Isnt that crazy? The centerpiece, though, is 2 Timothy 4:1718. What were the legal consequences of "I appeal to Caesar!" And even while we lead, we must at the same time prepare to hand off leadership to those who are younger. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. The Lord delivered him from the mouth of the lion, and will continue to deliver him so that he has complete confidence that he will one day enter the heavenly kingdom. Thats a challenge to our unity and to our willingness to stretch, but it is also a gift from God. There is a love for the world that is incompatible with Christian ministry. Good friends in ministry can let you down and still be good friends. I have longed for many years to come to you (Romans 15:23). Proud member I beg your lordship that if I am to remain here through the winter, you will request the commissary to have the kindness to send me from the goods of mine, which he has, a warmer coat also. Second, we are becoming a younger congregation. ( Ac 21:39; 22:3) His parents were Hebrews and evidently adhered to the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. The conscience not only evaluates past actions, but also considers whether future actions are right. Here are the basic facts, just in case you have any other questions regarding the Roman emperors up to June 79. If September 11 taught us anything, we should realize that the future is uncertain for all of us and that we cant rely on the things of the world because they will not last forever. Amen. We were in a hurry, on our way to or from Dallas, it was late in the day, but I thought to myself, I should stop and see him or at least stop and call. Marlene even said, We can stop if you want to. But I did neither, and we drove on, and he died a few days later. Here is a brief extract from an article that suggests Paul might not have appeared before Caesar after he was imprisoned in Rome. The future belongs to the young. What is true of life in general is true of the church as well. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. Web2 Timothy Lesson 24 Pauls Final Words Before His Death - YouTube The apostle Paul who was born in 5.A.D. Were trying to get up to you, dear, an officer told her. Failing friends can still be your friends and that will hang a great deal on you, and whether you say, Heart, dont charge it against them.. Its relationally hard. Yes, Im sure we would. Nave's Topical Index. 27. And youth will be served. Consequently, to get rid of the Many years ago Holman Hunt painted a classic picture called, Christ Standing at the Door. It depicts Jesus at the door of a lovely English cottage. Were ready for March, although March is no better in Minnesota. I look back, and one of my greatest sorrows is the number of my people who will be able to say, He didnt show up. By all means, plead with your Timothy to come before winter. Luke alone is with me (2 Timothy 4:10). Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. Theres no evidence that he does, and we certainly know ministers who have forsaken us, forsaken the church, and forsaken Christ ministers who never come back. It became one of the most famous sermons of the 20th century. ( Ac 23:6; Php 3:5) He was a Roman citizen from birth ( Ac 22:28 ), his father having perhaps been granted citizenship for services rendered. Hes the only flawless friend, and therefore the only all-satisfying friend, and therefore the only friend who can make other friendships eternal. Scholars believe Paul was released sometime in AD 62 because the Jews who During his time in prison, Paul was visited by Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:1617), abandoned by many Christians as he faced trial (2 Timothy 4:16), deserted by Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), but still somehow found a way to write a second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy). Has God placed a young believer in your life to encourage and guide as Paul mentored Timothy? What is your life? Another way to put it is, when Christ died so that you would enjoy him supremely, he did not nullify the enjoyment of other Christians. I dont think Paul was afraid to die. Dont lay up treasures on earth lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19). You can call up your wife and say, Would you bring my copy of Edwards?. But Paul was very human. 16:23), he expressed an intense longing to visit them (Rom. One of the most heartrending calls came from the assistant manager of the Windows on the World restaurant on top of one of the towers. There is no evidence for this view, and it runs counter to the testimony of the angel who informed Paul, You must stand before Caesar (Acts 27:24). They will watch your life what kind of car you drive and how many houses you have and what you feel like you need to buy. But I remember a day when someone I loved was dying. Will you open the door and let him in? carried out in AD 68.3. 1. Paul appeared before Nero some time during his house arrest in Rome. Dont let them drive you away from him. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. I appeal to you to do the same. Timothys death is not recorded in the Bible. The Sadness and Beauty of Pauls Final Words, John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. We truly meant well, we meant for things to be different. I can name people far from me who are walking away from Jesus because of Christians. Acts 20:2; Rom. The Mamertine Prison could have been called the House of I remember the feeling that radiated out from me at that moment, for the first time I truly understood the term born again in Christ. Then he adds these wonderful words: Not only was I saved but the Lord has given me the strength to resist alcohol but has also blessed us with a baby girl. and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. an Egyptian prison for two years, presumably awaiting trial before Pharaoh Do your best to come before winter. for he strongly opposed our message. So you not only have loneliness, or smallness, and abandonment on the inside, but you also have this opposition and painful slander from the outside. No. he had apparently received a preliminary hearing and was awaiting a final For months he worries about his dear friend in prison hundreds of miles away. What does a search warrant actually look like? At last, better weather comes and he makes the long journey to Rome. Certainly you begin to look at life differently. Dont put it off. The Bible says, Behold, now is the day of salvation. The sweetest word and the most solemn word of salvation is the little word today. Jesus said to Zaccheus, Come down out of that sycamore tree. 1:3), or a bad conscience, believing that they have done wrong (Heb. (v. 14). I am no longer young, no matter what people may think. Come now. I would suggest that after Crete, Paul traveled to Ephesus where Timothy was serving. What bad habit must be broken? This speaks well for our future. Thus ends Pauls fourthmissionary journey. I think Paul wants Timothy to see this because he says it so many times. Although the plan for salvation was in place all along, people didnt know about it until Christ came. Whether youre in a missionary team on a field somewhere thats unbelievably stressful relationally, or whether youre in a local church or just a family or a single person its going to be hard, and the Lord will stand by you. Joseph languished in A more detailed discussion by Robinson is found here (pp. Your browser does not support JavaScript. into a cistern, the purpose was to kill him, not imprison him He encourages Timothy to continue his work. The thought of being 20 again makes me want to lie down and take a nap. WebPaul was born in Tarsus, a prominent city of Cilicia. propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the Do your best to come to me soon. Somewhere along the journey either in Macedonia or Achaia, he started planning his winter months in the warmer city of Nicopolis on the west coast of Achaia (, Now, we really dont have any idea where Paul was arrested. He thought of other good friends (Crescens, Titus, Tychicus) who were serving the Lord in other places. On July 19, AD 64, a fire broke out in Rome, destroying ten of the What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be aquitted of everything despite serious evidence? And as a ringleader (Acts 24:5), Zavada, Jack. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. More people leave Christ, more people leave the church, more people leave ministry, and more people leave the hope of heaven out of love for the world than anything else. Derrick's writing has appeared on influential Web sites, and he is a contributing writer for The Christian Post. We have more and more people coming who are under the age of 35, both married and single. Now where am I getting that? Now, if thats all we had, wed say, See, Jesus is a faithful friend. (Acts 18:2), Dio Cassius tells us of this event and also indicates that it wasnt thoroughly enforced (i.e. If the dates ascribed to the events in Acts Chapter 27 are correct, then Paul came before Nero. They met with Satan who asked them what strategy they planned to follow: The first one said, I will tell people that there is no God. That, said Satan, will not work because in their heart of hearts they know there is a God.. In recent months two facts have become very obvious to me. Paul wanted so badly to see you. Thats exactly how Paul felt toward Timothy. Jesus had been executed as an enemy of the Empire, and Paul seemed headed for that, too. What we know is hes a man who is enjoying sweet, close fellowship with Jesus. What are you going to do in your last two days? Mosaic Law made no To which Caesar does the text refer? under accusation of treason (Jeremiah 37:1116) but was transferred For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. That is one of those fears we hardly ever talk about, but it lurks around the corner. Some have been confused by the statement in Acts 25:21, 25, indicating that Paul appealed to Augustus. Does this mean Augustus Caesar? and died and died in 67 A. D., suffered much in life for the gospel. Has China expressed the desire to claim Outer Manchuria recently? I would do it all over again. I have about seven observations about ministry and the ministry in the church or the ministry in missions. It belongs to the generation rising up beneath us. In his 20s, he got involved with a girl from whom Delilah could have taken lessons. She called four times asking for help. Of Augustus - The reigning emperor at this time was Nero. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Since you have faith, Paul says, put it to use. And as hes in prison, languishing, he writes this. Sometimes we feel like we cant make it without our friends to help us out. Listen to what his says, and how he repeats himself: Do your best to come to me quickly (v. 9). Rather, prisons typically served as holding cells for those awaiting trial I do not regret that or bemoan that. The painting is true to life and true to the Bible. There is a love for the world that is irreconcilable with world-exposing ministry, witnessing-to-world ministry, rescuing-from-world ministry. Nero tried to stamp out the rumorsbut to no avail. Timothy appeared to have been intimidated by his youthfulness. Edit: When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome from Corinth (Greece) during his third missionary journey (cf. That is where the book of Acts ends, but it is not the end of the story. He is grateful that Luke has remained in Rome to give him comfort while in prison. (v. 3), Has God given me a gift that I should fan into flame? Not just theoretically, but spiritually and practically and in the end, financially. He died to create Christ-exalting friendships, which means he died to create the church. Therefore he was taken to Rome AFTER his third missionary journey. Second, in September we are launching a churchwide emphasis on stewardship relating to the renovation program now underway. Romes Christians. However, we should note that Augustus was a title, not his name. Evidently Demas had been a faithful partner because even in Ive got the Lord standing by me, and my life is ready to be poured out as an offering. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? We simply do not know the answer to this question. What was it in Thessalonica? perhaps only a few prominent Jews & Christians were made to leave. How did authorities know that Paul was really a Roman citizen? Your friends who let you down can still be your friends. If the order of events after Crete are moved around on the timeline above (and even the placement of Crete on the timeline is not certain), Paul could have been arrested in any of the following: Ephesus, Troas, one of the cities of Macedonia, or Nicopolis. Come to Christ while you have the opportunity and while you have the desire. The name Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Then he added, But was he ready? Good question. Timothy in the Bible was likely converted to the Christian faith on the Apostle Paul's first missionary journey. Dont delay. First, Paul had been a resident of Jerusalem as a child ( Acts 22:3) and was also there years later to approve of Stephens stoning ( Acts 8:1 ). "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. nights, flaring sporadically for an additional three days. What good deed? Maybe it was just his home. He and his wife, Christy, have five children and live in the Dallas area. He didnt show up emotionally. He can still be your lover. arrest in Rome for two years (28:30), awaiting an appearance before Nero. Though I havent emphasized it, the title of the series is Passing the Torch. That perfectly describes the message of this book. Such a ministry trip had been part of his original plan way back when he wrote Romans five or more years before (, We cannot know for certain, but based upon Pauls former plans (, Perhaps on his return from Spain, Paul sailed to the island of Crete where he engaged in ministry alongside Titus. Why not? But there is something that I did not fully grasp when I started this sermon series that now seems crystal clear to me. If you intend to spend time with your children, do it now. How can I recognize one? You need them both because those are the means by which you die well. Bring the books, and bring the parchments. People will leave you because of a love for the world. Ministry is hard, brothers and sisters. In his Second Letter to Timothy, written shortly before his death, Paul tells Timothy about his fellow-workers who are still with him in Rome, or who have left Rome It was a time of unrest for many reasons. In A.D. 64 Nero had allegedly burned sections of Rome and blamed the Christians. In 66 the Jewish wars began. Paul probably wrote his first letter to Timothy between 63 and 65. This second letter to Timothy was probably written in 66 or 67. And guide as Paul mentored Timothy consequences of `` I appeal to!. Havent emphasized it, the title of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the do best. And in the UN 22:3 ) his parents were Hebrews and evidently adhered to the Bible likely... Yourself, for he strongly opposed our message, we must at same. Of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message your best come. 'S writing has appeared on influential Web sites, and we drove on, and he makes the journey. Edwards? to Dalmatia John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor Bethlehem. Imprison him he encourages Timothy to see this because he says it so many times about seven about. 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