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From: 2 Timothy 4:9-17b
News and Messages
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Commentary:
9-18. In his letters St Paul often asks people to do things for him; his messages
here are particularly moving, given as they are on the eve of his martyrdom. He
is following the example of Christ: he puts his trust in God even though his friends
desert him (vv. 10-12, 16); his enemies harass him more than ever, yet he forgives
them (vv. 14, 16); in the midst of his sufferings he praises the Lord (v. 18). His
mention of Thessalonica, Galatia, Dalmatia, Ephesus, Troas, Corinth and Miletus
show how warmly he remembers places which were very receptive to the Christian
message. These few verses constitute a mini-biography.
His generosity of spirit is shown by the fact that he mentions so many disciples
by name; to all he gave of his best; some of them fell by the wayside but most of
them stayed faithful; some are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles or in other
letters, but for others this is the only mention in the New Testament. However, all
without exception must have been very present to the Apostle who became “all
things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor 9:22).
10. Demas was one of St Paul’s companions during his first Roman imprisonment
(cf. Col 4:14; Philem 24); but now, when the Apostle is near to death and in a har-
sher prison than before, he has left him alone.
“That passage of the Second Episode to Timothy makes me shudder, when the
Apostle laments that Demas had fallen in love with the present world and gone to
Thessalonica. For a trifle, and for fear of persecution, this man, whom St Paul had
quoted in other epistles as being among the saints, had betrayed the divine enter-
prise. I shudder when I realize how little I am: and it leads me to demand from my-
self faithfulness to the Lord even in situations that may seem to be indifferent —
for if they do not help me to be more united to Him, I do not want them” (St. J.
Escriva, “Furrow”, 343).
13. The cloak he refers to was a sleeveless cape used for protection against rain
and cold. The “books” were probably less important documents usually written on
sheets of papyrus, whereas the parchments would probably have contained more
important texts, such as Sacred Scripture. This message does indicate that St
Paul was fond of study and reading. And the fact that the letter goes into details
like this speaks in favor of its being written by Paul.
16-17. St Paul points to the contrast between the way men treat him and the way
God does. Because of the hazards involved in staying with Paul or defending him,
some of his friends, even some of his closest friends, have deserted him; whereas
God stays by his side.
“You seek the company of friends who, with their conversation and affection, with
their friendship, make the exile of this world more bearable for you. There is no-
thing wrong with that, although friends sometimes let you down. But how is it you
don’t frequent daily with greater intensity the company, the conversation, of the
great Friend, who never lets you down?” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 88).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.