For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing..…..(17) 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. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (18) and the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

2 Timothy was the last letter Paul wrote – He wrote his final message to his protege Timothy .knowing his death was immanent. These words were Paul’s last will and testament; seek first the kingdom of the Lord. Let go of of our need to control or to thirst after the future. It’s not and never will be mostly about people who love this world instead of the Lord; good Christian friends serving the Lord elsewhere: Dear Luke was with him to comfort him in Rome where Paul was lowered into a dungeon in the Mamertine prison – which exists today and sat above the Roman Forum. Above all Paul wanted Timothy to come and see him before he was executed. Paul asks Timothy to bring Mark, his scrolls and his cloak – Paul was cold. Paul urges Timothy to come before winter and to not delay. We don’t know if this was accomplished

Paul vividly portrayed the knowledge of his death, in a word picture from Jewish liturgy where the last sacrificial offering was the “drink offering” of wine poured over the sacrifice to the Lord. Paul’s death would be the final act of his sacrifice. Paul had kept the faith; preserved the doctrine God had entrusted to him and was loyal to the ministry God had given to him until the end. Paul looked forward fully to receiving the victor’s crown which would be given to him by the righteousness Lord Himself – and not to him only but to all who loved the Lord’s appearing. Paul had been falsely accused by the Jews some years earlier, and kept prisoner until he asked (as his right of being a Roman citizen) to be judged by the emperior. At his first hearing he used the opportunity to make a defense of the faith and was released. Others were allowed to speak in his defense but all had abandoned him. The Lord Himself enabled Paul to proclaim the gospel boldly

Nero was now emperor and persecution raged against the Christians. Paul was arrested and dropped into that terrible prison. There he wrote his last letter to Timothy. Paul’s life had come to an end and he needed to pass on his inheritance – the deposit of the faith to his faithful steward Timothy, who was the successor of Paul’s teaching and doctrine. When we are gone there should be others who will carry on with the word of God. Paul finished well because he delivered his life to God. He was God’s chosen vessel. impending death Paul viewed as departure. Death is never a cessation of existence but rather a separation from the body. For Paul, the battle was over, the victory was won. He was headed home. This is a beautiful letter.