2 Timothy 4
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound [healthy] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 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. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.[siblings]
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Paul is dying.
He has been told his time is up.
And being a public Christian he is going to make sure he puts a television smile on his face. As he stands up, he is going to gush - you like me, you really like me. And his adoring followers are going to sort through his papers and make sure he shines. If there is a hiccup, well, reach for the white out, the delete backspace.
The origins of "half full, half empty glass." Paul is looking around him in complete honesty.
Proverbs 16:13
Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
in season and out of season - I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living
(This is the List
The men have left -
Demas (is mentioned as faithfully helping in Philippians 2), Crescens (pressures of the world crowded out this seed), Alexander the coppersmith (none of the 3 Alexanders Paul encountered helped him), Erastus (the city treasurer of Corinth was busy.)
Trophimus (was ill, Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple and created trouble for Paul).
Titus (Titus, my true child in a common faith) is mentioned 12 times in Scripture and has been called elsewhere.
Tychicus is mentioned twice as a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.( Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. )
Staying are-
Luke & Mark (We have heard of them!)
Prisca and Aquila have 6 mentions. ( Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them.)
Onesiphorus (May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.)
Eubulus is illusive with Pudens and Linus and Claudia.)
May it not be counted against them. I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
Philippians 3
9 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Paul went out in honesty and in forgiveness.
Acts 7:60
And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
2 Corinthians 5:19
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
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