2 Tim 4:6-10
Paul's Swansong
Older
commentators sometimes call this passage Paul's swansong. A swansong is the
last thing of importance that a dying or someone who thinks they are dying,
says. When a singer dies, they call his or her last song recorded, their
swansong. When a swan is dying, they trumpet out a loud sound with the last
vestiges of strength. Some swans are called trumpeter Swans. This is Paul's
Swansong--this was written as Paul's death was approaching. These are his final
words of importance as he views his life and ministry coming to a close.
Others
call these words Paul's Valedictory--good words spoken at the end. Dictory is
from diction--things spoken. Vale gives the idea of final or good. A
Valedictory are words spoken to demonstrate something has or is about to end.
At Oxford, each college has a valedictory dinner at the end of their school
year. People are thanked, awards are given and it the ceremonial ENDing of the
school year. They can be very very solemn as people realize they are leaving,
or realize others will soon depart. Sometimes people say important things on
their deathbed--those words are their valediction. We don't use this word very
much in our society.
2
Tim 4:6-10 are Paul's words that sum up his ministry. That helps us to
understand the importance of these words and what was important to the Apostle
Paul. He was expecting his ministry and life to end soon. That is why he wrote
about so many important things to his son in the faith, Timothy. Paul may have
viewed this as his last opportunity to communicate important things about the
ministry and the Christian life to this younger man who had become dear to him.
Paul wanted Timothy to know what was important, what he should think about, and
what he should do to follow the apostolic agenda in his own ministry or how he
was to imitate Paul, as Paul had imitated the Lord Jesus Christ.
The
Text:
1.
Paul's Self Awareness
2 Tim 4:6 For I am
already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is
at hand.
2. Paul's Self-Description
7 I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
3. Paul's Expectations
8 Finally,
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to
all who have loved His appearing.
4. Paul's Instructions
9 Be
diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me,
having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens
for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
1.
Paul's Self Awareness
2 Tim 4:6 For I am
already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is
at hand.
There are two
important expressions that make us believe that Paul thought his end was near.
He uses the
image of the drink offering and that the time of his departure from the earth
to heaven is close.
The metaphor of
the drink offering is significant. All through the OT we find the Drink
Offering being used in a number of ways formally and informally.
The first use
of this offering recorded in the scripture is found in Genesis 35:14. Jacob
uses it to commemorate the work of God for him and among his people. It appears
in the narrative as something that was already in place and understood by at
least Jacob. Eventually, we find it in a number of formal and informal uses.
Most of them are connected with acts of worship of one sort or another. It was a
symbol of sacrificing something in order to prepare for a greater sacrifice or
act of worship. It introduces acts of worship. The last of the drinkable
liquids were carefully measured and poured out near the place of worship or
sacrifice. In Exodus 30:9 we read that this offering was not to be a part of
the sacrifices offered on the altar in the Tabernacle.
The fluid at
the bottom of the container was slowly poured out onto the ground, or altar, or
informal sacrifices. It is the image of something important coming to an end,
or the end being introduced as coming soon.
Paul writes
that he is already being poured out. The end wasn't in his experience. It was
the beginning of the end. Paul's life is what is being poured out as an
offering. The offering is directed to God. It is a spiritual sacrifice
expressed through this image.
In Romans
12:1-2, all believers are instructed to give their bodies as living sacrifices
unto God. These images of sacrifice are what professing believers ought to do
with their whole life as long as they live. Our lives, among other word
pictures, are sacrificial service to Christ in his kingdom, for God's glory and
the good of others: fellow-believers as we walk through this world, and
unbelievers who need to see the gospel lived out and to hear the words that
alone can bring salvation to them. Everything we do in our lives is in service
to God and others. That means, we do not live for ourselves.
The other image
is that Paul was aware that the time of his departure was at hand--it was so
close that he could almost reach out and touch it. This phrase is used dozens
of times in the scriptures. It usually conveys that an expected time is almost
realized.
In these two
metaphors, Paul realizes something it coming in the future, but it is something
that has already begun. This is really a summary of Paul's godly expectations.
He was living in a time between the promises that have already been experienced
and those that were not yet--or still to come in the future. Those two items define
so much of our Christian life, as well.
We have already
received the desposit of and blessings of Salvation. Yet, there are some
blessings that await us. We will grow more in the faith. We will be finally
saved. We will be glorified, we will be physically with Christ in heaven even
though in some sense we have already been seated in the heavenly places with
Christ Jesus. BY virtue of our real union with Him, he is with us and we are
with him as we await the final transition to where we will be with him forever.
Paul was aware of these expected blessings and benefits. Most of what we know
about them from the NT writers, we know from the pen of the Apostle Paul.
While Paul did
what Christ had called him to do, we find it summarized in …..
2. Paul's Self-Description
Three more metaphors to explain what
his Christian life as an apostle was all about:
7 I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
A. 7 I have
fought the good fight,
The adverb used for this fight is provocative. It has been a GOOD fight.
Not many fights can found to be good. But, whatever this fight was, Paul calls
it good.
The good is the one for whom it was fought. Jesus was his king. A lot of
warfare metaphors are used by Paul. He viewed himself as being in a spiritual
war.
Paul didn't say, I am fighting a good fight. The expression shows that at
some point in the past, he started fighting this war, and the warfare continued
continously until the present. It was a never-ending war--just like the other
two word pictures in this verse.
It was a real fight for which he needed real weapons for offense and
defense. In our age concerned with political correctness, this idea of
Christian warfare is unpopular. But, the Holy Spirit chose these pictures to
teach the church important lessons.
Listen to the weapons
of our warfare: Eph 6:10-18, 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your
waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above
all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
These are the
spiritual weapons we need to fight the spiritual battles of Christian warfare.
When the disciples
were ready to fight physically for the Lord Jesus on that last night of his
freedom, Jesus wanted nothing to do with it. In John 18:36, Jesus answered,
"My kingdom is not of this world, If my kingdom were of this world, my
servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews. But, now my
kingdom is not from here.
Our fight is with the world and its influence on us. With our own remaining
sin, and the devil. It is fought with the spiritual weaponry--prayer and the
preaching of the Word are means to fight, as well.
II Cor 10:4 reminds us…"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
but mighty for the pulling down of strongholds. Might spiritual weapons have
been given to us. God has promised this.
In 1 Tim 1:18 Paul tells Timothy to wage the good warfare according to the
prophecies made concerning him. And earlier in 2 Tim:4 Paul reminded Timothy
that no body who is engaged in this warfare entangles himself with the affairs
of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Timothy and many others would have understood the importance of these
words. In so many ways, it defines the Christian life.
Paul added:
I have finished the race,
Paul was aware that his race was finished--it was over, he had crossed the
finish line successfully. This race metaphor or running is found throughout the
scriptures. Not all who run win the prize. But Christians are to run the
spiritual race in such a way that obtain the prize.
Heb 12:1-2 reads, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such
hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged
in your souls.
Verse 3 links
hostility with running the race. In the ancient games, anything goes, was the
slogan for long distance races. The other runners could be brutal--tripping
you, pushing you, doing anything possible to trip you up so the other evil
tricksters might win. You should run differently, with endurance. Get out in
the front so you can look at Jesus as the object you are running to and for. Consider
how difficult it was for Jesus to live among sinners, some who wanted him dead
for much of his ministry of grace among men. He was treated wickedly by so
many. He didn't reach the mistaken standards of the Jews of his time. But, he
did everything that his Father had given him to do. He accomplished for his
people an eternal salvation as he ran the race and fought the spiritual fight.
The Apostle Paul followed Christ. Timothy was to follow Paul insomuch that he
followed Jesus.
And, we read the third picture….
I have kept the faith.
Though times got tough and he suffered much at the hands of many, the
Apostle never gave up, he never surrendered, he never threw in the towel to
stop the race. Paul endured with perseverance through all things for the good
of others. Because of his gratefulness for what he already received and the
certain expectation of more spiritual blessings.
3. Paul's Expectations
8 Finally,
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to
all who have loved His appearing.
That Day is usually understood as the day of his death. Heb 9:27 teaches
that is appointed for man to die once, after that comes the judgment. On that
day, Paul expects to receive this award--a crown of righteousness. Crowns were
often given to those who won athletic contests. The crowns were made of a
number of materials, the most coveted were plated with gold. But, this crown is
not important for what it is made of. It is significant for what is given. The
giving of a crown, can also be the last thing given--we speak of crowning
achievements--to Paul, he expected to be given the righteousness of God in
Christ. He would be completely changed from what he was when dead in sin, to
the point in glory he will not be able to sin, but will be crowned in holiness
and true righteousness. See Eph 4:24; Rev 16:7, 19:2, 19:11. These promise the
way Jesus will judge and his work of judging. In Eph 4:24 the Ephesians are
told to put on the new man which was created according to God in true
righteousness and holiness. Then this is added, Do not grieve the Spirit.
I fear many, even those who profess the Lord Jesus Christ, know little of
his expectations for us. We don't live in a legal way thinking we are going to
attract his grace. But we respond to him in obedience because it shows our love
for him. We can only love Him because he first loved us.
Based on these good final words,
4. Paul's Final Instructions
9 Be
diligent to come to me quickly;
Even in his final days, Paul needed his spiritual son to come visit him
with items he needed. Don't linger, come quickly--remember Paul's perspective
was that his time was at hand. Even facing death, there were items the Apostle
wanted. We will look at them at another time. But among his last words, were
warnings about apostates and some other men.
10 for Demas
has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for
Thessalonica--
Demas was a trouble-maker. Paul, at this time had no use for him.
Crescens for Galatia,
Christian traditions from the first century has Crescens as one of the
Seventy that Jesus sent out. This would have been a significant connection
between Jesus and Paul's ministry. All we have are a few mentions of a man by
this name in early letters from the Apostolic Fathers. But, it is evidence that
needs explanation.
Titus for Dalmatia. Titus was another deputy, just like Timothy. There may
have been a close relationship between these two men from similar backgrounds
and ministries among the Gentile world.
These seemingly obscure words make some important connections for us. We
should listen to the words given to the churches, the evangelists like Titus
and Timothy, and to any recipients of the scriptures old and new. They are all
profitable for a number of important realities. They teach us about real life.
And, in this passage, what the ministry may be all about.
Pray for men who will fight the good fight--that isn't always easy.
Pray for men who will run the spiritual race, even if limping due to age
and infirmity.
Pray
for men who haven't given in to error in doctrine or practice as men-pleasers,
and not God-pleasers. Pray for men who have kept the faith.
Pray
for men who will point you to seek forgiveness of your sin as you turn to Jesus
for salvation. There is no other name given among men under heaven whereby we
must be saved.
Pray
that God would help you imitate Christ, as did Paul, Timothy and Titus among
others we find on the pages of the scriptures. May God by glorified among his
people and before the World. AMEN!
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