Page 478 - Demo

Saint Paul by Baldi Lazaro (1624-1703)
4:17 “I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” Paul was rescued, he says, not for his own sake but so that his appointed task, preaching to the Gentiles, could be completed. If he is near death, it is because his work is complete.
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 TIMOTHY 
IV. PERSONAL REQUESTS AND FINAL GREETINGS
Paul’s Loneliness. 9* Try to join me soon, 10for Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia,* and Titus to Dalmatia.h 11Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry.i 12I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.j 13When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.k
14Alexander* the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.l 15You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching.
16At my rst defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!m 17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all
the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.n 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.o Final Greeting. 19Greet Prisca and Aquila* and the family of Onesiphorus.p 20Erastus* remained in Corinth, while I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.q 21Try to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus,* Claudia, and all the brothers send greetings.
22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.r
* [4:10] Galatia: some manuscripts read “Gaul” or “Gallia.”
* [4:14–18] Alexander: an opponent of Paul’s preaching (2 Tm 4:14–15), perhaps the one who
is mentioned in 1 Tm 1:20. Despite Paul’s abandonment by his friends in the province of Asia (cf. 2 Tm 1:15–16), the divine assistance brought this rst trial to a successful issue, even to the point of making the gospel message known to those who participated in or witnessed the trial (2 Tm 4:16–17).
* [4:19] Prisca and Aquila: they assisted Paul in his ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:2–3) and Ephesus (Acts 18:19, 26; 1 Cor 16:19). They risked death to save his life, and all the Gentile communities are indebted to them (Rom 16:3–5).
* [4:20] Erastus: he was the treasurer of the city of Corinth (Rom 16:24); cf. also Acts 19:22. Trophimus: from the province of Asia, he accompanied Paul from Greece to Troas (Acts 20:4–5).
* [4:21] Linus: Western tradition sometimes identi ed this Linus with the supposed successor of Peter as bishop of Rome, and Claudia as the mother of Linus (Apostolic Constitutions, fourth century).
h. [4:10] Col 4:14; Phlm 24 / 2 Cor 2:13; 7:6–7; 8:23; Gal 2:3; Ti 1:4.
i. [4:11] Col 4:14; Phlm 24 / Col 4:10; Phlm 24.
j. [4:12] Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7.
k. [4:13] Acts 16:8; 20:6.
l. [4:14] 1 Tm 1:20 / 2 Sm 3:39; Ps 28:4; 62:12; Prv 24:12; Rom 2:6.
m. [4:16] 1:15.
n. [4:17] Acts 23:11; 27:23; Phil 4:13 / 1 Mc 2:60; Ps 22:22; Dn 6:23.
o. [4:18] 2 Cor 1:10 / Rom 16:27.
p. [4:19] Acts 18:2; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19 / 2 Tm 1:16.
q. [4:20] Acts 19:22; Rom 16:24 / Acts 20:4; 21:29.
r. [4:22] Gal 6:18; Phil 4:23; Col 4:18; 1 Tm 6:21; Ti 3:15.