To say the apostle Paul is an important historical figure is a massive understatement. He was the apostle to the gentiles, wrote half of the NT, spread the gospel east and west throughout the Mediterranean world, laying the groundwork for the conquering of the Roman empire, and a missions movement that would go to the ends of the earth. We are going to look at these, Paul’s final words today. Second Timothy is Paul’s final letter and we know that shortly after this letter was written Paul was executed for his testimony of Christ and these are his final words. We need exhortation. We need warning. At times we need rebuke. But I would suggest they cannot be the final words hanging as a banner over our lives. The final words of Paul to Timothy are words of grace. Proverbs 16:24 says, 

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.  

Gracious words are not just soothing to the emotions - that may be short lived. Truly gracious words are sweetness to the soul. Paul is done exhorting Timothy of present duties to be done. We have two letters of exhortation and instruction. He’s done warning Timothy of present and future dangers. We have two letters with many warnings. These are Paul’s final words of his life that we have recorded and they are very simply words of grace to Timothy and the church at Ephesus. This is a young man that Paul loved. This is a church Paul loved and labored in extensively and his final words to this man and the church are words of grace and blessing. Amazingly, these are words for our profit as well. Since all scripture is breathed out by God, all scripture is for our benefit. And so these final words of Paul, ultimately being the words of God, are meant to be grace and blessing and life for us. 

Paul communicates three powerful messages to Timothy: 1) The joy of faithful friends, old and new, 2) The blessing of Christ with us, and 3) the grace of God continually with us.

The Joy of Faithful Friends

First, Paul names some friends. It is amazing all the names that are mentioned in the bible - I mean besides the main characters. The names of many men and women have been recorded in the God-breathed scriptures - some have gone into the annals of history in infamy and others for glory. Paul had many desert him in his hour of need who are named (Demas). He had enemies he named (Alexander). But Paul had friends who remained faithful to the end as well. He mentions some here.

Friendship is one of the chief gifts God gives to his children in this life. A friend with whom you have a deep bond centered on more important things than a favorite sports team, kids’ activities, hobbies - but centered on the most important things, is invaluable. A true friend with whom you consciously share the one Spirit, one hope, one baptism, one faith, and one Lord is a friend that will remain. A friend that shares the same gospel and same life purpose is stupendously wonderful. These are the kinds of friends who are born for adversity and stick closer than a brother. These are the kinds of friends that Paul mentions here. Men and women, who were partners with him in the gospel. 

So I would like to do a sort of biographical sketch of some of these people Paul mentions in order to spur us on to strive by God’s grace, to be friends like this as well as surround ourselves with such friends. First, Paul wants Timothy to greet some of his dear friends who were in Ephesus. First Paul mentions a couple - a husband and wife - who labored with him for years. 

Greet Prisca and Aquila (v. 19)

The word greet means to “draw to oneself”, “embrace”, “welcome”, “enfold in the arms”. This is much more than Paul saying, “Timothy, say what’s up to some friends”. Paul was not telling Timothy to say hi to some people. Paul is saying, embrace them, draw them close and hug them for me. 

Greet Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila. Who were these two? This was a powerhouse couple who labored faithfully with Paul for years. By the time Paul is writing this, he has known them for probably 13 years. We see their first meeting in Acts 18 where they meet in Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila had been expelled, along with all the Jews from Rome by the Emperor Claudius and they made their way to Corinth.  Paul lived with them, worked alongside them making tents. This couple left Corinth to go to Ephesus. Having been discipled by Paul, they taught Apollos who became a mighty preacher. When Paul wrote Romans, they were named and so we presume they lived there. They later left because of persecution and landed in Ephesus where they had a church in their home (1 Corinthians 16:19), which is where they are in this letter. They are a part of the church in Ephesus. 

This was the kind of couple that would go wherever they were needed and do whatever they could to serve the cause of Christ and advance his kingdom. This was a faithful couple. A faithful man and woman. Precious, true friends to Paul - faithful co-workers. May we both have and be friends like Priscilla and Aquila. Next Paul mentions a household. 

Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household Onesiphorus (v. 19)

We met Onesiphoruus back in chapter 1. After Paul said everyone in Asia turned away from him, there was one man who didn’t - (READ 1:16-18).

Onesiphorous often refreshed Paul. And he was not ashamed of Paul’s chains. He wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed to associate with Paul though he was a prisoner. Not only that. He traveled to Rome, searched for Paul EARNESTLY and found him! He served the church faithfully in Ephesus. 

Now it’s interesting. It says, “Greet the household of Onesiphorous”. This means the family unit living together under the headship of Onesiphorous. This was a family who meant so much to Paul. This household massively blessed Paul, so much so that Paul exclaims, “May he be richly rewarded on the day of judgment.” When everyone else turned away from Paul, Onesiphorous and his family did not!  Onesiphorous was on the scene, but it was the entire household who was giving support, serving the church, refreshing Paul, and not ashamed to be associated with the apostle and his gospel. 

If I may, brothers, men. Those who are the heads of households. And mothers who find themselves raising children alone. This is encouragement and a challenge to you. You are given the charge to lead your family, your household to be faithful. You are responsible for your household. And we are called to do more than just refusing certain things into our homes. This is more than just saying “No!” to certain things. Lines that we say cannot be transgressed, and if they are, there are consequences. That’s important, but there is more to faithfulness than that. 

We must also lead our households in being a source of refreshment to others, serving the body, being unashamed of the gospel. May it be said in heaven, “The household of _____________ was not ashamed of Christ, refreshed the saints, served faithfully. The household of Onesiphorus was a faithful family in that regard and Paul says, embrace them for me! Next, Paul mentions Erastus:

Erastus remained at Corinth (v. 20)

Erastus was called “one of Paul’s helpers” in Acts 19, who Paul sent into Macedonia. What a way to be described - one of Paul’s helpers! Don’t begrudge being a “helper”. The Holy Spirit is called the “Helper”. If you are a helper for Christ’s sake, rejoice! Erastus was, and now ten years later, Erastus is still serving, now in Corinth. Next, Paul mentions Trophimus:

I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus (v. 20)

Trophimus was an Ephesian, from Ephesus. He had served Paul, probably part of the group who carried an offering from gentile believers to the poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Faithful brother. He was left sick on Miletus. He must have been pretty sick as Miletus is only 45 miles away from Ephesus. No doubt, Paul wanted Timothy to know why he wasn’t back in Ephesus and also in order that the church could pray for their dear brother. 

Then Paul gives the greetings from new friends to Timothy. These are people we have no other biblical record of who were Roman Christians and part of the church in Rome, where Paul is, awaiting death. 

Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers (v. 21)

We know almost nothing about these individuals. Three men and Claudia is most likely a woman. We don’t know much, but Paul mentions them and so they were significant in encouraging Paul and in their loyalty to Christ, the church in Rome, and the kingdom. Interestingly, we know a bit more about one of these individuals. An early church father, Iraneaus in his book “Against Heresies”, tells us that Linus was Peter’s successor in leading the church of Rome, after Peter was martyred. We don’t know why these friends didn’t stand up for Paul at his first trial, but Paul forgave them and they were important to him - important enough to mention their names. It is a gift to have good friends, true friends. King David wrote in Psalm 16, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” It is a gift to go through this life and end this life with real, true friends. 

But next Paul speaks a word of blessing. After Paul mentions some true friends, he blesses Timothy. And this is a glorious benediction. 

The Blessing of Christ With Us

The Lord be with your spirit (v. 22)

This is the best benediction or blessing one could ever receive. And since this is recorded for us in sacred scripture, we may receive this blessing as well. 

What else do we need to be happy and blessed forever than for the Lord to be with our spirits? Of course, for those who belong to Jesus, who through faith are his, this is true. But what a reminder and what a blessing to have our spirits enlivened to this great reality. The Lord be with your spirit. This means your inner person. Paul’s prays in Ephesians 3 that, 

according to the riches of the Father’s glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… 

That’s it! When the Lord is with your spirit by faith, Christ dwelling by faith, you are blessed. You are living and experiencing the great blessing of God, deep within. And how could it be otherwise? It is through Christ that every spiritual blessing, now and forever, comes to us. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory! The Lord be with your spirit.

When Christ is with our spirits, not only are we blessed, but we have strong support in times of trouble. Timothy would need it. So do we! Jesus said, “I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world.” The Lord be with your spirit!

This is a word of strong support. And yet, often we don’t know it. We are shaken by rumors and controversy, we are bowed down by the pressures of life, we are blown around by the winds of affliction. 

We saw last week, the sweet consolation Paul experienced at his first trial. Everyone else deserted him. But not everyone! What did Paul say? 

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me… I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his eternal kingdom.

Paul said this though he would soon have his head cut off. The Lord be with your spirit. There may be times, in the path of obedience to Christ when you feel alone. But you are not. Emphatically, you are NOT alone. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Friend of friends. The Friend who sticks closer than a brother. If you have Christ as a Friend, though you have no other friends, you have all! We don’t know a whole lot about St. Patrick, but one quote that is attributed to him (??) goes like this:

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I rise… 

To be so saturated with the reality of the present, risen Christ with us, that is our great privilege. The Lord be with your spirit. Paul blesses or prays this for Timothy, and we may for ourselves as well. O that we would be so aware of the Lord with our spirits. We would boldly say “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

We would be strong and ready for every duty he calls us to, patient through every trial. Timothy would certainly need this in the days ahead. No doubt he treasured this benediction the rest of his life. And we may too. The Lord be with your spirit. It’s scripture. We can boldly speak over each other. 

Finally, let’s look at the last words we have ever recorded by Paul. 

The Grace of God Continually With Us

Grace be with you. (v. 22) 

Paul signs off with these words. It makes total sense. The chief of sinners’ final words are “grace be with you.” John Stott said, “grace is the word in which all of Paul’s theology is distilled.” And it is only reasonable that if the Lord Jesus Christ is with our spirits, dwelling in us by faith that his grace would be with us too. It is grace that brings us into the full, immeasurable riches of Christ. It certainly is not anything we are owed or deserve in any way. What do we have that we have not received as a gift? 

It has been said that grace is God’s unmerited favor. And that is true as far as it goes. But I would say it actually goes further than that. Grace is God’s favor contrary to what we deserve. All of that is true and may God’s grace be with you in that sense. 

But I think this is speaking not just as God’s saving grace, but also his divine strength. Grace is not just pardon from sin, but also power for living . And it is something that is to be received continually, which is what Paul here says, “Grace be with [keep being with] you.” Continual grace. Augustus Toplady (Rock of Ages) wrote,

The acts of breathing which I performed yesterday will not keep me alive to-day; I must continue to breathe afresh every moment, or animal life ceases. In like manner yesterday's grace and spiritual strength must be renewed, and the Holy Spirit must continue to breathe on my soul, from moment to moment...

Now I want to make a connection here. Paul often begins his letters with the words “grace to you” or “grace and peace”. And sometimes ends with the same sort of phrase, like here in 2 Timothy. I think there is a reason for that. The word of God is grace to us (both reminding us of pardon in Christ and granting us power for life and godliness). One of the evidences of God’s displeasure of the nation of Israel was when there was no prophet speaking the word of the Lord. 

But we have his word. If we are a people of the book, we are a people living under the gracious blessing of God, and we are people being equipped by the book for every good work. Just possessing a bible doesn’t impart this grace though. Certainly not if it is never picked up. Just hearing a good, sound, biblical sermon once a week is not enough. 

You must take it up and read. One more thing I want you to see. “You” is plural. In other words, this is a word for the entire church at Ephesus. It was expected that this letter from Paul to Timothy would be read by the entire church at Ephesus. And the entire church was to be given an impartation of grace through the word. 

So, you must take up the word and read it. Yes, but we must as well. We must read it and study it with the Holy Spirit as our teacher together, and we will receive this impartation of grace more and more together. Amen. Let’s pray.