Gracious Last Words

“The Lord be with you in spirit. Grace be with you” (2Tim 4:22).

Signature Sign Off
Ever know somebody with signature sign off? You know, a little catch phrase they use to say “goodbye.”

Looney Tunes always end with “That’s all, folks! Bob Barker closed “The Price Is Right” for years with, “Have your pet spayed or neutered.” Legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite signed off by saying, “And that’s the way it is.” And you’ve gotta love Ron Burgundy’s “Stay classy, San Diego.”

Grace on the Green Mile
Did you know that Paul had signature sign off too? Sure did. Oh, he varies it just a bit from letter to letter. But he ends each note by pointing back to God’s amazing grace.

His very last letter is no different. As the apostle writes to Timothy from Death Row in Rome, he doesn’t disappoint when he signs off. “The Lord be with you in spirit. Grace be with you” (v22). Who expected to find grace on the Green Mile?

After writing 13 documents that we now include in the New Testament, these are the very last strokes of Paul’s pen before his execution. Think about that for just moment. Very. Last. Words. His famous last words are gracious last words.

Getting to the Good Stuff
I don’t know about you, but I’m tempted to blow right past the opening and closing verses in many books of the Bible. Get past the blah-blah-blah. I want to get to the good stuff! What if this IS the good stuff?!?

But here’s what I always have to remember. If God’s Spirit has inspired each and every writer of Scripture (2Tim 3:16), then He has every bit of it there for a reason. That includes these opening and closing lines. Is it possible that they hold the key to unlocking the entire message of God’s Word?

Passing the Torch
Before we dig into what Paul’s writing, let’s zoom out to see why Paul’s writing. The year is 67 AD. The place is Rome. Specifically the Mamertine Prison. Better known as Caesar’s SuperMax. It’s the cellblock reserved for condemned prisoners.

The apostle knows he’s going to die and die soon (2Tim 4:6-7). He writes to a young pastor named Timothy he considers his spiritual son (2Tim 1:2). Paul fires off one last letter with two purposes. First, he’s passing the torch of ministry (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Second, he begs for one final visit (2Tim 4:9, 21).

Paul’s Sign Off
Which brings us to his sign off. “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you” (v22). Paul reminds his protege that Jesus is always with him in order to lead him. He reminds Tim of the God’s amazing gift that none of us deserve. In other words, we can trust in Christ’s leadership because of the overwhelming goodness of all He’s already done for us.

Check out Paul’s signature close in every one of his notes. Grace drips off the page in each one. Yup. That’s right. Every single epistle (Rom 16:20; 1Cor 16:23; 2Cor 13:14; Gal 6:18; Eph 6:24; Phil 4:23; Col 4:18; 1Th 5:28; 2Th 3:18; 1Tim 6:21; 2Tim 4:22; Titus 3:15; Phm 25).

Gracious last words.

The Grace Sandwich
It only makes sense, really. Paul kicks off every letter with greetings of grace (Rom 1:7; 1Cor 1:3; 2Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 2; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4; Phm 3). Grace at the open. Grace at the close. Think of the apostle’s letters as a delicious Grace Sandwich.

I’m pretty sure we can all learn a little lesson from the apostle formerly known as Saul. No matter what we have to say to someone, let’s wrap it in grace. Start with grace. End with grace. Talk about speaking the truth in love! It’s impossible to beat someone over the head with a 20-pound study Bible while marveling at the mind-blowing generosity of our great giving God!

The Promise of Jesus’ Presence
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s back up to the first half of Paul’s two-part sign off. “The Lord be with you in your spirit” (22). The apostle reminds Tim of the powerful promise of Jesus’ presence.

Sixteen times in this little letter, the man from Tarsus refers to the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth as the Lord. We find five of those are right here in the final chapter. If you’re curious, this is the important Greek noun κυριος/kurios, which means master, boss, or leader.

Buying Fire Insurance
This title speaks directly to Jesus’ authority. He’s not just my Savior. He’s also my Lord. He’s come from the luxury of the heavenly palace to our rescue by diving into the dumpster of our sin.

Jesus lived the perfect life I failed to live. He died the death I should have died. He rose to the new life I don’t deserve. He trades His perfection for my rebellion (2Cor 5:21). He transforms me from an enemy of God with my picture on a heavenly wanted poster to a child of God with my name listed in the divine will (Rom 5:8-10; Col 1:21-22).

If I’m willing to place my trust in His overwhelming goodness as my Savior, why would I not trust Him to be the Leader of the my life as my Lord? Let me try this another way. We can’t just buy His fire insurance without submitting to His authority. We can’t have one without the other. When we place our trust in Jesus, we place our trust in the total package.

24/7/365
Paul wants Tim to realize that our Lord’s leadership is available 24/7/365. He’s always right there. That’s how Jesus earned the Hebrew nickname of “Immanuel” which means God is always with us (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23). Just before He headed home to heaven, the Son of God wanted His followers to never forget, “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20).

For years I thought Christ was some cosmic killjoy looking to make sure I avoided fun at any cost. Following Jesus means wiping that smile off my face and kissing good times goodbye. I thought submitting to His commands was becoming a religious rule-follower that had all the excitement of eating my Brussels sprouts. (I apologize to anyone out there who really likes these disgusting little veggies.)

God’s Guardrails
What I’ve come to understand is that my Lord leads me out of His love. His commands don’t steal my joy but are the true source of my joy! Jesus tells folks to stop working so hard to earn God’s approval. Instead, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt 11:29-30).

Following His guidance is the key to unlocking God’s tsunami of blessing into our lives. It’s the whole reason Christ came. Satan is undoubtedly out to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus’ mission was to lead us into the overflowing and overwhelming life of God’s goodness (Jn 10:10).

Think of our Lord’s leadership as God’s guardrails which keep us safe. It’s His way of keeping us out of trouble. It’s His way of saving us from ourselves. I don’t know about you but I’ve made a hot mess out of my life too many times by ignoring His commands. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I hope you don’t make the same mistake.

Paul Gets Personal
As he has done through a huge chunk of this letter, the apostle gets personal. When he writes, “The Lord be with you in spirit” (v22), Paul’s actually writing just to Timothy. The “you” here is actually singular. It’s a little something something we miss in our English Bibles.

His point? Jesus promises His personal presence to Tim and each one of us who place our trust in who He is and what He’s done. Actually, a slightly better translation of this sentence might be “the Lord IS with you in spirit” (v22). Paul is making a statement. He’s stating a fact.

This Time It’s Personal
The apostle reminds the young pastor of a truth we ALL need to hang onto. My Leader is right here by my side every stope of the way. Every follower of Jesus has has a PERSONAL relationship with the Son of God. Not just preachers. Not just professional Christians. You. Me. Us. Them.

Yeah, I know. Too many times it certainly feels like the Lord is nowhere near me. Not in the same zip code. Not even in the same area code. Just because I don’t feel His presence doesn’t mean He’s not there. Just ask a couple of His followers who hoofed it back to Emmaus after His crucifixion (Lk 24:13-35).

Jesus’ direct involvement in our eternal rescue is a game changer. I can be sure that God loves me. And this time it’s personal.

His Grace Is with Y’all
Which brings us to the second half of Paul’s two-part sign off. “Grace be with you” (v22). This time the apostle uses a “you” (Gr. υμων/umon) which is plural. While this may be a VERY personal note to Timothy, Paul wrote it with the expectation that everybody would hear it.

This letter may have Tim’s name on the envelope but the message was to be read to the entire church in Ephesus. While the “you” may be plural here, Paul is once again stating a very singular fact. A VERY important fact. Grace IS with you all. The Lord is with you. His grace is with y’all.

These are gracious last words.

Grace Breaks Free
Grace. THE most scandalous idea in the entire Bible. Let’s be honest we’ve done our best to tame this beast over the past couple of thousand years. We’ve attempted to domesticate grace by reducing it the name of our quick “thanks God for the food” prayers before we eat.

But we can’t stop grace. We can’t even hope to contain it. God’s grace will eventually snap the chains like King Kong in captivity. It must run free. No matter how hard we try, grace can’t be kept in captivity.

Our Great Giver
Jesus used Paul to release His grace on the Gentile world for 30-plus years. The apostle has loved telling everyone who listens all about it. Each time he does, the man from Tarsus uses a Greek word (Gr. χαρις/charis) which describes goodwill, favor, kindness, benefit, blessing, or simply an unearned or undeserved gift.

Grace is a quality that adds delight and pleasure wherever it goes. As marvelous as it is, grace places the focus on the overwhelming goodness of the giver. And in this case, The Giver is God!

Paul’s Big Point
There’s probably no better description of God’s overwhelming goodness toward you and me than what Paul has to say in his letter to his Ephesian friends. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8:-9).

The apostle’s big point is that God’s grace is absolutely essential. Why? I can’t rescue myself. Self-salvation is totally impossible. You and I are incapable of following the rules in order to earn God’s favor. Hey, if Paul couldn’t pull it off, what shot do we have?

One-Way Love
Remember what I said about how grace focuses on the goodness of our Great Giving God? Paul Zahl says it this way. “Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the Lover.”

In his book Grace in Practice, he goes on to say, “Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable…Grace is one-way love.”

Starting to see what makes grace so amazing?

The Unobligated Giver
Tullian Tchividjian puts it this way. “Grace doesn’t make demands. It just gives. And from our vantage point, it always gives to the wrong person…Grace is a divine vulgarity that stands caution on its head. It refuses to play it safe and lay it up. Grace is recklessly generous, uncomfortably promiscuous…Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver.”

Just in case we miss his big point, let’s remind ourselves of who he’s talking about. You and I are those undeserving persons. God is the Unobligated Giver. We’re recipients of His descending one-way love. He has refused to play it safe. He has throne caution to the wind.

Transforming Grace
That’s the big idea behind Paul’s signature sign off. Grace. Love toward us that’s recklessly generous and uncomfortably promiscuous. It’s turned the apostle’s life upside down (or better yet, rightside up!). Grace transformed him from a murderer of Jesus’ followers to a missionary with a message.

Here’s how Paul describes it. “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:9-10).

Paul Signs Off
That’s the reason he signs off every single time by mentioning the grace of God. And there’s no better time to than as his pen strokes the page here for the very last time.

Gracious last words.

©2017 Jay Jennings

Calling 9-1-1

“Do your best to come to me soon” (2Tim 4:9).

Who You Gonna Call?

You get one phone call. Maybe you need bail. Maybe your car broke down. Maybe you need prayer. Maybe you desperately just need someone be there. Whatever’s going on, you simply can’t do it alone.

You need help and you need it now. You’re in a bind. Your back’s against the wall. You’re pinned between the rock and the proverbial hard place.

Like the Ghostbusters say, “Who you gonna call?” Who’s your emergency contact. Who’s your lifeline? Who’s your first phone call? Who’s your personal 9-1-1 call?

Long before there were such things as 9-1-1, emergency numbers, or even telephones, folks still needed help in a hurry. Crank up the Flux Capacitor for 66 AD. The place is Rome’s infamous Mamertine Prison. The person is the Apostle Paul. The purpose is desperation. He needs help. Right. Now.

Drop Everything

The man from Tarsus sits on Death Row and knows he’s about to die. He’s poured his life out in worship to Jesus (2Tim 4:6). He’s gone the distance and is crossing the finish line in the obstacle course called life (2Tim 4:7). It won’t be long before he’s face to face with his Savior and receiving his reward (2Tim 4:8).

Paul can’t wait to see Jesus. He’s made that clear (2Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23). But there’s just one more thing he wants to do before that happens. He would love to see his friend Timothy one last time. “Do your best to come to me soon” (v9). Drop everything and get here quickly. Do not pass “Go.” Do not collect $200.

A Call from Paul

Imagine being THE one person Paul wants to see before he sees Jesus. I mean, the dude is on one of the shortest lists in history as a capital “A” Apostle of the Son of God! Christ personally handpicked this guy to tell non-Jewish people that God’s Messiah is for everyone (Acts 9:15; Rom 1:5; 11:13; 15:16; Gal 1:16; 2:2, 7-9; 3:8; 1Tim 2:7; 2Tim 4:17).

Paul has made three tours of the Mediterranean Rim telling people about Jesus. For Pete’s sake, He’s will have written 14 (and some say 15) books of what we now call the New Testament.

Paul’s Contact List

Put yourself in Tim’s sandals for just a moment. The apostle could have reached out any number of biblical VIPs in his time of need. I mean, he certainly had Peter and the other ten apostles on speed dial. He was friends with Jesus’ kid brother James (Acts 15:13; 21:18).

How about his original traveling buddy Barnabas (Acts 11:25; 13:1-14:28)? Titus certainly has the credentials (2Cor 2:13; 7:6-14; 8:6-23; 12:18; Gal 2:1-3; 2Tim 4:10; Titus 1:4). Silas would have to be near the top of the list (Acts 15:22-18:5; 2Cor 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1). Don’t forget Apollos (Acts 18:2-18; 1Cor 4:1; 16:12; Titus 3:13).

Paul could have called Aquila and Priscilla (Rom 16:3-5; 1Cor 16:19; 2Tim 4:19). Maybe Epaphras (Col 4:12; Phm 23) or Epaproditus (Phil 2:25-30; 4:15-18). He and Philemon go way back (Phm 1). The apostle could always count on Tychicus when the chips were down (Eph 6:21-22; Col 4:7-9; 2Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12).

We see a little later that Dr. Luke is already by his side (2Tim 4:11). The apostle also goes out of his way see if Tim can get John Mark to come with him as well (2Tim 4:11). You might be surprised to see Mark mentioned. Let’s just say Paul and Mark’s relationship is…well…complicated (Acts 13:13; 15:37-41). And these are just a few of the names in the apostle’s contacts!

Paul’s Spiritual Son

But most of all, Paul wants Timothy. And why not? He sees the young preacher as his spiritual son (1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2). God brought them together on his second tour of Turkey (Acts 16:1-3). From that point on, Tim was part of the apostle’s inner circle (Acts 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; Rom 16:21).

Tim was Paul’s go-to guy for special assignments (1Cor 4:17; 16:10; 2:19-23; 1Th 3:2-6). The apostle has put him in charge of his beloved church plant in Ephesus (1Tim 1:3). He was right there when it came time to write to fellow followers of Jesus (2Cor 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; Phm 1).

Here at the end of Paul’s life, he has two important reasons to write Timothy. One, to personally pass the baton of ministry (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Two, encourage him to drop everything and get his tail to Rome so he can see his face one last time (v9; 2Tim 4:21). Let that sink in. Not only is the great apostle entrusting you with a critical position of leadership but he urgently wants to spend time with you in his final days.

Not Afraid to Ask for Help

“Do your best to come to me soon” (v9). This little verse speaks about the apostle. While his spiritual resume certainly puts ours to shame, he’s not afraid to ask for help. He’s not afraid to admit he’s lonely. He’s not afraid to be totally transparent.

How about you? Are you one of those folks who can’t show any weakness? Nobody sees the real you. You’re like the old line from the deodorant commercial, “Never let them see you sweat.” No matter what comes your way, you make sure you put up a front that you’ve got everything under control. There’s just one little problem. You don’t.

Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

If the Apostle Paul isn’t afraid to call 9-1-1, where do you and I get off thinking we have to handle stuff alone? Are the person in your small group who NEVER has problem? When it’s time for prayer request, you always respond with something like “I’m good” or “Too blessed to be stressed!”

Hey, I’m NOT saying you should manufacture something when life is truly good. But pull back the curtain. Let folks see the real you. Let people pray for you. Let God use others to help you. Don’t rob them of the blessing to help!

Take a lesson from Paul. He’s like Temptations. He ain’t too proud to beg! He ain’t too proud to ask for help. He ain’t too proud to call 9-1-1.

Don’t Walk…RUN!!

The apostle pleads with Tim to “do your best” (v9) to come for a visit. He uses the Greek verb σπουδαζω/spoudazo, which means to make haste, be eager, exert yourself, be diligent, work hard, or do something in a hurry and give it everything you’ve got. It emphasizes the zeal to get something done right now.

Paul’s not making a suggestion. He’s not dropping a hint. This is not some manipulative moment of passive aggression where he tells Tim, “Hey, if you get a chance.” Not even close.

Σπουδαζω/spoudazo actually comes from the root word for “foot” (Gr. πους/pous). In other words, Paul is telling the young preacher to move your feet! Beat feet, son! Hurry! Don’t walk…RUN!! From the apostle’s perspective, Tim can’t get to Rome fast enough.

Red Alert!

A little earlier in this letter, Paul encourages Timothy to be a tenacious Bible teacher and, “Do your best (Gr. σπουδαζω/spoudazo) to present yourself to God as one approved” (2Tim 2:15).

Two different times, our man Paul uses this very word when asking his friends to come see him immediately.  A few verses later, he tells Tim a second time, “Do your best (Gr. σπουδαζω/spoudazo) to come before winter” (2Tim 4:21). In his letter to Titus, he writes, “When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best (Gr. σπουδαζω/spoudazo) to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there” (Titus 3:12).

Just in case Tim’s tempted to put this trip on the back burner, the apostle emphasizes the urgency. This really must happen “soon” (Gr. ταχεως/tacheos), which accents that we’re talking quickly, hastily, at once, swiftly, and with great speed.

It’s the idea of ASAP. Urgent! Red alert! Scramble! Timothy is Paul’s 9-1-1 call.

Hurry!

When Jesus shows up at her brother’s funeral, people there see a grieving Mary sprint “quickly (Gr. ταχεως/tacheos) and go out” to meet Him (Jn 11:31). In her pain, Mary didn’t mess around and wait for Christ to find her.

Paul uses this same term when describing his own travel plans. He promises the Corinthians, “I will come soon (Gr. ταχεως/tacheos), if the Lord wills” (1Cor 4:15). He writes to the Philippian church how he not only will send Timothy “soon (Gr. ταχεως/tacheos)” (Phil 2:22) and also “trusts in the Lord that shortly (Gr. ταχεως/tacheos) I myself will come also” (Phil 2:15).

Big Ideas in an Urgent Little Plea

Don’t miss the VERY big ideas Paul crams into his short but urgent little plea. First of all, nobody stands alone. Not you. Not me. Not leaders. Not followers. Not even apostles. Remember what God said to Adam? Being alone is a bad idea. Being alone is NOT God’s idea.

Second, admit when you need help. Too many of us have believed the lie that asking for assistance reveals weakness. You know the old saying, “Never let them see you sweat.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Ask for help. Use your lifeline. Make that 9-1-1 call. You certainly don’t want to be Chicken Little. But don’t soft sell your situation either.

Third, be ready to respond when someone’s alone and in trouble. ESPECIALLY when they’re alone and in trouble. Too often I’m so self-absorbed that I fail to see a friend who’s hanging by a thread. I need to get my eyes off the dude in the mirror and start looking for someone in distress. Hello, McFly!

Fourth, when I get one of those 9-1-1 calls, I need to answer. Don’t ignore it. Don’t screen your calls. Don’t let it go to voicemail. Pick up. Find out what’s going on. And when you do, “do your best” (v9) to drop everything and get there in a hurry. The paraphrase in The Message couldn’t be more blunt. “Get here as fast as you can” (v9 The Message).

Saving Your Eternal Bacon

In the end, Paul is NOT hoping Timothy will save his eternal bacon. He’s made it crystal clear in everything he’s written that his trust is in Christ and Christ alone. Paul can’t save himself. Tim can’t do it either. Salvation is Jesus’ job. Period.

In the closing moments of the apostle’s letter, he goes out of his way to make that point a couple of more times. His Savior has done it before. “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2Tim 4:17). His Savior will do it again. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom” (2Tim 4:18).

Forsaken by the Father

Paul knows deep in his hear that because Jesus was abandoned, we never have to be. While He hung in agony on the cross just moments before His death, Christ shouted the opening line to Psalm 22 in Aramaic. “‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34).

The brutality and physical torture Jesus experienced is impossible for most of us to wrap our heads around. It’s what makes Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” so hard to watch.

But the deepest suffering our Savior experienced wasn’t the flogging. It wasn’t the nails. It wasn’t the spear piercing His ribcage. It was the separation and abandonment of His Dad.

Once Jesus actually took on every sin we ever committed or will commit, the Father had to turn His back on His one and only Son. Jesus’ cry from the cross is one of cosmic loneliness. He was abandoned so that we never have to be.

God is ALWAYS with Us

Fast forward a few days after the Lord’s resurrection to His final words to His followers on a mountain top. After instructing His disciples to keep making disciples, Christ makes one final promise. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). “God with us” (Mt 1:23) is ALWAYS with us.

If you’ve placed your trust in Jesus, you’ll never be alone again. He’s with you. He’ll never ditch you. He’ll never bail on you. He’s with you ALWAYS. Don’t forget Christ came to your eternal rescue before you ever even thought of picking up the phone.

Paul holds that truth tight as he makes his 9-1-1 call to Timothy.

A Matter of Life through Death

“The saying is trustworthy, for: ‘If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him’” (2Tim 2:11).

How many times have you heard something is a matter of life and death? It happens in the movies when someone in grave danger pleads urgently for help. Somebody must come to the rescue because a life hangs in the balance. It’s simply life or death. It’s one or the other. It’s what engineers call a binary choice. Black or white. Up or down. On or off.

But what if it’s NOT an “either/or?” What if death was actually the way to life? That’s exactly Paul’s point here in his second letter to Timothy. “The saying is trustworthy, for: ‘If we have died with Him, we shall also with with Him” (v11). Here’s something you can take to the bank. Something you can always count on. Dying with Jesus ensures real life with Jesus.

It’s a matter of life through death. 

Paul should know. Certain death is a cold, cruel reality for the apostle as he writes to his buddy Tim. He’s locked up in the Mamertine Prison, Rome’s Death Row, and his time is rapidly running out (2Tim 1:16; 2:9; 4:6-7). Paul hopes his protege can get there before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). In the meantime, he crams everything he can in a short letter to give Tim instructions on carrying on the spread of the Good News once his life on earth is over (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

Paul wants Timothy to know he can bet the farm on what he’s about to read. “The saying is trustworthy” (v11). You can translate the original language here as “faithful the word.” It’s one of his go-to phrases in his letters to both young gun pastors, Tim and Titus (1Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; Titus 3:8). Just so we’re clear, everything the Holy Spirit inspires every single word the apostle writes. He’s not trying to say the rest of his letters are shady and questionable. He IS pointing out that what you’re about to read is a big deal. It would be in all CAPS and bold if he could. Does he have your total attention? Sweet.

Notice how the next couple of verses appear different from the rest of Paul’s letter in your Bible. 

“If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;

if we endure, we will also reign with Him;

if we deny Him, He will also deny us;

if we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2Tim 2:11-14).

Kinda looks like a poem, doesn’t it? That’s because Scholars believe there’s a pretty good chance these are lyrics from a first century praise song. It’s not the first time the apostle dips into song lyrics to make a point (Phil 2:1-11). This principle is so trustworthy that somebody has written a song about it!

What a powerful reminder about the importance of music when it comes to communicating God’s truth. For those of us involved in either composing worship songs or the planning of worship services, it’s top-shelf important to ensure the lyrics we use are in line with Scripture. At the same time, we should pay VERY close attention to the words we sing when we gather together. Do you believe what’s coming out of your mouth? Are you learning more about who Jesus is and what He’s done for you? For centuries, songwriters have been some of the most important teachers of our faith.

“If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure with Him, we will also reign with Him” (2Tim 2:11-12). These first two lines of the tune are a pair of paradoxes. (Wait, does that make four doxes? But I digress.) God’s Word is loaded with these statements that seem to contradict each other. In reality, they’re NOT really contradictions. They just appear to be mutually exclusive at first glance. Digging a little deeper, we see the beauty of eternal truth. The reason for the apparent contradiction is the stark difference between how our fallen world works and God’s original design for His universe. 

Jesus came to set things straight again. He came give us Gospel optics so we could see life as it was intended. It seems that He came to turn the world’s economy upside down. In actuality, Christ came to turn it rightside up. That’s because our sin has totally trashed paradise. So when we read words like Paul’s here in verses 11 and 12, they seem wacky. Death is the way to life? Patient submission is the way to sovereignty? What the WHAT?!? God is using the apostle give us the glasses of grace in order to see things His way.

Let’s drill down on the first line of the lyrics. “If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him” (v11). Just in case you’re wondering about just who “Him” is, we’re talking about Jesus. The secret decoder for “Him” is back just one verse where Paul writes about “salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2Tim 2:10). Just another reminder that the Son of God is THE Hero of the Bible. From the opening pages of the Old Testament to the last words of the New. So it’s no surprise that “Him” is Jesus.

You might be surprised at the source of the first line of lyrics here in verse 11. Apparently the songwriter is passing along words originally written by…wait for it…the Apostle Paul! Check out what he wrote a few years back to the church in Rome: “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him” (Rom 6:8). 

Doug Bookman among others thinks the apostle wrote Romans around 56 AD and 2 Timothy in 66 or 67 AD. Over those ten years, was some first century worship leader in Rome so moved by what Paul wrote that he put it in a praise song for his church? While we can’t be sure of that, there’s no question these two verses share the same truth, nearly word for word.

But just what in the world is Paul saying when he writes, “If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him” (v11)? Don’t miss the fact that both ends of the idea connect us with Christ. The first phrase “died with Him” is actually just one compound Greek verb (Gr. συναποθνησκω). It literally means “together (συν-) separated (-απο-) in death (-θνησκω).” You only see it a grand total of three times in the NT.

Remember how Peter puffed out his chest the night before Jesus died? He wouldn’t leave the Lord hanging, even if it meant he would die too. “If I must die with you (Gr. συναποθνησκω), I will not deny you” (Mk 14:31). Yeah, that didn’t go so well, did it? Just a few hours later, a question from a middle school girl would crumble the one Christ called Rocky (Mk 14:66-68). History tells us the former fisherman would eventually die like His Savior, crucified upside down.

The other time we see it is when Paul tells believers in Corinth that his relationship with them is so tight that it would they would go so far as “to die together (Gr. συναποθνησκω) and to live together” (2Cor 7:3). The Corinthians may have been a hot mess but the apostle refused to turn his back on them.

Paul begins, “If we have died with Him” (v11). Wait. IF we died with Jesus? I don’t know about you, but they haven’t held my funeral yet. Don’t let the past tense of the verb throw us for a loop. Relax. We’re not walking around like Patrick Swayze in “Ghost,” hoping Whoopy Goldberg can help us warn our loved ones. You see, the grammar of Paul’s Greek tips us off that we actually died with Christ in the past on that bloody Friday outside Jerusalem. When we place our trust in our Lord, we died when He died. 

It’s a matter of life through death. 

The apostle makes the point that Jesus wasn’t alone at Golgotha that bloody Friday outside Jerusalem. Yeah, there certainly were a couple of crooks on crosses too. But that’s not all. Calvary was actually incredibly crowded that day. Everyone who ever places their faith in Christ was there too. That’s what Paul tells the folks in Galatia. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). 

It’s a matter of life through death. 

Since we died with our crucified Savior, “we will also live with Him” (v11). We’re connected with Christ one more time, this time Paul’s talking about life. Not just existence. Not just survival. This is buckle-your-seat-belt-and-hang-on life with Jesus. The former Pharisee drops another compound word (Gr. συζαω) that means to live with, share life, or enjoy life. You can literally translate this “together (συ-) enjoying life (-ζαω).”

This is exactly the lavish life Jesus says He came to bring (Jn 10:10). He and Paul are describing life overflowing with God’s goodness. Following Christ isn’t just splashing around in the kiddie pool. It’s going down a breathtaking waterslide into the deep end! King David thanks God for His amazing grace this way. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps 23:5-6). An all-you-can-eat banquet. Oil running down your head. Cup overflowing. The good life is the God life. 

It’s a matter of life through death.

Let’s take a New York minute to review what real life with Jesus is NOT. This is NOT the so-called prosperity gospel. This is the phony belief that God wants you to have a multi-million dollar mansion, a couple of Beamers, and a private jet. According to its proponents, all you have to do is believe. This turns Almighty God into a divine vending machine spitting out blessings at your request. It places our focus on His gifts instead of the Ultimate Giver.

Real life with Jesus is better than that. WAY better than that! Life together with Christ is NOT about you. It’s a “me third” lifestyle. In other words, “God first, others second, me third.” If we’re living with the Lord, why would we expect it to be any different from His original mission. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mt 20:28). Dying with Christ also means dying to self. Getting my eyes off the goofball in the mirror unlocks the abundant life with Jesus.

It’s a matter of life through death. 

There’s one more benefit of sharing death and life with Christ. It demonstrates to the world exactly Who should get the credit. According to Paul, we’re “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. for we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2Cor 4:10-11).

This death-with-Jesus-means-life-with-Jesus is a bunch of whacko crazy talk without the Gospel. He lived the perfect life of obedience to every one of His Dad’s commands and laws. I never came close. He died the death for my sin and disobedience that I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that I don’t deserve. I trust in what He has done for me that I could never do for myself. 

Trusting in Jesus’ substitutionary death means “we have died with Him” (v11). Trusting in His resurrection means “we will also live with Him” (v11). According to Paul, Christ takes our garbage and gives us His goodness (2Cor 5:21). Martin Luther liked to call this the Great Exchange. My garbage for God’s goodness is the most lopsided deal in the history of the universe. It’s what makes His grace so amazing!

It’s a matter of life through death. 

Grace Escapes

“for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” (2Tim 2:9)

I’ve always been a sucker for anything involving Harry Houdini. And why not? The Great Houdini is the greatest escape artist of all-time. He was famous for his not-so-humblebrag, “No prison can hold me. No hand or leg irons or steel locks can shackle me. No ropes or chains can keep me from my freedom.”

Well, as they say, it’s not bragging if you can back it up. The magician would do just that  through a series of stunts where he would challenge local cops to lock him up. Handcuffs? No big deal. Shackles? Piece of cake. Jail? Please. You guessed it. He got out. Every. Single. Time.

A couple of thousand years before the Great Houdini, a man named Paul makes a similarly bold statement. He writes to his good friend Timothy that while he might be behind bars, nothing was stopping the message Jesus gave him. The Good News may be the reason “for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” (v9). Paul won’t make it out alive. But the Gospel gets away. 

Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.

Unlike the Great Houdini, the apostle is not drumming up media attention or trying to sell tickets. He’s locked up in the first centuries worst slammer, the nefarious Mamertine Prison. Call it Caesar’s SuperMax. Forget all you’ve heard about joints like Alcatraz, Devil’s Island, and even Abu Ghraib. This particular big house was actually very small. A two-cell dungeon where Rome sent those condemned to die. 

Paul is on Death Row and knows it (2Tim 4:6-7). As the clock ticks down to his inevitable execution, the apostle furiously writes to his protege Tim for two reasons. First, drop everything and try and see him before his death (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, encourage the young pastor to keep telling everyone who will listen about the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth, Christ Jesus. While Paul knows he’s probably not seeing the outside again, he has complete confidence that the Gospel is getting out.

Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.

The apostle knows exactly why he’s walking the Green Mile. In the previous verse, he says it’s all because of “my Gospel” (2Tim 2:8). Paul finishes the thought in here in verse nine, that’s the whole reason “for which I am suffering” (v9). This is probably a good time to have a very honest discussion about what it means to follow Jesus. Despite what some people like to believe, placing your trust in Christ doesn’t lead to a life of rainbows, unicorns, and a lifetime supply of Skittles. 

The author describes his situation with the Greek word κακοπαθεο. It means to endure pain and affliction or undergo terrible hardship or incredible distress. It’s a compound word meaning to suffer painfully and intensely as the result of evil. Paul is not simply inconvenienced. It’s not like latte didn’t have enough foam. He’s suffering real physical and mental anguish. The term carries the idea of endurance and perseverance. You don’t it enjoy it but also don’t run away. Jesus’ little brother James tells us that God uses these trials to actually grow our faith and make us more like our Savior (James 1:2-3, 12).

Jesus Himself guaranteed His own disciples there was big trouble ahead for each of them in this world (Jn 16:33). Since the world rejected the Son of God, why should His followers expect anything different (Jn 15:18-20). Our Savior goes so far as to say we’re on the receiving end of God’s blessing each time we’re on the business end of persecution. Discrimination for following Jesus on this side of eternity means heavenly reward on the other side (Mt 5:10-12).

Don’t let the proponents of the prosperity gospel fool you. Trusting in God won’t lead to a life full of sweet rides, designer duds, and private jets. Take it from our man Paul. The dude knows what it means to suffer for his faith (2Cor 11:23-28). I’m guessing the prosperity gospel might be a little hard for him to swallow while he was floating in the open ocean for a day and a half after a shipwreck. 

The Good News isn’t a some supernatural get-rich-quick scheme. Oh, don’t get me wrong. There is spectacular blessing when you believe in Jesus. But it won’t be easy. It won’t be comfortable. It comes with some level of pain. Some level of discomfort. Blessing, yes. Pain free, no. Paul’s good friend Peter writes that Christ leaves us an example to follow of the right way to suffer (1Pet 2:21). But the former Pharisee wants us to know “these hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepare for us” (2Cor 4:17 The Message).

Paul describes his current suffering to Tim as being “bound with chains a criminal” (v9). Let’s just say he’s wearing the latest in prison jewelry. For whatever reason, Roman authorities have him in some form of restraints. New Testament writers use “chains” (Gr. δεσμος) when talking about imprisonment or restriction in general and handcuffs or any sort of stocks specifically. It’s something binding or physically impeding you from doing what you want. The apostle mentions it not once, but three times in this short letter (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). You can almost hear the clinking of the heavy iron chain while he writes these words. He’s not going anywhere. We could call this is a chain letter. But we won’t.

While Paul knows for sure his days are numbered, he’s also certain the Gospel is nowhere near done. He might be literally wearing a ball and chain. “But the word of God is not bound!” (v9). Sportscaster Dan Patrick drops a catchphrase when describing an athlete who’s red hot, “You can’t stop him. You can only hope to contain him.” The apostle wants us to know God’s Word not only can’t be stopped, but it can’t be contained! 

Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.

You stand a better chance of keeping King Kong in captivity than holding back the Gospel. Yeah, neither one’s gonna happen. Just look what went down the last time they tossed Paul in the pokey. “What has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Phil 1:13-14). The apostle formerly known as Saul saw firsthand how the very public killing of Stephen only served to cause the message of Jesus to go viral (Acts 8:1).

Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.

God’s number one spokesman may be in custody but God’s Word is on the loose! The Gospel is on the lam. You can’t stop it. You can’t even hope to contain it. It’s like what the resurrected Jesus tells His best friend John. When God’s throws a door open, there’s absolutely no one who can shut it (Rev 3:8). In other words, if Almighty God wants something out, it stays out. The Gospel is a perfect example.

Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.

Which brings us back to Harry Houdini. He did manage to extricate himself from every single set of handcuffs, every pair of leg irons, and every prison cell. Do you know what did him in? An unexpected punch in the gut ruptured his appendix and killed him. The Great Houdini couldn’t escape death. 

But God’s Word can’t be stopped. No grave can hold Jesus. No jail can hold His Word. 

Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.

Reliable Sources

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2Tim 2:2)

Journalists must trust their sources. It’s critical to the accuracy of any report. Where would Woodward and Bernstein be without the legendary “Deep Throat”? When a reporter can rely on his or her source, the public can have confidence in the story. 

Okay, I realize the news media is not exactly seen as a great bastion of credibility these days. I get that. Too many overzealous journalists so fired up to break the big story that they lean on dubious sources and play fast and loose with the facts. But back in the day, you could take it to the bank if you read it in the New York Times or heard it from Walter Cronkite. Not any more.

Long before Spotlight or Watergate made headlines, Paul wanted Timothy to have the utmost confidence in the news he was passing along. “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to to faithful men who will be able to teach others” (v2). Tim can trust the news he’s heard from the apostle. He can trust the source. Now he’s to keep his eyes and ears out for folks he can rely on to keep the message moving forward. When it comes to the Good News, it’s critical that we can trust our sources.

When we understand the context of this verse, we’ll see that it’s vital that the message moves forward. Paul is in Rome, locked up in Caesar’s SuperMax, otherwise known as the Mamertine Prison. He’s writing a letter to his young protege Timothy while he sits on Death Row. The apostle knows his time is rapidly running out (2Tim 4:6-7). While he desperately hopes for one last visit from his good buddy (2Tim 4:9, 21), Paul encourages Tim to lean on the power of God’s grace as he continues telling people about Jesus (2Tim 2:1). 

First of all, the former Pharisee reminds the young pastor that he can trust his source. He can rely on “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses” (v2). Tim has had a front row seat for Paul’s teaching so many times that he’s probably lost count. He first hooked up with the apostle several years ago when the Gospel tour made a stop in his hometown of Lystra (Acts 16:1-5). Before Tim knew what hit him, he was studying under the dude the Lord personally picked to tell non-Jews everywhere the Good News. 

Every place they stopped, Paul talks about the grace of God expressed in His Son Jesus. He lets them know that Christ is the answer to the problem religion has been trying to solve for thousands of years. Religion is our futile attempt to get to God. It’s futile because we can’t get there without 100% obedience to God’s rules. Break one and we’ve broken them all, according to Jesus’ kid brother James (James 2:10). 

But placing your faith in our Savior is does just the opposite. Instead of trying to work our way to God, He comes to us. Christ does for us what we could never do…even when our lives depend on it. He lived the perfect life for us, died in our place, and strolled right out of the empty tomb. I don’t care what kind of mad skills you have up your sleeve. You can’t pull off anything that awesome. 

The most amazing thing about Jesus is that He gives you and me credit for everything He does and takes our hot mess off our hands (2Cor 5:21). That’s the message Tim has heard Paul spread in city after city around the Mediterranean Rim. Timothy can trust his source. The apostle heard it straight for Jesus Himself (Gal 1:12). It doesn’t get any better than that.

A couple of important things we don’t want to miss about what Tim has heard. First of all, Paul uses words. Well, duh! Okay, work with me here. The apostle makes a point of speaking about Jesus out loud. You may have heard the old saying, “Preach the Gospel constantly. Use words when necessary.” I appreciate the sentiment. We SHOULD let our actions speak for us. We should live lives of love. But at some point words ARE necessary for others to know the Good News. No one will ever understand why you do what you do without an explanation.

The other subtle point Paul makes is that he consistently helps folks understand what he’s talking about. He explains what it means to place your trust in Jesus. He unpacks what the life of a Christ follower looks like and feels like. The apostle has a great way of putting the cookies on the bottom shelf. That does NOT mean he waters down the Gospel. But he illustrates and helps folks apply the grace of Jesus.

How about you? Don’t feel like you need to tote a ten-pound theological textbook with you to explain the Good News. It doesn’t take a slew of impressive sounding five syllable words to do the trick. If you’re like me, chances are you don’t know what they mean anyway. All you need to do is understand the concepts behind them. And when in doubt, go back to the basics. God made a perfect universe. We jacked it all up. Jesus came to our rescue. 

Paul mentions to Tim about “the presence of many witnesses” (v2) he’s had the privilege of speaking to. The Greek word for “witness” (Gr. martus) has a couple of meanings. It can describe one who testifies to facts in a legal setting. When the religious bullies railroaded Jesus, He boldly announced He was indeed Messiah and would soon take a seat next to His Heavenly Dad. That’s when the high priest blew a gasket. “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses (Gr. martus) do we need?” (Mt 26:65).

It can possibly a person who tells others something they know directly and personally. In other words, somebody with firsthand knowledge. Just before He headed home to heaven, the resurrected Christ told His followers how He would give them His Holy Spirit so that “you will be My witnesses (Gr. martus) in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). When Judas Iscariot broke bad, the apostles had an opening on their roster. A key requirement for his replacement was that he be “a witness (Gr. martus) to the resurrection” (Acts 1:22).

It can also be used when talking about a martyr. In this context, it’s one who tells what he knows even though it may result in death. Our Savior gave His buddy John a sneak peek at the end of the story and gave him a glimpse of a nasty prostitute dripping with “the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs (Gr. martus) of Jesus” (Rev 17:9). So the meaning of the word also carries the idea of someone so impacted by the grace of God that they are willing tell others about Christ even though it could well be fatal.

As a follower of Jesus, I’m a witness. More than a fan in the stands. More than a spectator. I’m actively involved in what He’s doing. I have the privilege of telling others what I’ve seen Him do in my life and through my life. How about you? What’s He been up to in your life? I know, I know. You don’t want to brag. But remember, this isn’t about you. It’s about Him. And it’s ALL about Him! This isn’t meant to put you on a guilt trip but a witness who doesn’t testify isn’t of any value to anyone else. While people may not be able to swallow some of the stuff in the Bible, they have a heard time doubting what’s happened in your life. They can trust the source.

While Paul certainly doesn’t want Tim to limit the audience of the Gospel, he wants him to keep an eye out for people who with a very special set skills. No, we’re not talking about Liam Neeson’s character from “Taken.” The apostle wants his spiritual son to “entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (v2). These folks need to be trustworthy and reliable. It’s important to keep the Good News good. One hundred percent grace. A zero tolerance policy against works. Those who teach must have a figure-four leg lock on the core of the message. People must be able to trust the source.

Here’s a cool observation I ran across when digging into this verse. John MacArthur points out that from Paul to Tim to faithful men to those would they tell covers FOUR generations! If Paul is Timothy’s spiritual son (1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2), then the faithful folks he finds are the next generation. And once they pass along the story of Jesus, the apostle has great grandchildren in the faith! Talk about leaving a legacy that lives on!! All because of reliable sources.

Li'l Fugitive and the Flash Go AWOL

“You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes” (2Tim 1:15).

Think it would be pretty cool to have your name in the Bible? Imagine one of the authors of Scripture dropping your name and people reading it for the next few thousand years. A mention, any mention, even in one of those long tedious lists of some family tree filled with names you can’t pronounce. 

But imagine your name making its way onto the pages of God’s Word as the bad example. You get timeless ink for all the wrong reasons. So maybe a regrettable tattoo isn’t the worst thing. That’s exactly what happens to a couple of Paul’s former friends as he writes to Timothy. “You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes” (v15). Apparently when the going got tough for the apostle, the folks he thought had his back got going in the opposite direction. Namely a couple of guys known as Li’l Fugitive and the Flash. 

We’ll get back to those guys in a moment. Allow me to bring you up to speed on Paul’s deal. He’s writing to his protege, a young pastor named Tim. The apostle is in Rome doing hard time in Caesar’s SuperMax, otherwise known as the Mamertine Prison. He’s on Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). He desperately needs a visit from his spiritual son (2Tim 1:2; 4:9, 21). Most of the letter is loaded with urgent last minute instructions and encouragement. With the clock ticking down, the apostle passes the baton of ministry.

Paul is sure Tim’s got the scoop on what went down when the Romans arrested him. “You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me” (v15). Tim knows. Shoot, seems like everybody knew. It was in all the papers. The news of the apostle’s apprehension apparently went viral. But that’s not all. Believers in the region immediately turned their backs on the very one who brought them the Gospel in the first place. The followers of Jesus suddenly unfollowed Paul.

Is the apostle saying every person on the Asian continent ditched him? Most of us know Asia as the largest continent on the planet from our days in World Civ with four times more people than any other. That’s NOT the Asia he’s talking about. You see, back in the first century, Asia was the name of a Roman province in the western part of what we know today as Turkey. Asia was about the size of Nebraska. It included some familiar city names such as Ephesus and Colossae, places with churches to which Paul wrote. It’s also the zip code for the seven churches in Revelation that Jesus dictated letters to John about. That’s the Asia Paul’s talking about.

Nonetheless, “all who are in Asia turned away from” (v15) Paul. I would love to say “all” doesn’t really mean that. But a closer look at the original language leaves no wiggle room. “All” means all and that’s all that “all” means. Apparently one hundred percent of the believers bailed on the apostle. When he tells Tim how they “turned away,” the apostle uses a verb (Gr. apostrepho) which means to reject, refuse, or desert. It carries the idea of abandoning the right thing to do for some serious wrongdoing. This is a compound word meaning to separate (apo-) by turning (-strepho). Instead of having his back, they turned their backs and walked away. They left Paul twisting in the wind.

Does the apostle mean these folks also ditched their faith in Jesus? I guess there’s the chance that some did but that doesn’t seem to be what’s going on here. I strongly suspect these folks simply bailed on Paul at his arrest. Like cockroaches running when the light comes on, they bugged out when Roman authorities busted the man from Tarsus. According to Robertson, we don’t know if believers in the Roman province of Asia refused to help Paul when he was arrested or if they possibly ditched him at his trial. One way or the other, all he heard at this critical time was crickets. Paul? Who’s Paul? I don’t anybody named Paul.

At this point, this is where we logically talk about how we should always stand strong with our brothers and sisters in the faith. You DO know that’s the right thing to do, don’t you? But here’s the deal. Too many times the followers of Jesus pull the ripcord on any relationship that gets messy. As many have said, the church has a bad habit of shooting their wounded. Maybe it’s happened to you. If so, I’m VERY sorry. Maybe you had your finger on the trigger. If so, apologize and repent. Remember, every believer is jacked up. That’s why we trusted in Jesus to begin with. 

Let’s be blunt. People are going to bail on you. Fellow followers of Jesus are are going to bounce just when you need them the most. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, you can bet the farm it’s going to happen. Sometime. Somewhere. When the chips are down and you need a friend, there’s going to come a time when all you will see are tumbleweeds. 

Just ask Jesus what it’s like. His crew ran like scared rabbits when He was arrested. The leader of His team acted like he didn’t know Him, not once but THREE times (Ps 88:8, 18; Mt 26:56; Mk 14:50). And once our Savior took on the entire load of the world’s sin (and if you’re scoring at home, that includes yours and mine!), even His Heavenly Dad left Him all alone (Ps 22:1; Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34). 

Because He experienced absolute and total abandonment, we never have to face it ourselves. Our closest friends may punk out, but Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). He pledges His never-ending faithfulness and will “never leave you nor forsake you” (Dt  31:6, 8; Josh 1:8; Heb 13:5). Later in this letter to Timothy, Paul says Christ is faithful even when we aren’t (2Tim 2:13). You see, the God who is with us is ALWAYS with us. Even when the world gets the heck outta Dodge.

The apostle then drops the names of two guys who left him hanging, “Phygelus and Hermogenes” (v15). Imagine Paul specifically listing you as someone who left him in the lurch. Being named as a bad guy in the Bible is the ultimate black mark on your permanent record. But maybe, just maybe, the man from Tarsus didn’t name names. Maybe Phygelus and Hermogenes aren’t their real names at all. Could he be writing in code? Could he be calling them by their infamous new nicknames? 

The name Phygelus comes from the Greek verb phuego, which describes a hasty retreat from military aggression. We’re not talking about a casual stroll here. This is a sprint at high speed. It’s where we get our word “fugitive.” One researcher sees the name as a joke or putdown. It literally means the little fugitive or avoider. My guess is he was a real person but Paul spared him the embarrassment of using his real name. Instead he’s forever known as Li’l Fugitive.

His partner in crime is Hermogenes. His name is closely related to the Greek god Hermes. You may know him by his Roman name Mercury. This mythical deity was not just super quick but also slick trickster. Think of The Flash’s evil twin. Hermogenes’ name means “born from Hermes.” Whether this is a nickname or putdown he has earned, you can be sure Paul’s former friend turned his back with super speed. Now you see him. Now you don’t. 

This is the only time either of these dudes gets a mention in the Bible. Giving the Heisman to the man God used to spread the Gospel to the non-Jewish world and write most of the New Testament not exactly the rep you would want for the next 2,000-plus years. Apparently Paul cooked up a couple of aliases to save them some shame. The same can’t be said of Demas. Later in this letter, the apostle writes, “For Demas, in love with present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (2Tim 4:10). This is the very same guy who’s with Paul during his first time in custody (Col 4:14; Phm 24). 

I feel like I’ve seen this meme. 

Demas is a friend of Paul. 

Demas sees Paul arrested. 

Demas ditches Paul. 

Demas goes to Thessalonica.

Don’t be like Demas.

No, don’t be like Demas. Don’t be like Li’l Fugitive and the Flash and go AWOL.

Reppin' My Savior

“for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher” (2Tim 1:11)

A change of address doesn’t change your assignment. Just ask Paul. He may behind bars but that doesn’t get in the way of doing what Jesus picked him to do. What exactly is that? The man from Tarsus reminds his friend Timothy that it’s because of message of Jesus “for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher” (v11). Because the Lord personally selected him and assigned him, he must be exactly where the Lord wants him. The apostle may be on Death Row but he is still announcing, still reppin’, still teaching about Jesus. His change of address hasn’t changed his assignment.

It’s critical to understand exactly what’s going as Paul writes these words. He’s locked up Caesar’s SuperMax, the notorious Mamertine Prison in Rome. This is where the empire incarcerates dead men walking. It’s temporary housing for those facing execution. The apostle is a dead man walking. The New Testament book we call 2nd Timothy is simply a letter from the Green Mile. It’s a note from a follower of Jesus who knows he’s about to die to his spiritual son, a young preacher named Timothy. 

Paul realizes death is right around the corner (2Tim 4:6-7). He has two important purposes for this letter. One, he desperately wants Tim to hit the road ASAP and see him before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, he wants to pass the baton of spiritual leadership and encourage his protege to continue spreading the Gospel (2Tim 2:1-4:5). The apostle has the ultimate sense of urgency. It’s crunch time. The clock is ticking down. He’s focused like a laser on his mission. His change of address hasn’t changed his assignment. He’s still announcing, still reppin’, still teaching about Jesus. 

Right out of the chute, Paul wants us to know this mission wasn’t his idea. He was “appointed” (v11). The man from Tarsus uses a word here (Gr. tithemi) that describes setting something or someone in a specific place for a specific purpose. For you grammar nerds out there, this verb is in the passive tense. In other words, Paul isn’t self-appointed. He’s God appointed. 

If you haven’t heard the story, flashback about 30 years before he found himself in this Roman cell to the highway just outside of Damascus. Back in those days, folks knew him as Saul. He was on another black ops mission to search and destroy the followers of Jesus. That’s when the resurrected Jesus blindsides Saul (Acts 9:1-9). This divine mugging transforms Saul the murderer into Paul the missionary. A little later in Dr. Luke’s account of the story, the risen Christ shows up to tell another disciple in Damascus all about what He’s doing in and through Saul. “He is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). From Jesus’ enemy to Jesus’ emissary. The apostle formerly known as Saul literally never saw it coming.

According to Paul, the Lord picked him as His personal representative to fill three specific and interrelated roles, “preacher and apostle and teacher” (v11). Christ gives the former Pharisee the authority to be His announcer, His rep, and His explainer. Since that fateful day outside Damascus, Paul has devoted his life to do just that. Three long tours of the Mediterranean Rim telling everyone who will listen about God’s gracious invitation to the world through the radical risen Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. 

It hasn’t exactly been a day at Disney World (2Cor 11:23-28). Prison. Beaten nearly to death. Floggings. Canings. Stonings. Shipwrecks. Even contract on his life. But no matter what happened, it didn’t change his assignment. Wherever Paul went, he was still announcing, still reppin’, still teaching about Jesus.

Christ handpicked Paul as His “preacher” (v11). The apostle dusts off a Greek word (Gr. kerux) that doesn’t get used much in the NT. Just three times. In the Greco-Roman world, it describes a herald, proclaimer, or public messenger speaking on behalf of royalty. A modern day equivalent would be a presidential spokesperson. We’re talking about an announcer with authority. Anytime Paul has the chance to speak before crowds, he tells them about Jesus. That’s basically all Dr. Luke writes about in the Book of Acts starting in chapter 9. Call Paul the Good Newscaster. 

Now I know there’s a huge percentage of folks who break out in a cold sweat at the thought of public speaking. Jesus may not be calling you to step up to the mic at Jerry World. (Then again, He might just do that. Who am I to say?) But are you willing to live out loud for the Lord? I’m not talking about spending your spare time knocking on doors and passing out pamphlets. Do you readily drop Jesus’ name when talking with friends? Don’t worry about answering crazy questions about dinosaurs on the ark or the temperature in hell. Just tell them about the One who came to your rescue. Say it loud. Say it proud.

Jesus selected Paul as His “apostle” (v11). The word in the original language (Gr. apostolos) really doesn’t have a good modern day equivalent. An apostle wasn’t originally a churchy word. Back in the first century, this was a official representative, a special messenger, or one who is sent with authority on behalf of another. If you were in the presence of an apostle, it was if the one who sent them is standing right there. If any of Jesus’ apostles was in the room, it was as if He was there. That’s the kind of oomph He gave them.

So what’s the difference between an apostle and disciple? Seems like folks just use them interchangeably. Well, a disciple is one who comes close so they can follow and learn. The word “apostle” literally means one who is sent away for a purpose. Think of it this way, Jesus invited people to follow Him as disciples. Later He sent them out as apostles under His authority to spread the message of grace.

The best definition of a capital “A” Apostle is somebody who’s laid eyes on the resurrected Jesus. Remember Paul’s run-in with the risen Christ? So there’s a pretty good chance anybody you meet who claims that title doesn’t check that particular box. BUT there are modern day, lower case “a” apostles. These are people with a passion for planting churches and working on the front lines of the faith. Could God be tapping you on the shoulder to do just that?

But while we’re all not apostles, we’re all sent in His name for a purpose. Jesus first invites us to follow Him. There comes a point when it’s time to go and tell others about him. In His last meal with His posse before His execution, Christ tells them, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you” (Jn 20:21). What we don’t see in our English translations is the appearance of the verb form of apostle here (Gr apostello). Just as His Dad sent His Son as the Ultimate Apostle, He’s sending us to rep Him too. 

Third, Christ drafted Paul as a “teacher” (v11). The apostle drops the Greek term didaskalos, which paints the picture of instructor and even a rabbi. This is somebody who causes others to learn. A person who creates a an environment of learning. They invite questions. They provide analysis. They encourage application. A teacher of the Gospel explains the message of Jesus and helps folks apply God’s truth to their everyday lives. 

It’s not to say that deep doctrinal teaching isn’t important. It is VERY important. But ultimately God’s truth changes us from the inside out. It transforms our minds (Rom 12:2). It performs delicate spiritual surgery (Heb 4:12). It makes us more like Jesus (Jn 17:17). Great teachers communicate the Bible creatively and passionately. The great Howard Hendricks is famous for saying, “It’s a sin to bore people with the Bible.” You can be sure Paul was never boring. Okay, there was the time the kid fell asleep and fell out of a window during one of his sermons, but that probably had to do with the fact that the apostle was still preaching after midnight (Acts 20:7-13).

It’s interesting that Paul wrote nearly the identical description of Jesus’ commission on his life back in the prequel to this letter. “For this I was appointed a preacher (Gr. kerux) and apostle (Gr. apostolos) (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher (Gr. didaskalos)of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1Tim 2:7). Preacher. Apostle. Teacher. He was doing it then. He’s doing it now. The apostle may be on Death Row but he is still announcing, still reppin’, still teaching about Jesus. His change of address hasn’t changed his assignment.

It’s the same for you and me. His call on my life isn’t limited by my zip code. It isn’t constrained by my career. Wherever I am, I can drop His name and speak publicly about my Savior. I can be sure that He sends me as His rep no matter where I go. I can help others by explaining who Jesus is and what He’s done. My change of address doesn’t change my assignment.