2 Timothy 4:9-16 (NKJV) Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
V9 “Be diligent to come to me quickly…” Paul’s pressing reason was that while in prison all his friends, except Dr. Luke, had left for further ministries or desertion from the faith. He would like Timothy and Mark to be there to comfort him and share in his grief and hope for eternal joy. We are a family that cares for each other (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2, and Matthew 12:46-50). We are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to love and help each other if we are able, but we can always pray.
V10 “…for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.” Demas in mentioned by name three times: 1) Philemon 1:24 (“fellow laborer”), 2) Colossians 4:14 (his name only), and 3) 2 Timothy 4:10 (his desertion). Why did Demas drift and finally desert? No one knows, but he did. Perhaps he joined Paul out of new believer enthusiasm only to fade when the realities of persecution and hardships of the mission team were too much. Truly, the Lord Jesus taught: Matthew 13:20-21 (NKJV) “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.” Paul mentions that Demas left because he loved this present world. Moses rejected this present world (Hebrews 11:24-27). The church in Ephesians was chided in Revelation 2:4 that they had lost their first love, the first sign of drifting. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15). This is what they were drifting from for less love equals less obedience. Perhaps, they substituted the greatest love for God and transferring to loving philosophy first, or social service, or theology, etc. which lead to their drifting. Crescent and Titus had been commissioned to their ministries.
V11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” The Greek word for “ministry” is (G1248) διακονία diakonia which means service, helping, etc. Here it refers to personal service to Paul such as encouragement, listening, praying, and assisting him in whatever other physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We need to be aware of needs in our family, especially our local church family (including the church staff). All can pray, if nothing else, but even seemingly small things as running an errand, etc. Being helpful to others, if we are able, is a ministry of love.
V12 “And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.” For what purpose and why is only conjecture, but Paul clearly did send him to Ephesus.
V13 “Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.” Prisons are cold places and Paul surely could have used more clothes to keep warm. Here is a seemly small service that would be beneficial and a blessing to Paul. Should we not be the same? The parchments are not named but writings perhaps Scripture (Old Testament), personal letters that Paul needed to address questions, etc. It is unknown for sure.
V14 “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.” A warning to Timothy about Alexander. Some people are abusers, violent, even murderous if you disagree with them. Alexander was one of those people. How do we deal with those who are similar? One thing is to have low to no contact with them; avoid them if at all possible. If in conversion with them listen and answer BRIEFLY, for we do not want to start an argument which would give an excuse to harm us. It is not wrong to pray to God to judge evil people justly always making sure we pray for their salvation, too. We are to love our enemies. Love does not mean we are to bring suffering on ourselves. Basically, the best we need to do is avoid them. Remember we are to be (1 Timothy 3:3 NKJV) “not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous.”
V15 “You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.” It is good to answer questions but if they are not listening or or asking questions is a rapid fire style, it is time to listen and not reply. We need to excuse ourselves from their presence.
V16 “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.” Paul reveals his great disappointment, maybe even a fear he had, nevertheless, he always comforted himself that God will never leave (Hebrews 13:5). Compare Romans 8:28-29, Revelation 7:16-17 (the promises of heaven), Psalm 94:14, and Matthew 28:20.