Posts with the category “pastoral-letters”

Scripture:“Grace be with you.”2 Timothy 4:22Devotional:The final word of Paul’s final letter is grace.That is not accidental. Paul spent his life preaching salvation by grace alone through faith alone...  Read More

Scripture:“The Lord be with your spirit.”2 Timothy 4:22Devotional:Paul does not end his letter by saying, “Timothy, be strong enough.” He does not say, “You can do this.” He does not place Timothy’s h...  Read More

Scripture:“Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.”2 Timothy 4:20Devotional:Trophimus was a faithful servant of Christ, yet he was sick.That one detail carries grea...  Read More

Scripture:“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.”2 Timothy 4:19Devotional:It is easy to rush through the names at the end of Paul’s letters. Prisca, Aquila, Onesiphorus, Erastus, ...  Read More

Scripture:“Do your best to come before winter.”2 Timothy 4:21Devotional:Paul’s words to Timothy are deeply human: “Do your best to come before winter.”Winter mattered. Travel would soon become difficu...  Read More

Scripture:“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” — 2 Timothy 4:17Devotional:At Paul’s first defense, no one came to stand by him. Everyone deserted him. That must have been deeply painful.Yet...  Read More

Scripture:“Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.” — 2 Timothy 4:14Devotional:Paul does not minimize the harm Alexander caused. He says plainly, “...  Read More

Scripture:“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” — 2 Timothy 4:11Devotional:Mark’s name in this passage is full of grace.Earlier in ministry, Mark had withdrawn f...  Read More

Scripture:“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” — 2 Timothy 4:10Devotional:Demas is one of the saddest names in Paul’s letters. He had once been count...  Read More

Scripture:“Do your best to come to me soon.” — 2 Timothy 4:9Devotional:Paul had just said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He had spoken of the crown o...  Read More

Scripture:“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness...and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”—2 Timothy 4:8Devotional:Paul’s hope was not ultimately behi...  Read More

Scripture:“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”—2 Timothy 4:7Devotional:Paul looks back over his Christian life with three powerful statements: he fought the...  Read More

Scripture:“My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”—Philippians 1:23Devotional:Paul describes his approaching death as a “departure.” That word gives us a picture. It can br...  Read More

Scripture:“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”—2 Timothy 4:6Devotional:Paul knew his death was near. Yet he did not describe it with bitterne...  Read More

Scripture:“...the righteous shall live by faith.”—Romans 1:17Devotional:There is a vital difference between faith and faithfulness. Faith is trust. Faith is resting in Christ and His finished work. Fa...  Read More

Scripture“Fulfill your ministry.”—2 Timothy 4:5DevotionalPaul’s final command in this passage is simple and weighty: “Fulfill your ministry.”Timothy was to carry out completely the assignment Christ h...  Read More

Scripture“Do the work of an evangelist.”—2 Timothy 4:5DevotionalTimothy was called to guard sound doctrine and confront false teaching. Yet Paul did not want him to become so occupied with error that ...  Read More

Scripture“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering.”—2 Timothy 4:5DevotionalThe words “as for you” form a strong contrast.Others may turn away from the truth. Others may chase teachers who...  Read More

Scripture“Having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”—2 Timothy 4:3DevotionalFalse teachers do not flourish in a vacuum. They prosper because there is...  Read More

When Truth Becomes UncomfortableScripture“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching.”—2 Timothy 4:3DevotionalPaul does not say that people will be unable to understand sound te...  Read More