DIGGING DEEP NO. 1152 October 13, 2026
Be diligent and faithful – Hurry and get here is what apostle Paul was telling Timothy 2 Tim.4: 9. As Timothy hurried to Rome, he could stop in Troas, and get the cloak, books and parchments. It is touching to see that in his closing days on earth, Paul wanted his dear son in the faith at his side. But he was also practical; he needed his cloak for warmth, and he wanted his books for study.
Why should Timothy be diligent and faithful? 2Tim.4: 10. Some in Paul’s circle were not faithful, and he could not depend on them. Demas is named only three times in the New Testament, yet these three citations tell a sad story of failure. Paul listed Demas along with Mark and Luke as one of his fellow laborers Philemon 1: 24. Then he is simply called Demas Col.4: 14. Here 2Tim.4: 10 it is simply “Demas has forsaken me.” Demas loved the present world. It must have broken Paul’s heart to see Demas fail so shamefully, yet it can happen to any believer. Another reason why Paul wanted Timothy in Rome was that his next hearing was coming up, and only Luke was with him. The believers in Rome and Ephesus who could have stood with Paul had failed him 2Tim.4: 16. But Paul knew that Timothy would not fail him. Of course, the Lord had not failed Paul either 2Tim.4: 17. The Lord had promised to stay with Paul, and He had kept the promise. When Paul was discouraged in Corinth, the Lord came to him and encouraged him Acts.18: 9- 11. After he had been arrested in Jerusalem, Paul again was visited by the Lord and encouraged Acts.23: 11. During that terrible storm, when Paul was on board the ship, the Lord had again given him strength and courage Acts.27: 22. Now, in that horrible Roman prison, Paul again experienced the strengthening presence of the Lord, who had promised, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” Heb.13: 5. Paul’s concern was not for His own safety or comfort. It was the preaching of the Word so that Gentiles might be saved. It was Paul’s special calling to minister to the Gentiles; and he was not ashamed of the gospel, even in the great city of Rome Rom.1: 16.
What a man! His friends forsake him, and he prays that God will forgive them. His enemies try him, and he looks for opportunities to tell them how to be saved. What a difference it makes when the Holy Spirit controls your life. “I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” 2Tim.4: 17. To be saved from the lion’s mouth was a proverbial saying that meant to be delivered from great danger Ps.22: 21. But for a Christian, there are things even more dangerous than suffering and death. Sin for example 2Tim.4: 18; he was confident that the Lord would deliver him from every evil work and take him to the heavenly kingdom. Paul’s greatest fear was not of death; it was that he might deny his Lord or do something else that would disgrace God’s name. Paul was certain that the time had come for his permanent departure 2Tim.4: 6. He wanted to end his life-race well and be free from any disobedience. It is heartening to see how many people are named in the closing part of this last letter Paul wrote. Paul could not do the job by himself alone, so he enlists others to help get the job done and share in the greatness of the work.
Luke – 2Tim.4: 11 was the beloved physician who travelled with Paul Col.4: 14. He is the author of the gospel of Luke and the of Acts.
Crescens – 2Tim.4: 10 was sent by Paul to Galatia. He was another faithful laborer who assisted Paul in an hour of great need.
Titus – 2Tim.4: 10 was Paul’s close associate and along with Timothy, a trusted associate. Paul had left Titus in Crete to straighten out the problems in the churches there Tit.1: 5. Paul had summoned him to Rome and sent him to Dalmatia (our modern Yugoslavia).
Mark – 2Tim.4: 11 was a cousin of Barnabas, Paul’s first partner in missionary service Acts.13: 1- 3. Unfortunately, John Mark failed on that first missionary journey Acts.13: 5, 13. Paul refused to take Mark on the second trip, and this led to a fallen out between Paul and Barnabas Acts.15: 36- 41. However, Paul now admitted that John Mark was a valuable worker; and he wanted Mark with him in Rome. How good it is to know that one failure in Christian service need not make one’s whole life a failure.
Tychicus – 2Tim.4: 12 was a believer from the province of Asia Acts.20: 4 who willingly accompanied Paul and probably ministered as a personal servant to the apostle. He was with Paul during his first imprisonment Ephe.6: 21- 22; Col.4: 7- 8. Paul sent Tychicus to Crete to relieve Titus Tit.3: 12. Now he was sending him to Ephesus to relieve Timothy. What a blessing it is to have people who can replace others.
Carpus – 2Tim.4: 13. Lived at Troas and gave Paul hospitality. Paul must have departed in a hurry because he left his cloak and books behind. However, Carpus was a faithful brother; he would keep them until somebody picked them up to take to Paul.
Alexander the coppersmith – 2Tim.4: 14. The Lord reward him according to his works is a prayer that is difficult for some people to say amen.
Prisca (or Priscilla) and Aquilla – 2Tim.4: 19 were a husband-and-wife team that assisted Paul in many ways Acts.18: 1- 3, 24- 28; Rom.16: 3- 4; 1Cor.16: 19. Now they were in Ephesus helping Timothy with his ministry. It is wonderful when God’s people do their work regardless of who their leader is.
Onesiphorus – 2Tim.4: 19 and his household we met in 2Timothy 1.
Erastus – 2Tim.4: 20 might be the treasurer of Corinth Rom.16: 23; and he might be the same man who ministered with Timothy in Macedonia Acts.19: 22.
Trophimus – 2Tim.4: 20 from Ephesus was a friend of Tychicus Acts.20: 4. He had been serving at Miletus, but now he was ill. Why did Paul not heal him?
The other people mentioned 2Tim.4: 21 are unknown to us, but certainly not to the Lord. The Bible does not record the final days of Paul. Tradition tells us that he was found guilty and sentenced to death. But Timothy and the other devoted believers carried on the work.
In Conclusion – You and I must be faithful so that if the Lord does not return soon, future generations may hear the gospel and have the opportunity to be saved.