AND TIMOTHY.
But as well as that, Paul had an abounding regard for his companions and this regard saw its heights in his relationship with Timothy. The 2nd Epistle of Paul to Timothy reveals that love as a bond between "father" and "son". There were ecclesias with whom Paul had a special bond, he had cherished companions, but he had only one "son". Now as he awaited his final defence he yearned for the presence of his "son in the faith".
Right from the days of Lystra, now some 15 or more years ago, Timothy had come to fully know Paul's doctrine, persecutions and afflic tions (2 Tim. 3:10, 11; Acts 14:19-20). They made a deep impression on the young brother's mind. From a sheltered, God-fearing home environ ment, Timothy was thrust into the rigours of missionary work. Having a good report by all the brethren of Galatia he became a valuable visiting speaker on the Macedonian campaign. He became one of the founders of the ecclesias of Philippi and Thessalonica. He became a representative of Paul visiting the Thessalonians, the Corinthians and the Macedonians, and he was left in charge at Ephesus. These things show that in a sense, he was a true son of his father. That love in the bonds of the Truth between Paul and Timothy was based on a mutual willingness to serve. There was a compatability, a like-mindedness, in their response to the gospel's demands. Paul saw Timothy as an extension of himself: he speaks as follows: "Timothy my workfellow" (Rom. 16:21); "my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord" (1 Cor. 4:17); "he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do" (1 Cor. 16:10); "I have no man like-minded, who will natural ly care for your state ... ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel" (Phil. 2:20, 22).
We can therefore appreciate the personal nature of Paul's last letter, the 2nd Epistle to Timothy. We are reading the final urgent appeals of an aged apostle to his son in the faith, Timothy. Here is his dying counsel. His final thoughts are carefully chosen and deliberately stated. With little time left, important issues would not be trifled with. The opportunity to write of interests close to the heart was slipping away.
We are twentieth century readers of that letter. Just as he earnestly ap pealed to Timothy to be his faithful successor, so too, he asks us to carry on in Christ's service, upholding and promoting the heritage of the Gospel handed down to us. This letter will exhort us to carefully guard this precious Truth, that was once entrusted to Timothy, and is now en trusted to us. Paul is appealing for our response to stir up the gift of God in the greater use of our various capabilities in the advancement of the Truth.
PAUL'S FINAL WORK.
What happened to Paul after the two years in his own hired house at Rome, as decribed in Acts 28? It appears from hints in the record and from secular writers of the times that the apostle was released from this house-imprisonment after his first defence. This is deduced from the following evidence: €
1. The Epistles to the Philippians and to Philemon, written during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, anticipate release, e.g. "I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly" (Phil. 2:24). But contrast that with, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand" (2 Tim. 4:6).
- Paul refers to an earlier imprisonment, hearing, discharge and re-imprisonment, "that ALL the Gentiles might hear" (2 Tim. 4:16,17).
- His recent journey to Rome was different to the one recorded in Acts (2 Tim. 4:13, 20).
- Historians record Paul's first imprisonment, liberation and subse quent preaching tour. Clement says that Paul reached the "furthest bound of the west". Eusebius says that at the end of the two years im prisonment, Paul went forth again upon the ministry of preaching; and in a second visit to Rome ended his life by martyrdom under
Nero, and that during this final imprisonment he wrote the second Epistle to Timothy. Chrysostom and Jerome support this view. Also the Muratorian fragment (A.D. 170) names "the departure of Paul from the city to Spain". Compare this with Paul's hopes in Rom. 15:24.
PAUL'S FINAL IMPRISONMENT.
When we review the situation in which the apostle Paul found himself at this second, and final, imprisonment we start to realise how perilous his position was. It is approximately 4 years after the events recorded in Acts 28, in the approaching winter of A.D. 66. Persecution of Christians had broken out at the instigation of the crazed Emperor Nero in an at tempt to absolve his guilt in the great fire of Rome. It is recorded that "a very great multitude" of Christians were put to death. Some were crucified; some were disguised in the skins of beasts and hunted to death with dogs; some were wrapped in robes impregnated with flammable materials and set on fire at night, that they might serve to illuminate Nero's gardens and circus arena where he sadistically rode around as a charioteer gloating over the agonies of his victims.
This was the man to whom Paul had to appeal. Nero was a cruel, obscene, utterly depraved Emperor. The mere fact of professing Chris tianity was sufficient to justify immediate arrest and execution. Into that hazardous situation, Paul made haste, breaking off his preaching tour and going to the aid of his imperiled brethren and sisters. He was quickly arrested and thrown into a cold, dank dungeon with winter approaching. It was known as the "Well Dungeon" at the foot of the Capital and was infamous for its chill vault and oozing spring.
Only Luke was with him. His other companions had either been sent away or had deserted him. Demas, once faithful, left him to seek the world's pleasures for a season. One of his closest friends, Onesiphorus, had courageously sought him out and refreshed him. But it seems that he, too, was arrested and put to death for associating himself with the prisoner (see 2 Tim. 1:16-18).
He yearned for Timothy's presence. No one could console him more than his own "son in the faith". There was almost a "paternal" longing to see once more the face of Timothy his beloved "son". But Timothy was at Ephesus. Paul wrote asking him to come quickly. Would he arrive too late? And would Timothy's reserved and retiring disposition shrink back from the perils awaiting him at Rome? We do not know, but the unanswered questions underscore the physical and mental hardships of Paul's final days. Thirty years of tremendous energy spent in Christ's ser vice saw the apostle now almost exhausted in mind and spirit, facing the executioner's sword at the whim of a madman!
PAUL'S ATTITUDE TO DEATH.
What was-the apostle Paul's attitude to his calamity?
2 Tim. 4:6-8: His life was about to be closed by a violent, cruel death. This prospect might here cast a shadow of gloom over his imprisonment, but he rejoices that the crown of righteousness is his reward. The bearer of grace is approaching. The crowd of witnesses is cheering him on for his last public testimony.
2 Tim. 4:16-18: Though he was going to be the apparent victim of his enemies and Nero's capricious judgment, the apostle was going to be delivered. He was going to be freed € free from trials, anxieties and sor rows. His mortal life would end. He would rest in sleep and rise at a future day to the glory of Christ's reign.
2 Tim. 1:9-12: Though death was still a very real threat, death itself was abolished, rendered powerless by the Gospel which had brought life and immortality to light. As he had faithfully carried out his stewardship in being a preacher, apostle and teacher, so he was confident that Yahweh would faithfully keep his promise in the day of reward; though he suf fered, he was not ashamed. It is a faithful saying that saw its expression in the life of Paul, for he was persuaded that, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him"(2:12). He indeed loved the appearing of his Lord. Despite the almost intolerable situation, Paul believed that he could "do all things through Christ who strengthened him" (Phil. 4:13). With the glory beyond the suffering then, who could separate him from the love of Christ? (Rom. 8:35-39). Nero, with all the might and power of imperial Rome at his disposal, could not do that.
LESSONS FOR US:
- For 30 years Paul endured all things for the elect's sake with the motive that "they may also obtain the salvation". We are called to the service of the Gospel and entailed in that is a service to our Master and to our brethren and sisters.
- Paul and Timothy are outstanding examples of a combined service to Christ. They were "yokefellows" having a like-mindedness in their care for the ecclesias at the expense of personal comfort.
- The interval between Paul's 1st and 2nd imprisonments was taken up in an extensive preaching tour, cut short by the outbreak of persecu tions in Rome. Again we have the exhortation to profitably occupy whatever time is granted us in our Master's service, wherever and whenever possible.
€ Paul's attitude to his final imprisonment and impending death is truly remarkable. He encourages us to seek, too, the crown of life and to love the Lord's appearing.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 14, Pages 115-161
"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton) € Chapters 22, 23
"2nd Timothy" (A. Hill) € C.S.S.S. Study Notes
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
- What did Paul do after the events recorded at the end of Acts 28?
- What was Paul's attitude to death?
- Where was Paul when he wrote his 2nd Epistle to Timothy? Who was with him? Who had deserted him and why? What did he wantTimothy to do?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
- Describe the relationship between Paul and Timothy.
- Describe the situation of Paul's final imprisonment in Rome.
- Paul's 2nd Epistle to Timothy was written just before he was con demned to death. What does this epistle teach us about:
- his attitude to death;
- his relationship to Timothy; and
- how we should use our time and talents today?