Timothy II - Expositional Study
SNAPSHOTS OF SIX SOLDIERS
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4:9-12 (KJV)
Introduction
Paul, the old warrior, will soon he gone. He writes to his young fellow-soldier. This is a word he used regarding Archippus in Philemon 2, exhorting him to acquit himself well in warfare – "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2:3). Now, finishing up his letter, he mentions some of the other soldiers who have shared in the campaign, enclosing a few verbal snapshots which Timothy needs to see.
Here is the first, but this is written on the back: a base deserter. "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica." Possibly this may have been coming for a long while. In Philemon 24 Paul said, "Demas...my fellow-labourer", as if he had shared as fully as others in the work. But, in Colossians 4:14 he wrote, "...and Demas", with no added encomium, or remark of any kind, as if, he was beginning to suspect him, to mark worldliness creeping into his heart.
A worldly spirit can do much damage to a Christian and the church. This ugly spirit manifests itself in several ways. Such as: Possessions – a lust to get, a policy of grab. Some earnest Christians who become rich change spiritually. Money in and of itself is not wrong. Some wealthy Christians are godly. But money ill-gotten is "filthy lucre" (Titus 1:11), and money loved is "the root of all evil" (1 Tim. 6:10). Wisdom says be on guard when it comes to money. Obviously and sadly the same can be said of one who gains authority and power within the church. Pleasure – how reasonable and ruinous it can become. Relaxation and enjoyment makes for good health both physically and spiritual. It is a rare aid to poise and balance and is a capacity for fun. Yet, it has the capacity to completely run away with us. We can legitimately enjoy pleasures, provided they are: of the right kind, at the right time, and in the right proportion. Popularity – it is nice to be popular. It might even be a help in Christian service, but it can quickly become a snare! Some Christians have done wrong things while leaving undone right things because they fear losing popularity. Pride (peculiarly ugly in a Christian) is readily engendered in a worldly spirit. Present life – the habit of looking at things from the viewpoint of the present. Some Christians have acquired this attitude. Among the lost, it is understandable, but it is out of place in a Christian.
This worldly spirit in Demas was accompanied by a cowardly spirit – he "departed". The Greek word is an entirely different one from that used in verse 6. There was nothing: splendid, ennobling, or enriching about this man's going. Why did he go? The persecution of Christians was in the air. To have stayed with Paul, being known as one of his, was asking for trouble. Perhaps he left while the going was good – "having loved this present world ...". Whatever the reason, he "departed". Where did he go? To Thessalonica, where there was a body of Christians, indicating that Demas had no intention of leaving Christianity. He was just no longer an all-out Christian, loving this present world. By going there he was letting himself in for an uncomfortable time. Why? Because the Christians at Thessalonica were very keen and they were good friends of Paul. But, then, a half-hearted Christian is uncomfortable no matter where he is. He is like a man with a headache, who does not want to lose his head, but it hurts him to keep it. So this Christian does not want to lose his religion, but it hurts him to keep it. He was a religious man who did not have enough religion to resist the constant attractions and seductions of the present. Through the hole made in his consecration, his courage also leaked out.
Notice another snapshot from the rank and file: "Crescens to Galatia." Never heard of him! He was only a private, ordinary soldier. But here he is mentioned in Paul's dispatch. How much of God's cause is advanced by ordinary, unknown people. While reading Hebrews 11, one finds several great and glorious names and then follows, "and others" (v. 35), "and others" (v. 36). Obviously there were other anonymous heroes of the faith. Think of the prestige and power of that distinguished company in 1 Corinthians 12:28, "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings...governments, diversities of tongues." This represents an important group for sure. But where are the ordinary folks listed? The vacant place left out of the list is occupied in the text by, "helps". Certainly the rank and file, each of us, can do that. Nehemiah was a torch, a flame for God, but Hanani was the match that lit the torch. On and on it goes, matches lighting torches. How many have advanced the cause? Crescens was that sort. He was one of the rank and file.
Now, another verbal snapshot from Paul of a distinguished officer – "Titus unto Dalmatia." This was no ordinary man. He was a leader. Today, we badly need such people. We need those in the church, in the home, at the office, at the plant, or in any group, who will set the tone, give a lead, in a clean, healthy, strong, wise, godly direction. No need to be forever preaching about a touch, a word, a look, an attitude. Let us not leave leadership to the devil and his agents. Let us, wherever we are, take pains to live our life in Christian channels.
The secret of Titus' successful leadership was this: he was led. Joshua became Moses' successor, because he had been such a success as "Moses' minister" (Josh. 1:1). He led so well, because he had learned to follow. Notice how Titus was led, and you will not be surprised that he was a leader. First, he was led to Christ. Paul did that for him (Titus 1:4), as he did for Timothy (1 Tim. 1:2). Then, he was led for Christ. The apostle followed up the work of the Lord in his heart, nurturing him for the Master, leading him on in His service. The epistle to Titus is part of the wonderful preparation he gave him for his task. He was led by Christ into all kinds of service, and into rich depths of spiritual experience. Titus led well because he followed closely.
Notice now another snapshot. On the back it says: the M.O. "Only Luke is with me." Luke was in God's army. He was a member of the expeditionary force that embarked on the Macedonian campaign. Note the "we" in Acts 16:10. He contributed his medical gifts, the M.O. of the regiment. He was the first medical missionary. He was also contributed literary gifts. His style of writing proved to be a great service to the cause. Who can measure the extent of the usefulness of his Gospel and Acts? He also possessed personal gifts such as charm of manner and attractiveness of personality. All he had was gladly thrown into the cause of Christ. Does such complete abandonment to God mark our Christian life?
Consider what Luke meant to the C.O. He was first, in fidelity. From Troas to Philippi, where he was stationed for a while to nurture young believers; afterward, back to Jerusalem, up to Caesarea, on the sea during the terrible storm and shipwreck, across to Rome during the first imprisonment, and now under the awful conditions of the second imprisonment. Luke scarcely left his side. And, for the moment, he is Paul's "only" companion. What a help it must have been to have a doctor with him all those years. It seems that Paul greatly appreciated the loving-kindness of friends. Luke's affection meant much. Over and over again in Paul's letters we see expressions of his gratitude for the help and gifts of friends. When we read, "Luke the beloved physician" (Col. 4:14), we detect the deep mutual affection that existed between them.
Consider another snapshot – a credit to the regiment. "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." There is no getting around his past failure. He had been a disgrace to the regiment. Soon after his conversion, by Peter (as 1 Pet. 5:13 seems to suggest), he was introduced to Paul by his uncle Barnabas, throwing all the virility of his ardent young manhood into the cause, joining, as Acts 13:5 shows, the first missionary party. They had a grand time in Cyprus. The equable climate, the Christian adventure, spiritual triumphs, combined with the daily companionship of two great men, made it an unforgettable experience for Mark. Then the tragedy happened. They crossed over to Pamphylia, which the young enthusiast quickly discovered to be a fever-laden area and he desired to be excused from the remainder of the tour, returning to Jerusalem.
Consider now his present condition. By the grace of God, and perhaps through the tender handling of Barnabas, Mark became a credit to the regiment – "he is profitable to me." Paul had already used that word when, in 2:21, he spoke of the man who was "meet for the Master's use"; useful to the Master, and now Mark, useful to His servant. He was useful all round. We should all covet the quality of being ever ready to help both the Lord and His servants. It is delightful to observe the change that has come over the relationship between these two. Paul had firmly and rightly refused the employment of the younger man. But now he is re-instated. Paul now wants the man he, at one time, would not have.
Observing Paul's verbal snapshot, reminds us of Mark's prospective honor. None of us can tell what God has in mind for the returning backslider. For Mark it was something unspeakably honorable. God had chosen him to write one of the Gospels. Like Mark, if any of us have wondered from God, deserting His service, will we, like Mark, come back? We will not be commissioned to write a Gospel, but we will be expected to live one:
You are writing a gospel, a chapter every day,
By all you do, and all you say.
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true,
Say, what is the Gospel according to you?
"This honour have all His saints", adopting the words of Psalm 149:9, in a different connection.
Before we put the snapshots down, let us notice one last point – his perennial lesson. There is always a way back home for a backslider. Consider Jonah. Renegade and run away. He was offered the privilege of going to a people to proclaim God's message; but, when a man runs away from God, God runs after him. In miraculous ways, God turned him back, offering him again the same task: "The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time" (Jon. 3:1). Consider Peter. He was so earnest in the Master's service. He meant every word he said. Yet, at testing time he failed, and "went out and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:62). Was this the end? "I will heal their backsliding", is God's promise in Hosea 14:4. He did that for Peter, Jonah, and Mark. He still does it for any of His children who stray from Him, however deep they may sink. Have you sinned as none else in the world has done before? Are you worse than other creatures in guilt? Fear not, and doubt not. The mother who bore you loves you less than the Savior whose blood you have spilled.
Come, come to His feet, and lay open your story
Of suffering and sorrow, of guilt and of shame;
For the pardon of sin is the crown of His glory,
And the joy of our Lord to be true to His Name.
Consider now the colonel's batman – "Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus." There is a better portrait of this man in Colossians 4:7-14, where Paul outlines his character as "a beloved brother". Brother, because master and servant were each like children in God's family, through "common faith" (Titus 1:4) in Christ. He was beloved because Paul had learned his true worth and esteeming him highly. And he was "a fellow servant". If Tychicus was Paul's servant, both of them were the Lord's servant, "bond-slaves of Jesus Christ." Consider now “a faithful minister". The word used seems to signify his personal servant, almost his valet or in military language, his batman. Paul had long since discovered how trust-worthy Tychicus was by sending him on many delicate missions. For example, when Paul wrote to the Colossians, this was the man to whom he entrusted its safe delivery. Incidentally, he arranged that Onesimus, bearing his letter to Philemon, would travel with Tychicus. Now, Paul sends him "to Ephesus", Timothy's headquarters. Perhaps Tychicus went to relieve Timothy (since Paul wanted Timothy to come to him), until Timothy returned. If this was the situation, then it would be one explanation for Paul asking Timothy to pick up Mark on the way to Rome, so Mark could take care of Paul's personal needs in Tychicus' absence. Note that "for the ministry" is the same word, in the Greek, as is applied to Tychicus in Colossians 4:7. May the Master, Whose "bond- servants" we are, find us as "faithful", in every duty, every day, as Tychicus and Mark were to Paul.
Conclusion
As we close, let us drop the military metaphor, going back to those poignant words with which our present text opened, "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me." This is the urgent message of a dying father, with little time left, greatly longing to have one last look and touch of a beloved son. "Do your very best to come to me as quickly as you can", anyhow, "before winter" he adds in verse 21. The mantle of that intimate relationship was spread over the opening passages of the Epistle, and extended again at its close.
