Famous last words.

Sobering.  Looking up the last words of famous people.  Such as, Washington, George (1732-1799) "It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go."  Dickinson, Emily (1830-1886) "... the fog is rising."¹ Todd Beamer, “Are you guys ready?  Let’s roll.” Spoken on Flight 93, as he helped organize an attempt to regain control of the plane from hijackers on September 11, 2001.² Buddha (Siddhattha Gautama), “Work hard to gain your own salvation.”² Aleister Crowley, (famous occultist), “I am perplexed.  Satan get out.”³

Hmmm, I wonder what my last words will be … will I pass this life with a smile on my face?  You…ever thought about it?

As we turn the page to the book of Second Timothy, we are reading and delving into the last words of Paul.  Four short chapters, yet there is no doubt as Paul writes to his son in the faith, Timothy, that he does so with the realization that he will not likely get out of his Roman prison cell.  He will not likely see the one he loves so much again; on the other hand, the face he longs to see, Jesus Christ, will shortly be before him. 

To set this letter in its proper place, Paul had written the first letter to Timothy and his letter to Titus in about 64 to 65 A.D., with the purpose of equipping each man for the unique work he had to accomplish—Timothy in Ephesus, Titus in Crete.  And though he held both men in his heart, it was Timothy he held closest. Why? Perhaps in young Timothy, he saw glimpses of himself, as Timothy was tenacious in serving God and characterized by faithfulness.

Timothy was from Lystra, a city in what is the southern area of modern day Turkey. He led a varied interesting life and was well suited to be mentored by Paul. Timothy’s father was Greek and not religious at all, while his mother Eunice was a Jewish woman who became a Christian after listening to Paul’s teaching about Jesus. His grandmother was Lois, also a woman of great faith and influence in Timothy’s upbringing and view of life. These women taught him the Old Testament scriptures from the time he was a small lad.??

Kinda reminds me of me!  My dad had respect for the Christian faith my mother taught us, but did not take part. However, I loved everything I learned about God from a young age; in fact, early on I began memorizing God’s Word—which at that time, could only be had in the King James Version, (that is, written in the king’s English), so many of the scriptures that are etched in my mind are in antiquated language, though their truths are just as real and applicable.  Ha, one that springs to mind is from this very book, ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto men, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ (2 Timothy 2.15) Hmm, was the verse I memorized as a young girl prophetic?  That Paul’s writing to Timothy would be my course in life—studying God’s words, seeking wisdom to write as I do?

And so it was on Paul’s second trip to Timothy’s town he noted Timothy as a young man of great faith and fine Christian character, and recruited him to his ministry. Paul described Timothy as unique, saying there was no one like him.⁴  In fact, he loved him so much that he referred to him as his son, ‘my beloved child’.⁵  Clearly, Paul was correct about his inclinations toward Timothy, as Timothy goes on to become his traveling companion and ministry partner, being mentored and trained by Paul as they went along. Paul trusted him so much that he left Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus—where Paul lived and loved for three years (longer than any other church community he planted.)?

It is at the close of this second letter Paul wrote to Timothy, where his affection for him is quite crystalized; in his time of greatest need, it was Timothy he wanted to be with him. As Paul endures this imprisonment, he writes from Rome to Timothy at Ephesus, affectionately requesting him to come to be with him:??"Do your best to come to me quickly.”⁶ At that time, when no Christian friend was with Paul except Luke,⁷ it was to Timothy he turned for sympathy and aid. He asked Timothy to come to him and be with him in his last hours—so true and tender was the affection that bound them together. Whether Timothy was able to reach Rome, so as to be with Paul before his execution, is unknown.

As we look at this letter of 2 Timothy, we bear in mind these are Paul’s very last words.  How I love this dear man of God..

 ^Christine