Second Letter to Timothy

1° The occasion and the purpose; the time and the place of the composition— The situation is no longer the same as for 1 Timothy and for the letter to TitusSaint Paul has ceased to be free. He is once again a prisoner in Rome (cf. 1:8, 16 and 17; 4:6 ff., 21), in a painful and critical situation, almost alone, for some of his disciples had been sent away by him to found new churches, and others had left him of their own accord. He has already appeared once before his judges (see 4:16-17), and his case has been adjourned. He expects to be brought back before the tribunal soon, and a fatal outcome to his trial seems to him no less certain than imminent (4:8-9).

In his sorrow, he addresses his beloved son Timothy, who was then presumably in Ephesus, as at the time of the first letter (he still holds a high position in the Church, and is charged with teaching and leadership), and urges him to come to him quickly with Mark. At the same time, as it was possible that Timothy might arrive too late, he gives him his final instructions, exhorting him to courage, despite the difficulties of the present hour, encouraging him to choose truly capable assistants to teach the truth, and warning him against the particular dangers that could create obstacles to his ministry.

The apostle's conviction that the hour of his own death was approaching was therefore the direct occasion for this letter. Its purpose was twofold: on the one hand, to summon Timothy to Rome; on the other, to strengthen his faith and zeal, and to offer him supreme exhortations. The letter was composed in Rome, in the prison where Saint Paul suffered, shortly before his martyrdom, therefore towards the end of the year 66, or at the beginning of the year 67.

2° The subject and the division. — The greater part of the letter contains advice given to Timothy concerning his teaching and conduct as bishop. The master mentions everything that could encourage, move, and instruct his disciple, so as to renew him in the faithful exercise of his duties, especially with regard to the preservation of the sacred deposit of faith. 

The letter, quite eventful, is rather difficult to divide logically, as it lacks the same consistent order as the previous one. It seems to us that it can be split into two parts. In the first, 1:1–2:13, Paul urges Timothy to fight fearlessly and faithfully for the gospel. In the second, 2:14–4:8a, he exhorts him to persevere against false teachers and the danger of apostasy. The first part is more personal; the second speaks very frequently of false teachers and the dangers they pose to true believers. Then comes a conclusion, 4:8b–22, which contains various recommendations, news, and the final greeting. 

3° Special nature of this letter. — It is, first of all, very intimate, very personal. Almost everything is individual and private, both in its overall tone and in its smallest details. One truly feels the beating of Paul's loving heart. Moreover, this letter is less an instruction than an exhortation; but it would be difficult to imagine a more solid, more tender, and more vibrant exhortation. The tone changes several times, depending on whether Paul is overcome by the certainty of his imminent death, or whether he is simply thinking of instructing Timothy in the duties to be fulfilled during the painful crisis the Church was then experiencing. It is the testament of the master (a thought often repeated following Saint John Chrysostom), addressed to his favorite disciple. In his sad isolation, Paul thinks less of himself than of his work and of the one to whom he could bequeath its legacy with complete confidence.

The letter is remarkable for its majestic solemnity as much as for its poignant tenderness. What is particularly touching is that, alongside the profound dogmatic thoughts that Paul never neglects, there are these heartfelt reflections on his own life, these accounts of what he has done and what he is still doing, of what he has suffered and what he is suffering for the good cause, and finally, this firm assurance of the reward that awaits him, as well as all those who, like him, will have fought to the end the good fight of faith and justice.

2 Timothy 1

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to proclaim the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus ² To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. ³ I give thanks to God, whom I serve, as did my fathers, with a clear conscience, and I continually remember you in my prayers night and day. ⁴ I remember your tears and I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I also remember the faith that is so sincere in you and that was constant first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure it is the same in you. ⁶ That is why I warn you to rekindle the grace of God which you received through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-control. ⁸ Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony you must give about our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but suffer with me for the gospel, supported by the strength of God., ⁹ who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but according to his own decree and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of the ages, ¹⁰ and which has now been manifested by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ That is why I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher, ¹² It is also for this reason that I endure the present sufferings. But I am not ashamed of them, for I know in whom I have placed my trust and I am convinced that he has the power to keep my deposit until that day. ¹³ Keep faithfully the memory of the sound instructions you received from me concerning faith and charity which is in Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. ¹⁵ You know that all those who are in Asia have abandoned me, including Phygelle and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord pour out his mercy on the house of Onesiphorus, for he has often comforted me and has not been ashamed of my chains. ¹⁷ On the contrary, upon his arrival in Rome, he sought me out with great eagerness and found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant him mercy from the Lord on that day. You know better than anyone all the services he rendered me in Ephesus.

2 Timothy 2

¹ Therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the teachings that you have received from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust them to trustworthy men who will be able to teach others. ³ Take your share of the suffering like a brave soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ In the military profession, no one concerns himself with worldly affairs if he wishes to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ and the athlete only obtains the crown if he has fought according to the rules. ⁶ The farmer must work first before he can reap the fruits. ⁷ Think about what I tell you, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. ⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, descended from David, has risen from the dead, according to the gospel I preach. ⁹ and for which I suffer even to the point of being chained like a criminal, but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ That is why I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ¹¹ This is a certain saying: if we die with him, we will also live with him., ¹² If we persevere in the trial, we will reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us. ¹³ If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot deny himself. ¹⁴ This is what you must remind them of, calling on the Lord as your witness to avoid these arguments about words which serve no purpose other than to ruin those who hear them. ¹⁵ Strive to show yourself in God's service as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, correctly dispensing the word of truth. ¹⁶ Avoid profane and vain speeches, for their authors will only sink further into impiety. ¹⁷ and their words will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have strayed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place and has shaken the faith of many. ¹⁹ But God’s solid foundation stands firm with this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and: Whoever names the name of the Lord, let him turn away from iniquity. ²⁰ In a large house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable uses, others for base uses. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone has kept himself pure from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ²² Flee youthful passions and seek justice and faith. charity And peace, with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Dismiss the silly and pointless questions, you know they lead to arguments. ²⁴ But a servant of the Lord must not be argumentative; on the contrary, he must be kind to everyone, know how to teach, and be patient., ²⁵ gently correcting those who oppose them, in the hope that God will grant them conversion to the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that, having regained their senses, they will free themselves from the snares of the devil, who holds them captive and enslaves them to his will.

2 Timothy 3

¹ Know that in the last days, difficult times will come. ² For men will be selfish, greedy, boastful, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, ungodly, ³ Without affection, without loyalty, slanderers, intemperate, cruel, enemies of good people, ⁴ traitors, insolent, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than of God, ⁵Having the appearance of piety without the reality of it: distance yourself from this kind of people. ⁶ These are the ones who insinuate themselves into families to captivate young women burdened with sin, consumed by passions of every kind. ⁷ who are always learning without ever being able to attain knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Like Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses, so these men, corrupted in mind and perverted in faith, oppose the truth. ⁹ But they will make no further progress because their madness will become apparent to everyone, like that of those two men. ¹⁰ For you, you have followed me in my teaching, in my conduct, in my plans, in my faith, in my patience, in my love, in my steadfastness, ¹¹ in my persecutions, in my sufferings, such as have befallen me Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra. They are countless, the persecutions I have endured, and each time the Lord has delivered me from them. ¹² Likewise, all who wish to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ As for the wicked and the imposters, they will always go further into evil, leading others astray and being led astray themselves. ¹⁴ As for you, remain steadfast in what you have learned and of which you are certain, knowing from whom you received it., ¹⁵ and that, from your childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ All Scripture is divinely inspired and useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be perfect, fit for every good work.

2 Timothy 4

¹ I adjure you before God and before Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; rebuke, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and careful instruction, ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but will gather around them a multitude of teachers to follow their own desires and to enjoy what tickles their ears. ⁴ They will close them off from the truth and open them up to fables. ⁵ But you, be circumspect in all things, endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Gospel, be wholly devoted to your ministry. ⁶ Because for me, I am already serving as a libation and the moment of my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, ⁸ It is now only for me to receive the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearing. ⁹ Try to join me as soon as possible ¹⁰ For Demas has left me out of love for the present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescent has gone to Galatia. Tite in Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is of great help to me in the ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the coat I left at Troas with Carpus, as well as the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander, the metalworker, has done me a great deal of harm: the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ You too, be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our preaching. ¹⁶ No one assisted me in my first defense, they all abandoned me: let this not be attributed to them. ¹⁷ However, the Lord stood by me and strengthened me so that the word might be fully proclaimed through me and heard by all nations, and I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ The Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will save me by bringing me into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever, amen. ¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. ²¹ Hurry and come before winter. Eubulus sends his greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. ²² May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you, amen.

Notes on the Second Letter to Timothy

1.1 the promise of life ; that is to say, to proclaim the eternal life which is obtained through Jesus Christ.

1.3 With a pure conscience. When Saint Paul persecuted the Church before its conversion, he did so only out of ignorance and a misguided zeal for truth and justice. See 1 Timothy, 1, 13.

1.5 Lois was perhaps the mother of’Eunice. We know by Acts of the Apostles, 16, 1, that Eunice was a faithful Jew.

1.7 See Romans 8:15.

1.8 Testimony to be given to Our Lord ; That is to say, which must be given back to Our Lord, by confessing Him publicly, by boldly preaching the Gospel. I, his prisoner. Saint Paul writes that while imprisoned in Rome, it is Jesus Christ, it is his cause, who put him and keeps him in chains.

1.9 See Tite, 3, 5.

1.10 Death, of body and soul, fruit of sin.

1.11 See 1 Timothy 2:7.

1.12 That day. Saint Paul thus refers to the judgment, where each person will receive according to their deeds.

1.15 Those who are in Asia. In Proconsular Asia. See Acts of the Apostles, 16, 6. ― Phygella and Hermogenes. We only know about them what is said here.

1.16 See 2 Timothy 4:19. Onesiphore He was a good Christian from Ephesus. Saint Paul's language seems to assume that Onesiphorus was already dead.

1.18 On that day. See verse 12. At Ephesus. See Acts of the Apostles, 18, 19.

2.12 See Matthew 10:33; Mark 8:38.

2.13 See Romans 3:3. — He will deny us if we are unfaithful towards him, not through any infidelity on his part, but because he remains himself faithful to his threats and punishments.

2.17 Their words will wreak havoc., the discourse of those whose conversations are profane and vain. ― Of this number are, etc. Cf. 1 Timothy, 1, 20. ― Philète is not named in the first letter to TimothyHe was probably a Jew like Hymenaeus.

2.18 The Gnostics did not admit any other resurrection than the resurrection spiritual transformation of the soul when it passes from error to truth.

2.23 See 1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; Tite, 3, 9.

3.1 See 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 1:18.

3.7 who are always learning : irony; these women attached themselves to false doctors under the pretext of learning religion.

3.8 Jannes and Jambres. These names are not found in Scripture; they have been preserved by tradition. According to Jewish tradition, these two practitioners of magic used their influence to bolster Pharaoh's resistance to Moses (see Exodus, (Chapter 7).

3.11 HAS Antioch of Pisidia. See Acts of the Apostles, 13, 14. ― A Icon. See Acts of the Apostles, 13, 51. ― To Lystra. See Acts of the Apostles, 14, 6.

3.16 See 2 Peter 1:20.

4.6 I am already being used as a libation.. Among the pagans, libations were poured over the sacrificial victim before the immolation. Now, Saint Paul, who was about to die at the hands of the pagans, may have alluded to this custom. But since among the Hebrews libations were only performed on the victim after it had been sacrificed, the Greek Fathers and most commentators explain this passage as follows: I have been sacrificed; libations have already been poured over me. ; All that remains for me is to be consumed by fire.

4.7 I fought, etc. See 1 Timothy, 6, 12.

4.8 that day ; that is to say, in broad daylight, as the context makes quite clear. Cf. 1 Timothy, 1, vv. 12, 18.

4.10 Demas, see Colossians, 4, 14. ― In Thessaloniki. See Acts of the Apostles, 17, 1. ― Crescent, unknown character. ― In Galatia. See Acts of the Apostles, 18, 23. ― Tite. See 2 Corinthians, 2, 13. ― In Dalmatia, part of Illyria, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic.

4.11 See Colossians 4:14. Luke the evangelist. ― Marc, see Acts of the Apostles, 12, 12.

4.12 Tychicus. See Acts of the Apostles, 20, 4. ― At Ephesus, see Acts of the Apostles, 18, 19.

4.13 THE books The ones Saint Paul is talking about here are probably the Holy Scriptures translated into Greek, and the parchments, the scrolls that contained the Hebrew text written on parchment, like those that can still be seen today among Jewish people. ― Troas. See Acts of the Apostles, 16, 8. ― Carpus is only mentioned in this passage. ― The coat, was a kind of long, sleeveless coat with a simple opening for the head.

4.14 Alexander. See 1 Timothy, 1, 20.

4.19 Prisca and Aquila. See Acts of the Apostles, 18, 2. ― Onesiphorus' family. See 2 Timothy, 1, 16.

4.20 Eraste. See Acts of the Apostles, 19, 22. ― Trophime. See Acts of the Apostles, 20, 4. ― In Corinth. See Acts of the Apostles, 18, 1. ― At Miletus. See Acts of the Apostles, 20, 15.

4.21 Eubulus, Pudens, Claudia. Nothing is known for certain about them. It is assumed that Claudia was the wife of Pudens, and Pudens, according to several scholars, was a Roman senator, the father of Saint Praxedes and Saint Pudentiana, virgins and martyrs. Linus became pope and was the successor of Saint Peter on the See of Rome.