GRACE TO FINISH STRONG

The Book of Second Timothy #7

Keith O’Connor

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

(2 Timothy 4:9-11, NLT) “Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me”

1.  Faithfulness in Relationships

a.  Real People, Real Ministry

(2 Timothy 4:9, NLT) “Timothy, please come as soon as you can”

(2 Timothy 4:21, NLT) “Do your best to get here before winter”

(2 Timothy 4:10, NLT) “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia”

b.  Demas

(Proverbs 25:19, NLT) “Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot”

c.  Don’t get distracted by the world, but stay faithful

(2 Timothy 4:10, NLT) “Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia”

(2 Timothy 4:12, NLT) “I sent Tychicus to Ephesus”

(2 Timothy 4:11, NLT) “Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry”

d.  Mark

(2 Timothy 4:11, NLT) “Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry”

(Acts 13:13, NLT) “Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem”

(Acts 15:38, NLT) “But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work”

e.  Be a Mark, not a Demas

• God restores
• Growth happens
• People mature

f.  Paul – Real Person with Real Needs

(2 Timothy 4:13, NLT) “When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers”

2.  Faithfulness in Opposition

(2 Timothy 4:14-15, NLT) “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said”

a.  Trust God’s Justice

(1 Timothy 1:20, NLT) “Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God”

b.  Trust, Not Retaliation

(Romans 12:17–19, NLT) “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord”

3.  When People Fail You, the Lord Stands with You

(2 Timothy 4:16-17, NLT) “The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death”

a.  Stephen

(Acts 7:60) “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!”

(2 Timothy 4:17, NLT) “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death”

4.  Faithfulness with an Eternal Perspective

(2 Timothy 4:18, NLT) “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen”

5.  Faithfulness in the Body of Christ

(2 Timothy 4:19-22, NLT) “Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.  Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you”

a.  Priscilla and Aquila

“Faithful and Hospitable” (2 Timothy 4:19; Acts 18:1-2; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:3)

b.  Onesiphorus

“Courageous Loyalty” (2 Timothy 4:19; 2 Timothy 1:17)

c.  Every Name Matters to God

6.  The Final Benediction

(2 Timothy 4:22, NLT) “May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you”

a.  Ministry ends where it began: with grace.

• Grace saved us.
• Grace sustains us.
• Grace will carry us home.

Growthwork

1. People may fail you. Jesus won’t. (2 Timothy 4:16–18; Hebrews 13:5)
2. Refuse bitterness. Entrust justice to God. (2 Timothy 4:14–15; Romans 12:19)
3. Don’t love this world. Stay faithful. (2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:15–17)
4. Guard the gospel. Pass it on. (2 Timothy 1:13–14; 2:2)

2 Timothy 4:9-22 – Real People, Real Ministry

Timothy

• “True child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2) and “beloved son” (2 Timothy 1:2)
• “Sincere faith” — 2 Timothy 1:5
• Close companion and coworker — (Philippians 2:19–22; 1 Corinthians 4:17).
• “Eventually imprisoned” — (Hebrews 13:23)

Demas

• Fellow worker — (Philemon 24; also mentioned in Colossians 4:14).
• Deserted Paul, loved the world — (2 Timothy 4:10).

Crescens

• “Has gone to Galatia” — (2 Timothy 4:10). We don’t know more; “faithful and willing to go”

Titus

• Longtime companion — (Galatians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7–8).
• Left in Crete to appoint elders — (Titus 1:5).
• “Partner in ministry; recipient of Paul’s letter.”
• “Sent to Dalmatia” — (2 Timothy 4:10). Note: Dalmatia is in the western Balkans (modern Croatia/Bosnia-Herzegovina coast)

Luke

• “The beloved physician” — (Colossians 4:14).
• Longtime companion — (Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11; the “we” sections in Acts).
• Author of Luke and Acts

Mark

• Cousin of Barnabas — (Colossians 4:10).
• Partner on first journey, then conflict before second — (Acts 13:13; Acts 15:36–40).
• Later “useful for ministry” — (2 Timothy 4:11). Great example of restoration by grace

Tychicus

• From Asia and part of Paul’s team — (Acts 20:4).
• With Paul and carried letters — (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7–8).
• “Now sent to Ephesus” — (2 Timothy 4:12).

Carpus

• Keeper of Paul’s cloak and books — (2 Timothy 4:13). “Trustworthy servant”

Alexander

• “Did much harm; opposed our message” — (2 Timothy 4:14–15)

Prisca and Aquila

• Husband-wife team who assisted Paul — (Acts 18; Romans 16:3–5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19).

Onesiphorus

• “Often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” — (2 Timothy 1:16–18).

Erastus

• “City treasurer in Corinth” — (Romans 16:23).

Trophimus

• From Asia/Ephesus; with Paul at the riot mention — (Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29).

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia

• Greeted in 2 Timothy 4:21; otherwise, unknown