Finished but Not Over – 2 Timothy 4
In the final chapter of 2 Timothy, we see a personal side of Paul and a personal side to this letter. The last half of this chapter illustrates to us that this is a real letter, written by a real person, to real people, all of whom have real triumphs and tragedies in their lives. We have spoken extensively about the inspiration of the Scriptures, that the Bible is God’s mind in human language. The last half of this chapter illustrates the “human” side of the Bible.
IT IS FINISHED – 4:6-8:
Paul has given Timothy the fateful charge to preach the word and do the work of an evangelist. Here, Paul reflects on himself and his own fulfillment of that same charge. The language that Paul uses here argues forcibly for the idea that Paul is expecting to be executed this time, during this imprisonment…
The picture of a drink (liquid) offering may have been intended to convey the image of Paul’s blood being poured out in his death. The word “departure” was obviously a metaphor for death. Paul said his time “has come” (perfect tense), suggesting that, while he did not know when, the date of his execution was written on the calendar.
Verse 7 has three short sentences that carry a lot of meaning. You must picture Paul in that cold, dark, damp prison cell under the cobblestone streets of Rome, ignored by the vast majority of the people above.
In each of these, Paul puts the object of the verb first. The good fight I have fought. In each case, the verb is in the perfect tense. Paul sees things as being over. There is no more fight.
The race I have finished. In the Christian race, it does not matter who finishes first or who finishes last. The important point is to finish!
The faith I have kept – loyalty and faithfulness. This might also carry some overtones of athletic imagery in the sense that Paul is saying he kept the rules when he ran the race and finished the course (cf. 2:5).
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BUT IT IS NOT OVER – 4:9-15:
This paragraph shows that Paul has not rolled over to die without further work to do.
From verse 13, we learn that Paul wants Timothy to bring the “books and the parchments.” The “books” were scrolls made from papyrus (biblia in the original) and the “parchments.” What these documents were, we have no way of knowing. But some valid suggestions are:
A. Legal documents such as proof of his Roman citizenship;
B. Copies of the Old Testament
C. Copies of New Testament writings
D. Copies of Paul’s own writings
E. Blank sheets for more writing
To the extent he was able, Paul was intending to do more work! Never retire from “church work.”
May we live faithfully so that when our lives are finished, the work of Christ will continue through our legacy.
–Paul Holland
