It seems that Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written very near the end of the apostle’s life. He had been imprisoned a second time, and did not hold out hope that he would be set free.
There are two statements Paul made that are interesting here. We will take them in reverse order. In verses 9-16, Paul asked Timothy to come to him quickly. He asked this because he was almost entirely alone. He wrote in verse 11, “Only Luke is with me.” Paul was feeling the isolation after a long life of service to the Lord. He longed to see his old friend. Demas had gone back into the world, Alexander the coppersmith had hurt him deeply, and other fellow companions were doing their own ministerial works in other places. Paul needed Timothy.
The other statement precedes his call to come, stated in verses 6-8. Though Paul was lonely and in the midst of trials, his eye remained on the prize! He was ready to die, and knew his time among them was coming to a close. Because he was a faithful steward of the work Jesus had given him to do, he could write with confidence, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day” (8).
We should have the same outlook. No matter how tiresome and disappointing this life may become, we have hope in God!
