2 Timothy 4:19-22

Closing Thoughts

Paul sent greetings to his tentmaking friends, Prisca and Aquila, who did so much to further the gospel (Acts 18:1-3; Acts 24:1-27; Acts 25:1-27; Acts 26:1-32; Acts 27:1-44; Acts 28:1-31; Romans 16:3-5). Erastus, a companion who helped preach the gospel, stayed in Corinth, perhaps even making it his home (Acts 19:22). Trophimus was an Asiatic Christian who made the journey with Paul to Jerusalem at the end of the third missionary journey. He was one of the Gentiles Paul was accused of taking into the temple (Acts 21:28-29). Paul had left him sick at Miletus, which shows us the miraculous gifts the apostles possessed were not used for personal purposes but for the furtherance of the gospel.

Paul knew he would soon die and urged Timothy to come before winter. Travel in the winter was extremely difficult. If Timothy did not reach Paul before winter, he might have to wait another season. In spite of the persecution the church was enduring at the time of this writing, Paul was able to name several specific Christians and then the brethren in general as those who sent greetings to Timothy.

Paul's final written prayer was that Jesus would be with the spirit of Timothy, a fine gospel preacher. The “you” in the closing words of the prayer is plural and may well be the apostle's prayer for the church with which Timothy was working, likely Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19-22).