No. 974:
The first time I defended myself in court, no one came
to help me. Everyone left me!
2 Tim. 4. 9 Come to me as fast as you can. 10 For
Demas left me because he got the current world dear. He has gone to
Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with
me. Take Mark with you when you come, he is a great help to me in the ministry.
12 Tykikos I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak which I
left behind in Troas with Karpos and books, above all the parchments. 14 Copper
smith Alexander has made me much pain. Lord will repay him according to his works.
15 Beware of him, too, for he has gone hard against our doctrine.
16 The first
time I defended myself in court, no one came to help me. Everyone left me. May
it not be imputed them! 17 But the Lord was with me and gave me the strength to
finish the hearing, so all the nations might hear. And I was rescued from the
lion's mouth. 18 Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me into his
heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever! Amen.
Photo of Paul on base without past Paul church in Rome
taken by Jan Kåre Christensen.
It's a big, big paradox that the Apostle Paul was so
standing alone after all he had prayed with salvation and helped on their way!
From Wikipedia: "Paul was at some point, either
immediately after the period under house arrest or after a period as a free
man, appeared before Emperor Nero, and sentenced to death. He sat for nine
months under terrible conditions in mamertine prison in Rome before his
execution. Emperor Constantine built a church over his grave, which with time has
been extended to St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome's churches. In 2006 it
became known that a sarcophagus with his name were found in this church. It was
Paul Church chapel that Birgitta of Vadstena got a vision that Christ spoke to
her from the cross. A statue of Birgitta's in the chapel. "
The apostle Paul says here at the end of his life and
ministry!
This is a personal letter to the Apostle closest
co-worker, friend and spiritual brother, Timothy. But who was this Timothy?
From Wikipedia: "Timothy was according to the
Bible one of Paul's close associates. He is said to have had a Greek father and
a Judean mother.
Timothy said to have received training in Christianity
by his mother and his grandmother. About his father said little. Two books of the
Bible bearing his name. "
Here some passages about Timothy from the New
Testament:
Acts 16. 1. He also came forward to Derbe and Lystra.
Where there was a disciple named Timothy. He was the son of a believing Jewish
woman, and his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke
good to say about him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he
circumcised him for the sake of the Jews who lived in that area. Everyone knew
that his father was a Greek.
1 Tim. 1. 2 greets Timothy, my legitimate children in
the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our
Lord!
18 Timothy, my children, so the mission I now
surrender to you, in accordance with the prophecies before spoken to you. By
them you may fight the good fight 19a of faith and good conscience.
2 Tim. 1 3 I thank continually for you and remember
you night and day in my prayers to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as
my ancestors. 4 I will not forget your tears, and I yearn to see you again - it
would make me intensely happy. 5 I remember your sincere faith, which first
lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Evnike, and I am convinced
that it can also live in you.
6 Therefore
I remind you of this: Let the gift of God within you flame up again, the one
you got my hands on you! 7 For God did not give us a spirit that makes
discouraged; we receive the Spirit of power and love and wisdom. 8 Shame on you
then not the testimony of our Lord, nor of me that is catching for his sake,
but berries suffering for the gospel, too, in the power God gives.
Paul considered Timothy to be the one that stood him
very closest. What awaited apostle most after the end of his life?
Sets up some points.
1) The most important thing was that someone was
present, just for him. Here we see the aged Paul no longer had the energy he
had before. Now he longed for someone who stood with him. He had stood all
before, but now it was he who needed help and support. He was in prison and
this second imprisonment was totally opposite to the first thing that he did
was mostly preaching what he himself would (Acts 28).
The fact that so many failed him, yes, he writes all.
This shows that it costs to get up even for those who walk with God. We read
the following:
2 Tim. 4. 16 The first time I defended myself in
court, no one came to help me. Everyone left me. May it not be imputed them! 17
But the Lord was with me and gave me the strength to finish the hearing, so all
the nations might hear. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
Here in the court of Rome, no one stood with him, this
was very sad. When he came to Rome as it was called then and Rome today. So
there were many who meet him.
Acts 28 11 Three months later we sailed on a ship that
had wintered at the island. It was from Alexandria and had twins who ship
brand. 12 We docking at Syracuse, where we lay three days 13 and sailed from
there along the coast until Regium. The day after we got southerly wind and
reached Puteoli in two days. 14 There we found some brothers who invited us to
spend a week with them. So we came to Rome. 15 siblings there had heard about
us and met us completely out of Forum Appii and Tres Tabernæ. Paul thanked God
when he saw them, and was encouraged. 16 When we came into Rome, Paul got
permission to stay private, with a soldier who had supervised him.
But eventually it became too big and bothersome to
stand with Paul in the contemporary world capital. The apostle known soreness
in this. Here we can all learn something, to stand up for each other. But above
all, to be present for each other, that's the most important thing here.
2.) 2 Tim. 4. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark with
you when you come, he is a great help to me in the ministry.
Luke was with him, but he missed Markus. It is strange
with this Mark who wrote Mark's Gospel, he was first sidelined by Paul, but
now. Then it was he that Paul wanted to come and be present for him.
Here on when Markus was disregarded by Paul Acts 15.
36 In time, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers
in all the towns where we preached the word of Yahweh, to see how it goes with
them." 37 Barnabas wanted to bring John with surnamed Mark. 38 But Paul
was determined that him they should not take, he had deserted them in Pamphylia
and had not gone with them to work there. 39 It was such a sharp disagreement
that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 but Paul
chose Silas. Then he left the place after the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
3.) 2 Tim. 4. 13 When you come, bring the cloak which
I left behind in Troas with Karpos and books, above all the parchments.
Here it was above all a few personal belongings, where
the parchments were paramount. Had it been today so it could have been the
bible or a loved one study Bible. This was the most important thing for the
Apostle at the end of his life. Some were present for him, and a few personal
belongings.
It was the employee and siblings in the Lord who
managed to seek him out when he came to Rome, he mentions Onesiforos. There he
immensely appreciated. We are here for each other, not only for the Lord.
2 Tim. 1. 15 You know that everyone in Asia has turned
from me, too Fygelos and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord have mercy upon family
Onesiforos! For he has many times given me new courage and was not ashamed of
my chains. 17 No, when he came to Rome, he searched diligently for me until he
found me. 18 May the Lord grant him mercy with the Lord on the big day! How
much he has done in his ministry in Ephesus, you know best yourself.
Final Comment:
What we have to learn from this account and the
Apostle's life and work for the Lord Jesus? Here Paul was hated by the world,
eventually got him killed.
But what about the believers? Unfortunately, then as
now as they did not recognize the opportunity. Here it turns out time and again
that when it gets tough and difficult, so it is unfortunately fewer and fewer
people can count on and trust. Why is this so? I do not know the full, but
there are so few believers who fully paid the price, disgrace and pain it can
be to walk with the Lord fully ?!
We want and prefer the easiest way is not always the
way and the life and the cost it is to walk with God!
Something we can above all learn here. It is that when
someone comes in distress and difficulty, it is to be present for that person.
Not necessarily what we say or not say. But being a supportive human being is
the most important and the best! It wanted the Apostle Paul, Luke was there,
while Timothy was coming. There is much to suggest that Timothy came late to
Rome.
But the will was there, that's the most important
thing!
