2 Timothy 4:9-15

Paul's Desire for Companionship

Paul asked Timothy to make it his business to come to him as soon as he possibly could. Demas loved the world instead of the Lord's coming, so he forsook the Lord's servant. Both Crescens and Titus were apparently on business for the Lord, since no unfavorable remark is made about them. According to the A. S. V., Crescens was in Gaul, or France, which is an alternate reading for Galatia in other translations. Timothy was in Dalmatia, a part of Illyricum which was across the Adriatic Sea from Rome (2 Timothy 4:9-10).

Luke frequently traveled with Paul and was the only one who remained with the apostle at the time of this writing. Paul's desire for Timothy to bring John Mark is a remarkable example of the changes which can occur in one's life. Mark had left Paul and Barnabas at Pamphylia on the first missionary journey. Paul refused to take such a deserter with them on a second journey (Acts 13:13; Acts 15:37-40). However, by the time the apostle pens these words to Timothy, he describes John Mark as profitable, which is the same word he used for vessel unto honor in 2:21 (2 Timothy 4:11). Tychicus, who Paul says he sent to Ephesus, was the man who carried the apostle's letters to Ephesus and Colossae (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7). He was in Paul's company in Acts 20:4 and is mentioned in Titus 3:12. Roberts says the Greek tense here is epistolary and suggests Paul “is now sending him,” so it may be that he took this letter to Timothy and stayed at Ephesus in his absence. With winter approaching, Paul asked Timothy to stop in Troas and get his coat from Carpus. While he was being held prisoner, Paul also wanted something on which to work, so he asked Timothy to bring books and parchments. If the parchments did not already contain writing, the apostle to the Gentiles may have been planning to do some writing (2 Timothy 4:12-13).

Since Alexander was a fairly common name, it is difficult to tell which one Paul is speaking of in 2 Timothy 4:14-15. For instance, there was an Alexander associated with the high priest in Acts 4:6. Another was the son of Simon, who bore the cross of Christ (Mark 15:21). Yet another spoke to the multitude at Ephesus, while still one more made a shipwreck of his faith (Acts 19:30-41; 1 Timothy 1:20). The man mentioned by Paul in this verse could have been any of these, or one not mentioned in any other verse. No matter who he was, Paul viewed him as a threat to preachers of the gospel because he had so strongly opposed the apostle's preaching. In these verses, Paul gives us a good example of our treatment of and thinking about our enemies. He leaves it to the Lord to repay this man for his deeds in the day of judgment (Romans 12:17).