was deliverance from some immediate and extreme danger, which enabled Paul to fully

perform his Christ-directed ministry. All the opposition of Satan and the powers of

darkness could not prevent this. It meant that the Apostle was immortal till his work was

done, and then he could look forward with unspeakable joy to the glories of the Lord's

"heavenly kingdom" (verse 18). Almost his last thought therefore was for the Lord's

kingdom and this heavenly aspect of it. God's great kingdom embraces all the heavenly

spheres as well as the earth, and we have learned, we trust, not to confuse these two

linked yet distinct portions of His great redemptive purpose.

Before laying down his pen for the last time, Paul mentions believers who had been

intimately associated with him and Timothy. Priscilla and Aquila, the devoted couple

who had laid down their necks for him and to whom all the Gentile churches were

indebted (Rom. 16: 3, 4); the household of Onesiphorus, the refresher (1: 16, 17).

Erastus remained at Corinth. There is one Erastus mentioned in Rom. 16: 23, described

as the city treasurer, and another person of the same name in Acts 19: 22.  Whether

either of these is to be identified with the Erastus of II Tim. 4: we cannot say for

certain. Trophimus is left at Miletum ill and here again we are reminded, as also with

Epaphroditus (Phil. 2: 25-27) of the change of dispensation, and the absence of the gift of

miraculous healing as an evidential miracle. It is unthinkable that Paul, if he still had the

gift of healing, would not have used it on behalf of these faithful believers who were in

such desperate need physically, and who meant so much to him.  Acts 20: and 21:

should be consulted for details of the association of Paul and Trophimus.

Once more Timothy is urged to make every effort to come to the Apostle before

winter sets in (verse 21). Salutation is sent from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia.

We know little or nothing of these believers who were evidently well known to Timothy.

According to Irenaeus, Linus was the first bishop or overseer of the church at Rome.

Some have tried to identify Pudens and Claudia with two people of the same name

mentioned in two poems of Martial, the wife being British. But it has been pointed out

that Martial did not come to Rome until 66A.D. and most of his epigrams belong to the

next generation, so this identification is far from being established, interesting though it

The Apostle Paul's last words, in his own handwriting, were his characteristic ones

referring to grace which guaranteed the authenticity of his epistles (II Thess. 3: 17, 18)

and they were his final message to his dearly-loved son in the faith:

The last pronoun is plural showing Paul also had in mind the remainder of the faithful

ones of that time.

Did Timothy reach the Apostle before his execution? Did he stand faithfully after

Paul's departure? We do not know, for church history does not mention him, but we

shall know when we all stand together in resurrection likeness to our Saviour and Head

before His presence. Neither can we say whether Paul went to his triumphal death alone

or with the faithful few. Tradition tells us that he was led three miles out of the city of