Final Words

The 2nd letter Paul wrote to Timothy has often been referred to as his last will and testament. During his first imprisonment, Paul had many of the freedoms from being under house arrest. There were many liberties that he had that the common criminal would not have had. In Acts (Acts 28:30-31), we learn that Paul had the freedom to preach and teach, as well as have visitors. However, by the time that he wrote the second letter to Timothy some five or six years had passed and Paul now found himself being treated as a common criminal, was in chains, and was facing certain death. In addition, many of Paul’s acquaintances had deserted him. Certainly Paul was disappointed and pained by the great apostasy he was seeing in the church. And to make matters worst, the church of Ephesus had fallen toward ungodliness. All of this is what apparently had led to Paul writing these final words and encouraging Timothy to pick up the mantle. In this series we read the sad and final words of a great and godly man. These are Paul’s final words.