The Final Word of the Apostle to the Gentiles

Second Timothy chapter 4 would you turn there as we come to these Benedict free words of second Timothy as he's writing to Timothy and giving them the final words he's going to inscribe and the unique passage and that Tom it's a personal and practical.

If you will, for the greeting and updating of some things, but there are rich rich nuggets in here about the exhortation and encouragement so don't try to keep up with all the details. I'm gonna lay out as we look through all the people he mentions in the situation surrounding them but get for yourself. The encouragements annex rotations that you need this morning by doctors say that God knows we need this morning. I entitled this final exposition. The final word of the apostle to the Gentiles underlying Paul's entire ministry are to foundational convictions underlying Paul's whole ministry are true. Foundational convictions number one God has spoken. Paul knew God had spoken the truth to him and that this thing that God had given was of authoritative revelation was full of godly authority. It was right.

Paul refers to this truth, this body of truth we hold as sometimes quote the faith" quote the truth." Quote the word." The gospel. The sound teaching and other things and he believed this truth was given DOS God spoken he's given us this truth and he has entrusted to his church and to him as one of the church's ministers. It's it's sacred deposit. It's a treasure.

We have, as he writes to Timothy and says the church is the killer and support of the truth that is Christianity. So he writes to Timothy with that conviction to further ground and reaffirmed Timothy in the truth and to further reform the local church that Timothy is overseeing and that's the local church at Ephesus, less the first foundational conviction God has spoken given us this truth. The second conviction foundational conviction of Paul the was overruling the entirety of his ministry was that God had called him to the office of apostle and that he is to exercise that office with authority and with confidence that rather jumped out with me as I surmise the way Paul gave gave instruction. He talked about this man in this coupling this man and I told this really go here till this Wednesday that I left this one here. He clearly exercises his office with authority and with confidence now as we look at this, we come to this last section and we note that Paul has already mentioned 15 individuals. In his letter to Timothy, and now he's going to mention eight more. Would you look at their second Timothy chapter 4 verses 19 through 22. He closes the letter by saying great Tricia an equivalent sometimes will say Priscilla and a quill a I'll use probably both names is probably is a short version of Priscilla Priscilla and Aquila, and the household of in this verse, Erastus remain at current truthfulness.

I have left sick at Miletus make every effort to come to me before winter. You bless great shoe also Puritans Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. The Lord be with your spirit.

Grace be with you now, though, that the section just naturally plays itself out in five parts. This is not about my titles are different from others but a lot of expositors show these five parts. That's what I'm glued. Number one, I, a greeting to pass on to believers in Ephesus.

He says they are. First of all, in verse 19. Great Priscilla are Priscilla and Tukwila.

Now these two folks, this married couple. They were dear faithful coworkers with the apostle Paul, I should say more than one coworker just just undergird or so supporters to Paul and is no doubt that in the province of Providence of God right God raised up Priscilla and Tukwila. To do this and to be this, as they assisted Paul in his preaching church planting and on his missionary journeys say first of all Paul comes over on West and he comes into Europe their Philip Lydia say the first churches started in Europe that he go south all the way down to Athens and then he goes West again over the current when Paul left Athens to go to the current. He had some mixed results over Napa's he was at the Areopagus there and the preaching in some of the people, acts tells us near to Paul's message but others said now when we need here some more about this suck are interested. We like to hear some more about it. Acts 18 133 tells us after these things.

He left Athens and went to Corinth and he found the Jude name, a quill, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome and he came to them and because he was of the same trade. He stayed with them and they were working for about trade. They were 10 makers the providence of God, Claudius and Emperor causes the Jews equivalent Priscilla to leave and go to Corinth and their Paul happens to be providence of God, leaving Athens and going to Corinth and they just happened all 3B tentmakers and God created like that, and brother Ted… Here's another example of the Philemon Fellowship truth here, a quill and Priscilla have a business and they join with Paul in the business to get the gospel out and plant churches to build up churches amazed which Bob should call it the quill and Priscilla Fellowship because it is such a clear picture of what we want to accomplish accomplish in the Philemon Fellowship now again let's rebalance to your brother Ted does a beautiful job of this. And I'm a full conviction with them.

There's no absolutes here, which is what the Philemon Fellowship to be an encouragement for businessmen and business owners to use biblical principles, Christian principles in their business and be a part of supporting God's work just like a quill and facility so God uses the edict of the ungodly Emperor to put Paul with Priscilla and a quill. It's so enlightening to miss Pam and I as we left Athens like Paul left Athens just about 2000 years later and we went to Corinth like Paul with the car and we walked among the ancient ruins of the ancient city of Corinth others not a lot of buildings there but there's frag. There's foundations. The roads are there and it's amazing how the Romans built roads because they really are the best roads. I guess the world have had their still there.

You just walk along you could drive a truck along and we were walking up and down the Agoura marketplace. This struck me that I probably won't within for five or 6 feet were of krill or a quill and Priscilla had their tent making business.

And Paul made tense with them and lived in their home. That was probably adjacent to the building and there they together preach the gospel and Paul stayed there in that tent making business with the quill and Priscilla preaching the gospel for eight teen month just powerful to be the think of all that happening right there next to where I stood. Tukwila and Priscilla were no doubt present as Paul preach the gospel as is X11 three and four in verse 11 tells X 18. Rather, three and four and verse 11 tells us because he was of the same trade. He stayed with them. That's a quill and Priscilla and they were working for about trade. They were tentmakers and he was raising in the synagogue in every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. He's preaching the gospel. He's looking for converts, but at the same time he is thoroughly equipping this business couple equivalent Priscilla in the things of Christ been the doctrines of Christianity. Verse 11 continues on any settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them, so that's again a total of 18 months in Corinth with a quill and Priscilla now at the end of Paul's 18 months with them in Corinth. They all begin to leave, but before they left.

Let it be noted that they established a plan to the New Testament church. Nobody in the annals of history remembers that equivalent Priscilla might've been the finest tentmakers in Europe but it is still true that they found a church out of their business out of their house in the city of Cory what's going to be the testimony of your business life. I needed to be gone so quickly. What you do for Christ will last forever is rightly recorded and sacred text about Tukwila and Priscilla and their business and using it for Christ. Well, they sailed from Corinth, Paul appeal a quill and Priscilla. They had to Ephesus at Ephesus Tukwila and Priscilla found a preacher by the name of Apollo's paws was a fire resilience guy, but he needed to learn more about Dr. and you, not just to yell and be excited you to be true in the Bible tells us in acts 1826 and he that's Apollo's began to speak out boldly in the synagogue would Priscilla and a quill heard him.

They said to themselves, God's got his hand on it, but he don't understand true doctrine. You, that's my amplification out inserted that they took him aside. The tech sector says and explained in the way of God more accurately and we also know that a church was established in their home of Ephesus, so they left the church in Corinth. They moved their business to Ephesus.

They were with Paul in Ephesus and they start another church there in Ephesus. Romans 616 are the three through five tells us that equivalent and Priscilla also went to Rome and help plan a church there again in their house and even risk their lives for Paul. Romans 1633 five tells us great Triska Priscilla and acquittal of my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risk their own necks, whom not only do I get things but also all the churches of Gentiles and also greet the church that is in their health. The scouts fire me up everywhere they went. I'm sure they get their business going, but they started churches powerful thing, but encouragement to us. So wherever we see Priscilla and Tukwila their opening businesses and local churches are being established, but now there evidently is Paul's writing this there back in Ephesus, and Paul wants to send greetings to them because they are so dear to him and were such a wonderful help him. Many think of so many of you guys who do the years have just been faithful under girders faithful help of the pastors are not preachers might be like a small group leader, perhaps with more than anything, just working under Paul help Paul get the gospel out and plant New Testament churches. One thing that is sure that wherever Tukwila and Priscilla landed, they were an important blessing and help the gods preacher, and an important blessing and help to the local church will not only that he he Greeks, the household of a mistress look at it. There was nothing great Triska, Tukwila, and the household of a nest for us. I agree the scholars who say that is very likely on this verse has passed on these deceased by this point back in second Timothy chapter 1 verses 16 through 18. He says the Lord grant mercy to the house of a nest for Sonos again. He says the house of and this was not impersonal or he often refresh me and was not ashamed of my chains. But when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.

The Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus. Once again we come to the end, the second Timothy here in chapter 19 he doesn't say great on this verse. He says the house household up in this verse is the idea that on this. Chris was so bold and courageous, and faithful in supporting Paul and his church planting work on this versus people his family worse. Special and dear to Paula's collected expression.

You and I used today when you say, what if your friend of so-and-so, your friend of mine yet such respect that person whoever's key and are subject to them are special to you to.

I went to the funeral for the Wayne Ledbetter this last week and spoke with Anna and the boys and because I know them and love them and then their own right but I just had such love for Wayne such thankfulness for him.

It may have an even deeper endearing spirit toward the whole family. That's when this verse was pulses great that household. That man that man stood for me. He stood with me, help me when supporters were very hard to find even fought his way back into the Roman prison defined me so he could encourage me and we get some strong commendations and expectations and encouragement from these people's testimonies. What the second part II he gives an up date on coworkers in Rome, an update on coworkers or a look at verse 20 he says Erastus remained at Corinth, but truffle mess I left in the latest know they were centered in Rome, but now course during Corinth and Miletus become the things about these two sky. First of all Erastus it's it's not a common name, but we do find it in three passages in the New Testament, Annex 19 we find Erastus accompanying Timothy from Ephesus to Macedonia so he was a long-term faithful worker. Evidently Romans 1623. The apostle Paul refers to him as the city treasurer. Here again we find a prominent person but Lydia locked for Lima and Philemon and locked equivalent.

Priscilla now Erastus the city treasurer of Rome. Archaeologists have found numerous six inscriptions on the ruins of ancient Corinth with this name Erastus on it and you'd expect that if he was the treasurer he probably had his name on the coinage and other things in that area. So Paul says I want to know about him because God gave me a strong help and support this man who got safe. Isn't it neat how God saves the down and out, and God saves the up and out prominent official in Rome and here he is being committed by the apostle Paul. Now we don't need it now course and he third-place is mentioned is here in the final words of second Timothy and we don't know if this is the same Erastus every time I think that it is.

If so, again, it reminds us God can save and use anyone without any Erastus but also truffle mess is listed here. Verse 20 is as I left him sick and Miletus truthfulness is originally from Ephesus, so Timothy would know and and percents. It means that Paul got his farce Miletus in coming to Ephesus to see Timothy circumstances prevented him from going any further. We don't know but three things about truthfulness that are interesting, though. First of all, he was something of a messenger or a courier for Paul window truffle mess is one of the men entrusted to take the offering for the Gentiles and take it to the suffering saints in Jerusalem. So must've been a very trustworthy man. Secondly he was with Paul and Troy asked for seven days.

The Bible says fellow shipping with the brethren and what you think about this. This is the place where you do because falls asleep in the window seal and he falls out sleep while Paul's preaching three stories up and home. Paul goes in minister to them evidently healed him, and he's going to be all right and I think as we think about you Dickason falling out of the window because he's asleep. There might be some applications for you this morning but let's give some grace to Utica's because the Texas Paul preached until daybreak. Maybe that's an application for me now. Thirdly, truffle mess was with Paul in Jerusalem and unintentionally.

He gets Paul arrested the Jews identify truthfulness as a Gentile and they just assumed Paul must've brought truthfulness into the temple when he came in the temple and tall, which would be forbidden by law and Jewish doctrine. You can have a Gentile in the Jewish Temple.

So this got Paul thrown out of the temple and I got Paul arrested arrested but truffle must did means that to happen, but he was the reason.

What happened Paul here tells Timothy though with it at the ends this letter we call circuit to meet truffle must a lift sick at Miletus. One thought here is why did Paul live leave truffle must sick and Miletus. Why didn't Paul just heal truffle. I grew the scholarship say it's obvious that the normative signs and wonders of the early apostles did not accompany the apostles all the way through their ministry. There is a sense in which God did special signs and wonders when the church was first being established that curtailed and they are no longer normative for God's work today. If you disagree with that. We still love each other and go to heaven okay but it is an interesting personal touch. Speaking of Miletus are rather truffle must sick at Miletus and it got got me thinking about how the, the New Testament, especially just doesn't give a lot of personal information just collect mittens and skins over it gets on to what's more important, for example, in second Corinthians 11, Paul, outlines very briefly the things he's endured for the gospel.

Imprisonments plural beaten without a break in time for the without number. Laborers often in danger of death five times I got 39 lashes three times beaten with rods starved, stoned, three ship wrecks danger from rivers and from robbers, sleepless nights, he talks about had not been on hunger and thirst of known cold and exposure and in the top of that the sedated pressure of all the churches now in today's world minister for brought volumes on this call just hits it knows all the Scriptures are not that concerned about all the personal details was the truth. God is communicating through these people through their circumstances will III greetings from brethren in Rome. We have four names in verse 21 with the second half of verse 21 you bless reach you and Puritans and Linus and Claudia in the knees.

This is all the brother now these are likely not coworkers so much as just members of the church in Rome that Paul had and often on contact with being there in the prison's church tradition but not least for Nate. People are not mentioned any other time in the New Testament. So this is all we know about them for sure. The early church writings in early church church tradition says that Puritans and Claudia were later married, but they were not married at this writing in early church tradition in early church writings tell us that Linus became the Bishop of Rome North Catholic Church does with that because I would say that had be Peter who cares about the difficult text when you're building a world empire.he thinks it's of note that tell all womanist meats and Claudia that would not been common at all. In the ancient Roman culture mess because Christianity liberates women from depression and the abuse see that over and over at the been those whose name the name of Christ, and were charlatans and phonies and miss you should absolutely but weathers true Christianity.

Women have experienced true liberation from depression they knew from their own husbands and in their own culture so these four guys three guys and one lady I should say you bless Puritans Linus and Claudia. They are unknown. In Scripture, but they were certainly known to Timothy and they were certainly known to Paul and they are certainly known to heaven. This reminded me of fresh of how greatly greatly dependent. Paul was on a team of tireless behind the scenes workers.

Many, many, many more than these four but these four, we just know their names, nothing about the no steam.

About the necessarily just their name. Remember the sermon the night shift. Is it time for the night shift again, these are not shift workers, no fine, no glory don't want any recognition.

Just glad to get in on supporting work for the Ledbetter was a night shift worker Stella Burgess just on tables not shift work justly endears my heart to them for the years of this faithful service that were you are this morning. IV he gives that heartfelt appeal to Timothy look at their the first part of verse 21 just pathos that the motion make every effort to come to me for winter.

Timothy, please get here several things come to mind.

First of all Paul long for Timothy's fellowship. Dimas probably the other first lieutenant in Paul's line of successors, you might say has forsaken Paul.

Paul probably put a lot of stock in Dimas but he's gone eat. He loved this present world. He had too much world loving him to stay with Paul. Paul yes and people check in on Amon, but he don't have a Timothy Timothy please come before winter. He longs for his fellowship. Secondly it you can't cross the sea West over to Rome in winter just to rough in the Maritime travel by law was forbidden.

It was shut down in the winter months we had to come before.

Thirdly, Paul's already talked about what in verse nine lessee make every effort to come for me soon.

Dimas has loved this present world, has deserted me. So we see the connection between Dimas being gone upon the leading Timothy there with him in Rome.

This is on down there, bring the cloak what which a lift intro as with carpets, the books, and especially the parchment's the books you remember means the papyri. The writings on the papyri papers.

I think that's probably Paul's personal writings and perhaps writings of other New Testament authors. The parchments was the more expensive are you puts more special enduring writings on parchment. It was a leather piece and I believe that was Paul's copy of the Old Testament text just my speculation.

Magic is anybody else's resistivity when you come bring all these things in the these things wasn't that's wife's income before winter. He needed cloak just to stay warm in the winter that be the fourth thing first being he longs for Timothy second being you can't cross in winter. Succumb before winter. Third, being all of the books in the parchments fourth thing I need my cloak and then fifth. As I mentioned already. Dimas was likely a part of Paul's plan of succession. He knows his passing from this earth is going to be soon, and since demon has left him and maybe a pasta sauce is too strong of a word, but he's forsaken Paul to say the least. He needs Timothy to come and receive parting instructions. The aged apostle is burning with passion that Timothy will carry on the work from where Paul has to stop and that he wants Timothy to pass on the work still to others now. Lastly, the closing benediction verse 22 the Lord be with your spirit and grace be with you something interesting here that the scholars point out and that is that there's two parts here is a part to Timothy the Lord be with your spirit, then, is a part to the whole local church at Ephesus. Grace be with you last part of verse 22 Paul usually dictated his letters least that's the summation we make in first Corinthians, Galatians, Colossus Second Circuit. This longs in Philemon.

Paul has something to this right. Something like this. I write this with my own hand sleep.

Just understand that primarily he dictated but occasionally he would write with his own hand in a couple thoughts there is that Tom when he says I send this breeding with my own hand. He saying this because this shows you that this is genuine. This is not a counterfeit is not hope. This is a real letter from your apostle also emphasized a personal and endearments, a love he had for them.

So it's likely sitting here in prison you know is Artie told us only Lucas with me that Dr. Lucas dictating this letter, and as was his custom, we can see Paul now taking the stylist from Luke with large and possibly shaky letters. He writes this final part of the letter. These final words of the apostle to the Gentiles to Timothy. He says in verse 22. The first part of the Lord be with your spirit what we say that's to Timothy in the next when grace be with you been to the church. Scholars tell us the first part is a singular word here is singular to Timothy, but the grace be to use the word you is a plural you to grace be to you all.

The Senate clearly means it. Paul has two different groups in mind so she's Timothy, first of all, the Lord be with your spirit. May the Lord feel you and strengthen the inner man because, listen to me church listen to me and true gospel ministry you well not make it to the faithful. Two important words. The end and faithful you might make it to the end of something but not faithfully.

You will not make it to begin faithfully if the Lord is not the strength of your heart. Just not enough stuff out there to keep a man of God going 50s look and other stuff. Sure the church to be like Dick Willis and Priscilla's and Linus and Claudia's and all the rest of sure you should have the support of that wonderful but let's God hold you do will not prevail to the Paul writes oh Timothy May the Lord be your strength pulsing Timothy. I know I know what it's like to be faithful to the end and it took the Lord to give me Timothy may you know that same thing as the Old Testament prophet said it's not bond might this not by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord. So that's his final word. Timothy now his final word to the church at Ephesus. Grace be with you again, the plural grace be with you all know this letter is addressed to Timothy, it was personal to him at the same time. It's a word of authority for the local church be safe. Timothy was to be help by the letter so that he might help the local church at Ephesus for time and space history to get to the glorified state at the end of the age. God's local churches are the centerpiece of his purposes and his glory you see in the first order of things, when God made heaven and earth. When God created Eden when God made Adam and Eve in the entire universe. That was the work of Jesus in creation. That's the first order. But now were in the second order being developed. The second order of things is God's work of having for himself a holy and righteous people.

God is developing his Eckler Sia, the Greek word we translate church leaders were church from is called out once that's different from the first creation as the first work is a work of creation. The second work is a work of grace and of course creation.

Sometimes the Bible because it the new creation.

And while the first creation ends in judgment and eternal loss.

The second creation is transformed into glory and will no eternal gain. Ephesians 321 reminds us, to him be glory in the church is the new order gone. Establishing a holy and righteous people to be glory in the church and the church. The Savior, the church, the remainder of the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Paul's last word to the local church to any local churches Fars's physical ministry is concerned, his grace be with you.

You know, Paul ended every letter he wrote with a word of grace. That's what he ends this word with the word about grace because it's all about grace your individual salvation. Your individual growth in Christ as a Christian, your individual service to Christ. The formation of your local church. The maturation of your local church. The ministry and impact of your local church and the coming glorification of view the individual delayed flavor that is the church collective is all of grace. It's all grace.

Paul had two strong convictions underlying his ministry number one God has spoken number two I'm God's apostle of what he spoken to us what he's given us and it's all of grace in acts 14 through next 2023.

The ministry of the word that works through us is called quote the word of his grace." The word of his grace. All true Christian ministry is by grace all true Christian ministry is about grace. That, in the ministry. Grace God builds his church and glorifies his own name. Grace be with you all and so ends the writing's of the pasta.

The Gentiles apostle Paul.

We don't worship them with thank God for them