Requests of a Dying Apostle

2 Timothy 4:9-21

Immanuel – 8/23/26

          One of the missionaries we support recently shared this update: “K, a key leader in our [Middle East] work was released this week after 58 days in prison. He was tortured, repeatedly waterboarded, and is disfigured from beatings. K says Jesus was with him the entire time, he gave up no information, and feels closer to God than ever. Please pray for his healing – body and mind.”

          Then, on Tuesday, the same missionary sent this: “A couple of our brothers were arrested on Monday in [another Middle East country] while they were sharing the gospel. Please join us in praying for their release.”

          Praise God, the men arrested on Monday were released on Thursday.

Though it may feel distant from our lives here in America, arrest and imprisonment for following Christ are familiar for so many. From the earliest days of the church until today, countless Christians have known what it is to suffer for the name of Christ. And for 2,000 years, believers under the threat of persecution have found comfort in the words of Paul – particularly in passages like ours today.

          For all of 2 Timothy, Paul comes across as this towering leader – which he was. His theology, his accomplishments despite hardship, his zealousness, his Christlikeness; all of it makes Paul seem like he’s on a different plane than the rest of us.

Then you come to a passage like today’s, and Paul comes right back down to earth. In a unique way, the great apostle is humanized: He wants his friend, his cloak, his books. He remembers the people who hurt him. And yet, all the while, his eyes are fixed on heaven. That combination – Paul’s humble humanity and his heavenly hope – is part of what has made these words so precious to suffering Christians for nearly 2,000 years.

          Main Point

          When everyone and everything else fails us, Christ stands with us and brings us safely home.

          Read vs 9

Do you hear the urgency in Paul’s words? Do your best effectively means, “make every effort” to come to me soon – quickly. “Don’t hesitate. Don’t delay. Come soon!”

          This reflects Paul’s reality. He’s sentenced to death and does not know when the executioner is coming; he only knows it is soon. We heard him say last week in verse 6, the time of my departure is near. And before his departure, he wants to see Timothy one last time – his beloved child in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2 & 2 Timothy 1:2).

          What a relatable request! I’ve been at the bedside of many people soon to depart this world, and they all have one desire in common: they want their loved ones by their side. It’s a deep human desire. So how good it is when we visit those approaching their departure, especially when we see few others by their side.

          Timothy was as close to a son as Paul ever had, and he wanted him by his side. Almost everyone else had left Paul. It seems Paul was greatly pained when Demas deserted him.   

          Read vs 10a

          Only a few years earlier, Demas had been one of Paul’s fellow workers. Paul names him alongside Luke in both Colossians and Philemon. This was not a stranger abandoning Paul; this was a friend and co-laborer in the gospel.

          But the allurements of the world were too much for Demas. Perhaps he was more concerned with his own convenience and safety rather than for the life of Paul. Perhaps following Paul had become too costly. Perhaps he denied Christ. We do not know the extent of Demas’ fall, all that we know is that he fell in love with the present world.

K was tortured for 58 days and refused to betray his brothers. Demas faced the cost, and deserted Paul. Jesus calls us to love God and love others; Demas loved the world.

          We all know stories of famous Christians, famous pastors, falling away for their love of the world. Nothing is new under the sun. It’s a sad and hard fact of the Christian life, and none of us can presume that years of Christian service make us immune to the love of the world.

          Demas is not the only one who has left Paul.

          Read vs 10b-11

          Crescens and Titus have left Paul, but apparently for gospel purposes. Crescens likely went to Galatia to strengthen the churches Paul had planted there.

Titus was a trusted companion. Paul wrote a letter to Titus aptly titled: Titus. And at the beginning of that letter, Paul calls Titus his true child in a common faith (Titus 1:4). Paul sent Titus to Dalmatia.

          Image of Map

          Luke alone is with Paul. We see in his letter to the Colossians, Paul regarded Luke as “the beloved physician”. He is also the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He has long been a companion of Paul’s, a friend clearly committed to the end.

          There is a significant implication here: sometimes faithfulness looks like going, and sometimes faithfulness looks like staying. Demas left because he loved the world. Crescens and Titus left because they loved the work. And Luke stayed because he loved Paul.

          Paul then names Mark – the same man many believe to be the author of the Gospel of Mark. Years earlier, there was a major falling out between Paul and Mark. You can read about it in Acts 15. But in the time since, Paul and Mark have reconciled to the point that Paul says Mark is very useful to me for ministry.

          What a contrast! Demas was once useful to Paul, but his love for the world has rendered him useless. Mark was once considered useless – or unreliable – but now he is of great use to Paul. Brothers and sisters, Demas is a warning that a good beginning does not guarantee a faithful finish. Mark reveals that an initial failure may still lead to profound impact.

          And through all these circumstances, don’t you love how undaunted Paul is?! He is imprisoned for the faith, sentenced to death, but the guy won’t stop! He’s writing, sending out letters, sending workers to minister all over the empire that imprisoned him. And with the help of Mark, he only wants his ministry increase!

          As Paul said earlier in 2 Timothy (2:9), I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

          Even in prison, Paul will not retire! His ministry is not over because his life is not over! And so long as you draw breath, your ministry is not over! There is work to be done. Paul suffered tremendous physical trauma from his many beatings, lashings, and stonings. He did not let physical limitations prevent his ministry. He was literally imprisoned, but still he lived to make sure the gospel went out.

So what work has Christ given you that you’ve made excuses for not doing?

          Read vs 12

          Remember, Timothy is shepherding the church in Ephesus. It is plausible that Tychicus is being sent there to relieve Timothy, so Timothy can come to Rome, so the Ephesian church doesn’t lack a shepherd. If so, Paul has already made provision for the ministry Timothy must leave behind.

          But first, Paul asks a favor of Timothy; and what he asks for is so relatable.

          Read vs 13

          The man who just declared, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, that man is cold. He wants his cloak. As we see in verse 21, winter is coming. A Roman prison is no place for comfort, but a coat will bring some small measure of comfort.

He also wants his books and parchments. We don’t know exactly what these contained. The books were probably scrolls, perhaps containing portions of the Old Testament. The parchments may have contained Scripture, notes, correspondence, or other writings. We simply don’t know, but I am certain scriptures are part of the books and parchments.

But what strikes me is that Paul still wants them. He is an old man. His ministry has spanned decades. He has received direct revelation from Jesus Christ. He has written Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And still Paul wants his books! Until the very end, Paul was a reader and thinker, who loved God’s Word!

There is never a point in the Christian life when we have learned enough of God. Paul is awaiting execution, and he still wants to read and study – he wants more of God!

Again, notice how ordinary all of this is: “Timothy, come see me. And when you come, bring my coat. And don’t forget my books.” Paul knows that soon he will stand before Christ and receive the crown of righteousness, but until that day comes, he still needs friendship, he wants to feel warm, he wants his beloved books. We’ve been seeing it all along: his humble humanity and his heavenly hope.

Read vs 14-15

          We don't know exactly who Alexander was, but let me speculate for a moment. I agree with a number of scholars that think Alexander was quite possibly the antagonist behind Paul’s arrest. It seems Paul was arrested suddenly in Troas, and quickly taken to Rome – explaining why his cloak and books were left behind.

If Timothy is going through Troas to retrieve the cloak and books, Paul warns him: “Beware of him.”

There is a place for Christian caution. Jesus said,

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men.”                   -Matthew 10:16-17

Loving our enemies does not mean pretending dangerous people are safe. Some threats require wise defensive measures.

The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Paul seeks no revenge but instead bears Alexander’s harm with hope and grace. Still, he knows Alexander will not get away with it. God sees, and God will repay – each according to his deeds.

Alexander had “strongly opposed our message.” He opposed the words of life and therefore embraced the way of death. Earlier Paul said some opponents should be corrected with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:25). Not Alexander. Some people can be reasoned with; others are simply dangerous. Like Timothy with Alexander: Beware!

          Read vs 16-17

At Paul’s first defense, no one stood with him. He understood why: Standing beside Paul – while he was on trial – could have meant imprisonment or death. Still, no one was with him, and I’m sure that wounded him.

Yet like Jesus, who prayed for those crucifying him, Paul asks for mercy: May it not be charged against them. Paul certainly practiced what he preached. To the Corinthian church he wrote,

[Love] keeps no record of wrong.           -1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

Some opponents require gentle correction; some dangerous people require avoidance; some failing brothers require forgiveness. Christian love requires discernment, and is neither gullible nor naïve.

Paul then contrasts fickle people with his faithful Lord: But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me. Everyone else may leave, but Jesus will not.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.                                                                          -Psalm 23:4

Jesus promised, I am with you always, to the end of the age. -Matthew 28:20

Paul was walking through that dark valley, but he was not alone. After 58 days of torture, that’s exactly what K said: “Jesus was with me the entire time.” Nearly 2,000 years separate these imprisoned Christians, but the Lord is the same. When friends fail, enemies attack, and everyone else leaves, Christ stands with his people.

And Christ strengthened Paul for a purpose: so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. I love this man! On trial for preaching Christ, Paul kept preaching Christ! He was rescued from the lion’s mouth. Paul knew he would eventually die, but death would not devour him!

Read vs 18

This is Paul’s resounding confidence: The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Paul knows his death is inescapable at this point. How can he say God will rescue him? The answer is all over the pages of Scripture: sometimes God rescues us from death, and sometimes he rescues us through death.

Rome may kill Paul, but Rome cannot have Paul. Death will not be his destruction; it will be his entrance into the kingdom. The moment the executioner’s sword falls, Paul will be safely home.

Brothers and sisters, that is our hope too. The Christian is ultimately untouchable. The worst this world can do is send us into the presence of Christ. And considering this end, Paul looks past the sword, and worships.

To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Whatever our end, may our last breath be one of worship!

But Paul’s last breath has not come yet!

Read vs 19-21

One last time, Paul returns to the people he loves. Priscilla and Aquila were longtime friends and coworkers. We saw Onesiphorus in chapter 1, he had refreshed Paul and was unashamed of his chains. Erastus remained at Corinth, and Trophimus was left sick at Miletus.

Then Paul repeats the request with which this passage began: Do your best to come before winter. “Timothy, please come, and come soon.” Paul is ready for heaven, but that does not mean he desires to face death alone. He still wants his friend – by his side.

And that is Paul at the end of his life: his humble humanity and his heavenly hope. This great Apostle has almost nothing at the end of his life, not even his freedom. But he wants his friend, he wants his coat, he wants his books. People have hurt him, abandoned him, and opposed him. But he keeps forgiving, keeps loving, keeps studying, keeps ministering, keeps preaching—and keeps looking toward heaven.

Brothers and sisters, a day not too far from now, it will be our time to depart. Until then, there is work to be done. So do not be Demas, who gave himself to the loves of this present world. Be a Titus or Crescens who gave themselves to advance the gospel. Be a Luke who stays, a Mark who gets back up after failure, a Timothy who comes when needed. Keep serving. Keep learning. Keep loving the people Christ has given you.

And when friends fail you, when your body fails you, when this world finally takes everything from you, remember Paul's testimony: The Lord stood by me. Remember the testimony we heard at the beginning: Jesus was with me the entire time. Two thousand years apart, the testimony is the same. Christ stands with his people.

He stands with you too. And in the end, he will bring you safely home.