4:1–5 - Paul reminds Timothy his primary task - preaching the word and thus fulfilling his ministry. He is actually pleading - or ‘officially command you to do” - with Timothy (1 Tim 5:21). Two witnesses are being called: God and Jesus Christ.
Three aspects of the message of the Gospel about Christ are mentioned. (1) Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead, (2) He will appear - return in glory; (3) he will establish his kingdom.
Timothy has to focus entirely on preaching - “in season and out of season”; This is his task - to do the work of an evangelist.
Timothy has to also adjust the preaching to the audience. Some will need to be reproved, others rebuked, and yet others exhorted. But in all situations, he needs to persevere in teaching, endure sufferings.
Paul is also foreseeing the future, like Moses in Deut 31:28–29. Paul predicts that a time when people will not want to hear the word of God and will be choosing the teachers who that is pleasing to them, satisfying their own lusts, desires.
“In other words, they [the listeners][will] have made themselves the measure of who should teach them and what teaching is acceptable.”[93]
Moreover they would choose to believe myths rather than the truth (e.g., atheistic evolution, humanism, reincarnation, etc.; cf. 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; Titus 1:14).
“In view of this increasing opposition Timothy needed to keep alert (cool-headed, “wide awake”[96]) by avoiding false teaching. To do this he needed to maintain self-control under all circumstances.[97] He needed to endure hardship willingly and to continue proclaiming the gospel to the lost. He would thereby carry out the ministry God had entrusted to him completely.”
4:6–8 - Paul speaks about his incoming death
A radical following of Paul since his conversion near Damascus (Acts 9:1–6) will be completed by his martyrdom for the sake of Christ and the Gospel.
The incoming death does not make him afraid, instead he seems to be looking forward to it (Phil 1:21–23). He is aware the completed the task given him by God and fought properly (1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 2:5).
In his letters, Paul often competed his life as an apostle to that of a soldier and an athlete (Rom 7:23; 1 Cor 9:7; 1 Tim 1:18; 4:10 - soldier; 1 Cor 9:24–26; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 2:5). Now, he is using them again to point to a victorious ending of his life: He has kept/guarded (tetereka) the faith.
Now, he can expect the reward - a crown of righteousness- a metaphor for eternal life. This reward will be given to him by a righteous judge - the Lord. Paul spent his entire new life in the service of Christ, so he can be sure of the reward from Christ for such a life of service.
The same goes for those, who will follow his example. Everyone who like Paul will guard the faith despite all sufferings and persecution can expect the same reward.
4:9–18 - last commands
At the end of his life, Paul feels alone. Some abandoned him, some were sent or had responsibility in other places. Only Luke was left with him. Paul longs for the presence of Timothy and Mark. He also needs some clothes and books. Then, there are some open enemies, one is mentioned here.
During his trial, like Christ (Mk 14:50), he was abandoned by all. Paul does not blame them for this.
Despite such disappointment does not undermine Paul’s faith in the presence of Christ. The trial was another chance to proclaim the Gospel, seen as the completion of his ministry of preaching the Gospel to all nations.
The quote is from Ps 22:22, the same Psalm that Jesus’ quote during his passion (Mk 15:34). The deliverance does not necessary mean a deliverance from death -“wicked work” - plans to execute Paul for his crime of preaching the Gospel. A final delivery from “every wicked work” can mean a delivery through ‘death’ to the heavenly kingdom of Jesus Christ.
4:19–22 - Greetings
Paul sent greetings to his old friends Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila who then lived in Ephesus (cf. Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom. 16:3; 1 Cor. 16:19). He also greeted the loyal family of Onesiphorus of whom he had written earlier (1:16).
4:20Erastus and Trophimus were old associates of Timothy (Acts 19:22; 20:4; 21:29). Paul sent news of them. Sickness also plagues the apostles and evangelist. Paul got sick during his travel through Galatia (Gal 4:14–15), Timothy had stomach problems (1 Tim 5:23), so was here Trophimus.
4:21 Winter severely restricted travel in some parts of the Roman world. Timothy needed to leave Ephesus soon so he could reach Rome without undue difficulty. Paul relayed the greetings of four other brethren, probably local, who Timothy evidently knew, as well as the greetings of all the local Christians.
“Linus is mentioned by Irenaeus (Against Heresies, iii.3) as the first bishop of Rome after the death of Peter and Paul.”[113]
Benediction 4:22
In conclusion, Paul first wished the Lord’s ministry of grace on Timothy’s spirit, perhaps to encourage him to remain faithful. Then he wished God’s grace for all the readers (plural “you” in the Greek text) of this epistle.