Now Paul writes of some personal concerns.
(9) Make every effort to come to me soon;
Paul asks Timothy to come visit him as soon as he can. Then he explains why.
(10) for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;
If this is the same Demas that Paul wrote about to Colosse (Colossians 4: 14) and to Philemon (Philemon 24), then he had been one of Paul's co-workers in Rome as he sat in prison. Now Paul is saying that he loved this present world, and took off from Rome to Thessalonica, a Roman district capital of Macedonia and a major port. So maybe he was bought off.
Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
This is the only mention of Crescens, so we don't know anything about him, but Titus was saved under Paul's preaching, he traveled with him, and became the first Bishop of the church on the island of Crete. These two helpers Paul had had in Rome have left him to go to other places.
(11) Only Luke is with me.
He says that Doctor Luke is the only one left there to help him. He is in prison, so he depends on other people to go and do what he cannot right now.
Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
He tells him to bring Mark with him. This is the same Mark that a few years ago he refused to take along on the second missionary journey, because he'd wimped out on the first one and went home early. Now he's telling Timothy that Mark is useful to me for service. (Read about Paul's and Mark's rocky relationship here.)
(12) But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
Tychicus is a "beloved brother and faithful minister" (Ephesians 6: 21) from Asia, the Roman province in the western portion of Asia Minor, who was one of Paul's secretaries who helped him write his letter to the Colossians. Paul trusted this brother to carry his news and messages (Ephesians 6: 21, Colossians 4: 7). And he has now sent him to Ephesus.
(13) When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
Paul is concerned to have some items he had left with his friend Carpus while he was staying at his house in Troas: a cloak that he will need as winter is approaching, and also he wants to have access to his research and his Scriptures.
(14) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
Even though this man heard the Gospel, he considered his worldly wealth as more important than his eternal state, and worked against this way of life that cut into his finances. But Paul doesn't harbor a grudge against him, he just leaves him in the Lord's hands.
(15) Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
Paul is warning Timothy to be aware of this man's tactics. As people turn to God from idols, they're not buying these little and bigger statues and knick-knacks any more, and Alexander's sales are diminishing, and he doesn't want to change. So he attacks the message, and tries to get people to stay in the paganism and idolatry that finances his business. Follow the money.
Paul is telling him, and us, too, to beware of people who work against our faith. He is handing off the baton to his protege, and on to us, too. If someone is attacking us we must be careful in how we handle the situation. We do not want to antagonize people with our passionate opinions if they don't agree. Of course they will come back at us. We all need to be wise and discerning, and if we are speaking gently and compassionately, then the offense will be in the Cross.
We always need to be aware of how we talk to people.
O my Father, please help us to put our brain in gear before we open our mouth! We will find that more and more there will be people who oppose us, for whatever reason, unprovoked. And we need to be ready to give a reasonable answer. We need to learn to find in the other person something that we can identify with, to lower the tensions.
Father, Your word says that, "a soft answer will turn away wrath" (Proverbs 15: 1), so teach us how to answer an angry person with gentleness and compassion. Help us to see the hurt and wounding underneath and how to speak consolation and comfort to that in them.
O Father, strengthen us and send us out as Your messengers and missionaries, to broadcast Your Love to all the world. Lead us to Your embryonic children, to share Your plan of salvation with them and draw them to the birth into Your family. And give us compassion and gentleness to speak with those who don't realize that they are looking for You in their searching.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
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