1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Good morning, faithful listeners, Thank you so much 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: for tuning into the Bible Explain podcast on this absolutely 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: lovely morning. We are finishing up the Book of two 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Timothy today, and this, in my opinion, is a very 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: sad portion of scripture because I think Paul has the 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: understanding that this is the end for him, that he 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: is going to die shortly after writing this letter. So 8 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: we will get into the end of tewod Timothy today. 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for a great episode. Can you believe it 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: that as of today, we have been through sixteen books 11 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: of the New Testament, and if you've been following along 12 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: with me in the Old Testament as well, we have 13 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: been through twenty nine and a half books total. So 14 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: if you've been following along with me for some time, 15 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: that is a lot of books of the Bible you've 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: been through. So good job. I commend all of you 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: guys for reading that many books, you know, because usually 18 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: people tape her out right around at the Book of 19 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: Leviticus is what I've heard. You know, they get through 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: Genesis and Exodus, then Leviticus hits and they're like, oh boy, 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: I don't understand any of this, and it's it's very hard. 22 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: So I appreciate all of you guys going through the 23 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: Bible with me, and you know, I've been learning just 24 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: as much as all of you have. We were just 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: talking about this yesterday. Actually, I take pottery classes, and 26 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: my teacher was saying that she actually learns more when 27 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: she teaches other people, and that is how she's become 28 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: such a good potter over the years, is actually through 29 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: the classes that she teaches, it gets solidified in her brain. 30 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: And it's the same for me. I have been learning 31 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: so much going through the Bible with you guys. It 32 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: has been a very fun journey I've been able to 33 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: do with all of you faithful listeners. And now we're 34 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: at the end of two Timothy and in the New Testament, 35 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: we only have eleven books left, and a lot of 36 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: these books are very small. For example, we're about to 37 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: move into the Book of Titus, which is only three 38 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: chapters long, and then Phi Lehman after that is only 39 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: one chapter long. So we are flying through the New Testament. 40 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: I actually suspect we will be done with the New 41 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: Testament by the end of next year, so I don't 42 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: know what I'll do after that. We'll see but, faithful listeners, 43 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 1: let's go ahead and finish up Tewod Timothy chapter four today. 44 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: But before we dive in a quick thanks to our sponsor, 45 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: who makes episodes like this possible. All right, faithful listeners, 46 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: let's go ahead and read the last half of Tewod 47 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: Timothy chapter four Versus nine through twenty two. As usual, 48 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: I'll be reading from the web this morning, but feel 49 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 1: free to pause the podcast and grab your favorite version 50 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: of the Bible, whatever it may be, whether it's the 51 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: NIV or ESV, whatever you choose to use, and also 52 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: grab your cup of coffee or your cup of tea 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: this morning as we discuss Tewod Timothy four nine through 54 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: twenty two. Be diligent to come to me soon, for 55 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: Demus left me, having loved this present world, and went 56 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: to Thessalonaika Cretions to Galisha, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only 57 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, 58 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: for he is useful to me for service. But I 59 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: sent Tachikus to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left 60 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: at Trous with Carpus when you come. And the books, 61 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: especially the parchments Alexander the Coppersmith did much evil to me. 62 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware 63 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: of him, for he greatly opposed our words. At my 64 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: first defense, no one came to help me, but all 65 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: left me. May it not be held against them. But 66 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: the Lord stood by me and strengthened me that through 67 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all 68 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: the gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out of 69 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver 70 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: me from every evil work and will preserve me for 71 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 72 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: Greet Prisca and Aquila and the house of Honocipherus. Erastus 73 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: remained at Corinth, but I left Trophemus at Melaidus sick, 74 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: be diligent to come before winter. Eubylus salutes you, as 75 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 1: do Pudins, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord 76 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. 77 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: While reading through that it's the end of Paul's life. 78 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: And after we've been reading so many of Paul's letters, 79 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: this is finally the end for him, and he knows, 80 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: which is why he says right here in verse nine, 81 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 1: be diligent to come to me soon. Timothy and Paul 82 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: were very close friends, if not best friends in a sense. 83 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: Not to mention, Paul was kind of like a father 84 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: figure to Timothy. Paul did actually consider himself Timothy's father. 85 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: On many occasions he'd call Timothy his son, So they 86 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: had a very special bond. And right now Paul is 87 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: sitting in prison in Rome most likely, and Timothy is 88 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: still in Macedonia, in Ephesus specifically. And it could be 89 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: that Paul wrote this letter very quickly after getting to 90 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: Rome because he knew that this could be the last 91 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: time he ever sees Timothy and that he is going 92 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: to die very quickly. That's why he tells Timothy, be 93 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: diligent to come to me soon. You can kind of 94 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: feel the emotion behind those words. Not to mention what 95 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: he says in verse ten, for Demus left me, having 96 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: loved this present world, and went to Thessalonaika Cretions to 97 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: Galicia and Titus to Dalmatia. Now, Demus is mentioned previously 98 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: in Colossians chapter four, verse fourteen. It says, Luke, the 99 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: beloved physician, and Demus greet you and I believe Demus 100 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: is also mentioned in the book of phi Lehman as well. 101 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: So Demus was with Paul up until the very end, 102 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: but he abandoned Paul. Is what it says. Demus left 103 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: me having loved this present world. So even though Demus 104 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: was with Paul through thick and thin before, things were 105 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: getting real when Paul was in prison this second time, 106 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: because Nero was ramping up his persecution of Christians drastically. 107 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: I've talked a little bit before about what Nero did 108 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: to Christians and the way he would torture them. But 109 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: Nero also allowed a good portion of Rome to burn. 110 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: I'm sure you guys have heard about that. He's often 111 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: depicted as playing the fiddle while Rome burns, even though 112 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 1: fiddles did not exist during the days of Nero. But 113 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 1: because of his incompetence allowing his own city to burn, 114 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: he blamed it on the Christians and started targeting Christians 115 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: in order to get out of the hot water that 116 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: he got himself into. He would throw Christians to the 117 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: lions and let them be eaten alive. He would torture them. 118 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: He would light them up in his garden in torches, 119 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: like burning them alive, and that would be his firelight 120 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: for the parties that he would throw in his garden. 121 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: He was a really, really nasty guy. And Demus, who 122 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: was with Paul up until the very end, has now 123 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: abandoned Paul because he was afraid because things started getting real. 124 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: It was far more dangerous for Christians during this time 125 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: than it ever was before. So Demus left Paul and 126 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: loved the present world and went to Thesalonaika. Right after that, 127 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: Paul mentions these two other men Cretans and also Titus, 128 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: but he doesn't mention that these men loved the present 129 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: world and abandoned him. So most likely Cretians and Titus 130 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: just had to leave Paul for whatever reason. Cretians had 131 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: to go to Galatia, and Titus had to go to Dalmatia, which, 132 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: by the way, not related to Scripture at all. Dalmatia 133 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: which is on the western side of Greece near the 134 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: coast that is where the Dalmatian comes from. Fun fact, 135 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: Paul says these three men left him either because they 136 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: were scared or because they had legitimate reasons for leaving, 137 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: whatever it might be. And as far as we know, 138 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: Ty never abandoned Paul because Paul mentions him up until 139 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: the very end, but he says, right here in verse eleven, 140 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: only Luke is with me. Out of all of the 141 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: friends that Paul had, the only person left with him 142 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: is Luke. This is very different from Paul's first imprisonment. 143 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: The first time he was in prison, he actually had 144 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: a lot of friends coming to visit him. But now, 145 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: because of fear, there's only one man left with him, Luke. 146 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: So Paul asks Timothy take Mark and bring him with you, 147 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: for he is useful to me for service. What's interesting 148 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: about that verse is years before this, Paul wanted nothing 149 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: to do with Mark actually, because Mark abandoned Paul and 150 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: barnabas he left the mission to pursue his own interests, 151 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: whatever they might be. But it sounds like right here 152 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: at the end of Paul's life, Paul actually wants Timothy 153 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: to bring Mark along because he says specifically that Mark 154 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: is useful to me for service, which means that Mark 155 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: now has a servant's heart, whereas before he didn't. Years 156 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: prior to this, Mark became a changed man, and it 157 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: sounds like Mark was in Ephesus actually with Timothy for 158 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: whatever reason. Now we do know that Mark was kind 159 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: of the protege of Peter. From my understanding, Mark was 160 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: to Peter what Timothy was to Paul. So Mark's change 161 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: in heart may have actually come from Peter himself. Seeing 162 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: how Peter lived and learning more and more from Peter 163 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: over the years, Mark became a man actually worthy of service. 164 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: So now in verse twelve, it says, I sent Taichikus 165 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left at Trause 166 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: with Karpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments. 167 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: In the last days of his life, Paul has lost everything. 168 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: He has lost all of his friends. He doesn't even 169 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: have a cloak to keep him warm. He doesn't have 170 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: any books. He doesn't have his parchments, which would have 171 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: been the scriptures. He doesn't have anything. He left all 172 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: of these things. It says at Trouse with Carpus. We 173 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: don't know who Carpus is, but he clearly was somebody 174 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: that Paul trusted to safeguard these things that he felt 175 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: was special. Trous was north of Ephesus, by the way, 176 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: it was still in Asia, and in order for Timothy 177 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: to travel from Ephesus to Rome, he likely would have 178 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: gone up to where trous was been able to gather 179 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: these things that Paul requested. Then he would cross the 180 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: sea to go into Greece, where he would have been 181 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: able to actually visit a few of these people that 182 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: Paul mentioned, specifically Titus, who was in Dalmatia. Timothy would 183 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: have had to cross Dalmatia in order to get to Rome. 184 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: So something that my cultural Stufle's Bible pointed out is 185 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: the reason Paul may have been mentioning the locations of 186 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: these men was so that Timothy could actually visit these 187 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,839 Speaker 1: guys when he was traveling to visit Paul, because this 188 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: would have been a very long and arduous travel. It 189 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: wasn't like today where you just hop in a car 190 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: or hop to the airport and take a plane across 191 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: the entire ocean and arrive six hours later somewhere. This 192 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: would have been weeks and weeks of travel, so of 193 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: course Timothy would have to stop and stay places. So 194 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: it makes a lot of sense for Paul to disclose 195 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: the location of many of the fellow workers for the 196 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 1: Gospel Message so Timothy could stay with them and visit 197 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: with them as he travels to meet Paul. But going 198 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: back to the comment that Paul makes about the cloak 199 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: and also the books that he left in Trouse. Maybe 200 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: Paul was on his way down to visit Timothy in 201 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: Ephesus but got arrested in Trouse. He might have even 202 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: known that he was about to get arrested, which is 203 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: why he left his special things with this guy named Carpus. 204 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: Because when a person got arrested, the soldiers could claim 205 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: a lot of the things that the criminal owned. He 206 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: may have left his most special things with this guy 207 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: named Carpus so that the soldiers couldn't just take those 208 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: things from him. He says, bring the books, especially the parchments. Now, 209 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: the books Paul's referring to could have been anything. They 210 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: could have been ordinary books. They could have been religious texts, 211 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: they could have been poems, who knows. But the parchments 212 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: would have definitely been the scriptures that Paul had in 213 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: his possession, which is why he tells Timothy bring especially 214 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: the parchments. But obviously he wanted his books as well, 215 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: maybe for entertainment purposes or for studying. And that actually 216 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: brings up an interesting point. A lot of people think 217 00:12:55,720 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: that books that aren't the Bible are inherently evil, but 218 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,079 Speaker 1: yet Paul talks about reading books himself that are not 219 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: the Bible, but he gives precedence to the Bible. That's 220 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: the important thing. Some people say all books other than 221 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: the Bible are immoral or not necessary, But on the 222 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: flip side, other people want to read people's opinions about 223 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: the Bible, or want to read Bible studies instead of 224 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 1: the actual Bible, and the books actually take precedence in 225 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: their lives. Paul's bringing a healthy balance to this where 226 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: he says, no, not all books are immoral or evil, 227 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: and you can absolutely read for entertainment or fun or 228 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: even to gain knowledge about something. But as a Christian, 229 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: the Bible should take precedence in your life. That is 230 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: the most important book that you could ever read, which 231 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: is why he says bring especially the parchments. Then in 232 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: verse fourteen, he says, Alexander the Coppersmith did much evil 233 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 234 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: Beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words. So 235 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 1: I'm gonna guess that Timothy knew who Paul was talking 236 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: about here, because Paul doesn't go into a lot more 237 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: detail other than Alexander's name and his profession. Now we 238 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: have no clue who Alexander the copper Smith is, because 239 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: Alexander was one of the most common boy names during 240 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: this time. It's like the name Mike right now. You know, 241 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: everybody and their brother is named Mike. I have two 242 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: brothers in laws named Mike, and every single one of 243 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: my pastors except for my first pastor, has been named Mike. 244 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: So in the same way that Mike is a very 245 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: common name, now, Alexander was similarly common in Paul's day. 246 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: So we don't know who Alexander the Coppersmith is. But 247 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: there is a guy mentioned in First Timothy one Versus 248 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: eighteen through twenty named Alexander that Paul could have been 249 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: talking about. He says, I commit the this instruction to you, 250 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given 251 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: to you before that by them you may wage the 252 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: good warfare, holding faith in a good conscience, which some, 253 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: having thrust away, made a shipwreck concerning the faith of 254 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: whom our Hymenus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, 255 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: that they might be taught not to blaspheme. So that 256 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: Alexander mentioned there could be the same Alexander Paul's mentioning 257 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: in two Timothy chapter four. But honestly, we have no 258 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: real clue if these two guys are the same, just 259 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: based on the fact that Alexander was such a common name. 260 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: It could be that, because of the context of two 261 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: Timothy four, that Alexander the Coppersmith was actually the guy 262 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: that turned Paul in to the Roman authorities, and he 263 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: was the reason why Paul was in prison this second time. 264 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: If that's the case, Alexander could have betrayed Paul, especially 265 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: since Paul is writing as if Timothy knows who Alexander 266 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: the Coppersmith actually is, which means Paul is warning Timothy 267 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: to beware this guy. That's what he says in verse fifteen. 268 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: Be aware of him, for he greatly opposed our words. 269 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: So if Alexander the Coppersmith was a traitor, Timothy would 270 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: have to beware of him, because it could be that 271 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: this guy was very friendly in person, but turned around 272 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: and did as much damage as he possibly could to 273 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: Paul and to the Gospel message. Then verse sixteen says, 274 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: and my first defense, no one came to help me, 275 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: but all left me. May it not be held against them, 276 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me that 277 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: through me the message might be fully proclaimed and that 278 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: all the gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out 279 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: of the mouth of the lion. Right here, Paul is 280 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: either talking about his first imprisonment several years before this, 281 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: or he's talking about his first defense that he recently had, 282 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: but whether it was the first imprisonment or the second one. 283 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: Paul says that every person left me except the Lord, 284 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: but he forgives these people that left him. He says, 285 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: may it not be held against them, because the Lord 286 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: stood by my side and protected me and took me 287 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: away from the mouth of the lion. And that was 288 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: how Nero would punish the Christians. By the way, like 289 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: Paul is probably not giving an analogy here, he very 290 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: likely could have been facing the mouth of the lion, 291 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: like being thrown into a pit and having people watch 292 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: him get devoured by lions. But he says, the Lord 293 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: delivered me from that so that the message will be 294 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: preached to the gentiles. So that's why a lot of 295 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: people think that Paul is referring to his first imprisonment here, 296 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 1: because obviously he did a lot of good work for 297 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: the gentile regions. After he got out of prison that 298 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: first time, he probably was out of prison for several years, 299 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: and we know he did another missionary journey where most 300 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: people believe that he made it all the way to Spain. 301 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: So because of that missionary journey where Paul was like 302 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: a powerhouse for the gospel after he got out of prison, 303 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: most people believe that Paul's talking about his first imprisonment 304 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: when he mentions that no one was there to help him. 305 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: But I could argue that Paul wrote three other letters 306 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: when he was in prison the second time, and it 307 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: could be that Paul's talking about his first defense here 308 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: that the court let him go back to prison where 309 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: he wrote the last remaining letters that needed to be 310 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: written before he died. So Paul could even be talking 311 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: about those three remaining letters that threw me the message 312 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: might be fully proclaimed and that all the gentiles might hear. 313 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, 314 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: and the Lord will deliver me verse eighteen from every 315 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. 316 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: So he has faith. He says, God is going to 317 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: deliver me out of every evil and bring me safely 318 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: into his kingdom, and then he gives glory to God. 319 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: He says, to him, be the Glory forever and ever. Amen. 320 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: Paul has joy in spite of the fact that he 321 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: knows he's about to die, because he knows that God 322 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: is going to deliver him from this evil world and 323 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: bring him safely into his kingdom. That is a very 324 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: different way to look at death. You know, most people 325 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: think of death as pain and suffering and misery, but 326 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: Paul looks at it as a release from this life, 327 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: and that death itself is God safely delivering Paul into 328 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: the next life. I just heard a testimony from a 329 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 1: woman at my church the other day, and she was 330 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: talking about her three and a half year old baby 331 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: who had died only a few years ago. But something 332 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: that she said was really amazing. She said, I am 333 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: not upset because I know my child is healed and 334 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:53,919 Speaker 1: I know I'm going to see him again. And that 335 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: was amazing for a mother that's grieving to say something 336 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: like that, to say, my child is in heaven, he 337 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: is in perfection. It might suck for me, but I 338 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,719 Speaker 1: know my baby is okay. And that is a similar 339 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: thing that Paul is saying right here. He's saying, I 340 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: am not upset that I am about to die, because 341 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: I know what lies ahead for me after I die. 342 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: So to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Then, 343 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: in verses nineteen through twenty two, Paul ends his letter. 344 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 1: He says, greet Prisca and Aquilla. So that would be 345 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: Priscilla and Aquilla and the house of Onnocipherus. So these 346 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 1: names you've heard before. These were people important to Paul's ministry, 347 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: and it sounds like they were either in Ephesus or 348 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 1: near Ephesus at the time, or maybe in one of 349 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: the cities that Timothy was going to have to go 350 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: through in order to get to Paul. So he says, 351 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: greet these people. He says, Aristas remained at Corinth, but 352 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: I left Trophemus at Melaitis sick. And that's a very 353 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: confusing statement to a lot of people, because he's like, 354 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 1: why did Paul leave somebody in a city sick instead 355 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: of healing him or staying with him. Well, it could 356 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: be that when Paul was arrested, these two men traveled 357 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: with Paul, and one of them, Aristys, who I believe 358 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:15,479 Speaker 1: is actually mentioned in next chapter nineteen. Aristas went as 359 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:19,239 Speaker 1: far as Corinth with Paul when he was arrested, and 360 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: then Trophemus went as far as Melatis and couldn't go 361 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: any further because he was sick, and Paul couldn't do 362 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: anything about it because he was being arrested by the 363 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: Roman authorities. So that's why he left Trophemus at Meladis 364 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: sick instead of being able to do something about it. 365 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: But that's just a theory. We don't actually know why 366 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: Paul left Trophemus at Melayitis while he was sick. We 367 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: have no clue. But whatever it was, the reason Paul 368 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: is mentioning these men is to either let Timothy and 369 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: the other Christians know how these men are doing, or 370 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 1: again that Timothy, if he has time on his way 371 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: to visit Paul, may actually be able to pop in 372 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: and see how these men are doing at their various cities. 373 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: But he says in verse twenty one, however, be diligent 374 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: to come to me before winter, and the reason being 375 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: was because winter was an especially difficult time to travel. Basically, 376 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 1: nobody traveled in the winter because the seas were very 377 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: dangerous to travel on, so you had to travel during 378 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: the spring and summer months. Which is why Paul mentions 379 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: twice in this little passage that Timothy needs to hurry 380 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: up and get to him because if he waits till spring, 381 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: Paul may be dead by that point. Paul has no 382 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: clue when he's going to die, but he knows his 383 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: death is imminent, which is why he tells Timothy get 384 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,120 Speaker 1: here soon, get here before winter. And another reason, being 385 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: a very small reason, is because Paul may have needed 386 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: his cloak. Remember he mentions that cloak that he left 387 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: at Trouse. Paul had nothing to his name when he 388 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: was about to die. He had no not even a 389 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: coat to keep him warm. He needed that coat. And 390 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: maybe he was asking Timothy to hurry up and get 391 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: to him because if winter hits, he's going to be 392 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: freezing wherever he is. Then, to conclude, he mentions a 393 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: few people named Eubulus, Pudins, Linus, and Claudia, whose scholars 394 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: believe were some of the members of the Church of Rome. 395 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: He says, Eubulist salutes you, as do Pudins, Linus, Claudia 396 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: and the brothers. Then he says, the Lord Jesus Christ 397 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: be with your spirit. Grace be with you, amen, And 398 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: those are the last words, presumably that Timothy ever read 399 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: of Paul's letters. But as Paul says in the same chapter, 400 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: verse six, for I am already being offered, and the 401 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: time of my departure has come. I've fought the good fight. 402 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: I've finished the course, I have kept the faith. From 403 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, 404 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give to me 405 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: on that day, and not to me only, but also 406 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: to all those who have loved his appearing. Paul knows 407 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: where he's about to go, So he is not losing faith. 408 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: He is not losing hope. In fact, he is more 409 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: hopeful than ever because he understands that God is going 410 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 1: to deliver him safely into the life to come. Well, 411 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: thank you so much, faithful listeners, for being with me 412 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: through the books of First and Second Timothy. I hope 413 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: that you enjoyed them. But, faithful listeners, let's hip pause 414 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 1: for a sponsor. I'll be back to say goodbye right 415 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: after that. All righty, faithful listeners. So on Thursday, we're 416 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: going to be in the Book of Titus. And actually, 417 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: the Book of Titus in some ways is very similar 418 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 1: to the Book of Timothy for the sole reason that 419 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,360 Speaker 1: Paul is writing to Titus for the same reason he's 420 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 1: writing to Timothy, because Titus is going to be a 421 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: pastor in the area of Crete, whereas Timothy is going 422 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: to be a pastor in the area of Macedonia. But 423 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: they're similar in a lot ways, but also very different. 424 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: And I'm excited to get into the Book of Titus 425 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: because I actually just talked about it with my students 426 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: and have done a little bit of pre study with 427 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:11,919 Speaker 1: all of them. But I'm happy to dive deeper with 428 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: you guys. All right, faithful listeners, hopefully all of you 429 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 1: will be on tomorrow morning for an episode from Second Chronicles, 430 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: and then on Thursday, of course, we will begin the 431 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: Book of Titus. Until tomorrow, happy listening and God bless. 432 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: I just want to take a second to thank the 433 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: team at Life Audio for their partnership with me on 434 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, if you go to 435 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: lifeaudio dot com you'll find dozens of other faith centered 436 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, 437 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: and more.