This Epistle has a very special significance as our teacher St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, has written it to his most beloved disciple St. Timothy. He was his partner in the pastoral ministry and St. Paul had ordained him Bishop of Ephesus. This Epistle is the last one St. Paul has written from his second prison where he was waiting for the day of his martyrdom. He longed to meet with his disciple in order to deliver to him his final advice. As he feared that he would not have time, he poured out his heart as a minister, and recorded his farewell advice to his very special son, St. Timothy. THE DESTINATION OF THE EPISTLE St Paul wrote this Epistle to St. Timothy who was preaching in Ephesus where he shepherded the congregation. Evidence of this can be noted as follows: 1- He asks him to greet Onesiphorus (2 Tim 4: 19), who was in Ephesus (1: 18). 2- He charges him to pass by Troas on his way to Rome (4: 13). Now this city was situated on the concrete road that stretched from Ephesus to Rome, as we understand from the passage in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles (20: 5, and 2 Cor 2: 12). 3- He warns him from Alexander the coppersmith (4: 14), who was in Ephesus (Acts 19: 33; 1 Tim 1: 20). 4- He commands him to “come to (him) quickly” (4: 9); and adds: “And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (4: 12). It seems that St. Paul has sent him there to replace St. Timothy during his absence in Rome. 5- The deviations and errors that St. Paul encourages St. Timothy to resist are the same as the ones he mentions in his First Epistle. It is as though St. Timothy will receive this Second Epistle in the same city of Ephesus where he had received the First Epistle. BACKGROUND HISTORY From this Epistle, it appears that St. Paul wrote it while he was in prison in Rome (1: 8, 16; 4: 6). The year could be 67 or 68 A.D. approximately, and when he was imprisoned for the second time rather than the first. Actually he was imprisoned twice: the first time he was held inside the prison, whereas in the second time he was living in an apartment he had rent but under “house arrest” and not in an actual prison. The following points indicate that this Epistle has been written during his second imprisonment: 1- He did not expect to be released soon or to leave Rome. This is different from what he says in his Epistle to the Philippians (1: 24, 2: 24), or in his Epistle to Philemon (22). On the contrary, here he is expecting his martyrdom. He says, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” (4: 6) 2- Some explain that the Apostle here is referring to his first imprisonment and the trial which ended in his release and return to the ministry, as he says, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” (4: 16-17) However, most scholars find that the Apostle is speaking here about his expected appearance before the Roman emperor Nero at a certain time; and that the case had been postponed, so he was to stand before him at some later time. He also indicates how the ministry became fervent between the two trials and while he was in 3 prison. 3- The Apostle asks St. Timothy to bring to him the robe that he had left in Troas with Carpus, (4: 13), as well as the books, especially the parchment. This indicates that the Apostle was arrested by a Roman order, upon Nero’s demand and at an unexpected time. Therefore he had no chance to gather his belongings. 4- Some of the names mentioned in the epistles St. Paul has written while he was in prison for the first time are names of people who were with him at that time. These do not appear in this Second Epistle and this indicates that the Epistle has been written while he was in prison for the second time. For example, in his Epistle to the Colossians, St. Paul mentions that Timothy, Mark and Demas are with him (Col 1: 1; 4: 1, 14). In contrast, here in the Second Epistle, he is writing to St. Timothy who is living in Ephesus, and he asks him to bring along St. Mark, the Apostle (4: 11). He also says that Demas has abandoned him (4: 10). THE PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE 1- The Apostle writes to his disciple to ask him to go to him and bring St. Mark too. He wishes to see them in his prison and before his martyrdom. He fears he will die before their arrival. Consequently, he presents in this Epistle a final farewell and fatherly advice. He underlines the necessity of struggling in a spirit of strength rather than of pessimism. This is important to preserve the upright faith and to oppose the heresies with firmness coupled with gentleness and love. He also encourages them to teach others who are needed to support the ministry. 2- The Apostle writes while he is expecting to die in Rome. He writes to a Church that is suffering under the yoke of the unjust Nero. Therefore he writes to encourage the Church to bear the pain without complaining or doubting. He repeats the expression “do not be ashamed” since affliction does not confine the Word but drives many to work without feeling ashamed of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3- This Epistle comes from a victorious servant who bids farewell to a world full of affliction. He announces that he has completed the struggle, and has kept the faith entrusted to him until the last breath, and now awaits the eternal crown THE SECTIONS OF THE EPISTLE 1- Opening Greeting Ch. 1: 1-5. 2- The Spirit of Power Ch. 1: 6-18. 3- Struggle in the Ministry Ch. 2. 4- Opposing the Spirit of Delinquency Ch. 3. 5- Farewell Recommendations Ch. 4.
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