2Ti 4:19-22 “Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”
Paul has come to the end of his second letter to Timothy. He has given advice on how we, as ministers of God, should conduct ourselves. Both encouragement and admonishment have been given in good measure. Now, his attention is turned to matters that might seem more personal.
We have found Priscilla and Aquila mentioned several times throughout the New Testament, but here we find the name Prisca. Prisca appears to be the more formal usage of the name Priscilla. Hence, Paul is once again sending greetings to the same couple that have played an influential role in the furtherance of the gospel. Onesiphorus is mentioned earlier in this same letter as one who often refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of Paul’s imprisonment.
Erastus was the treasurer of the city of Corinth (Rom 16:23), which scholars tell us is where Paul was when he wrote the Roman letter. He would have been of particular interest to Timothy since Paul had Erastus accompany Timothy to Macedonia (Acts 19:22). Evidently, Erastus remained at Corinth to minister there when Paul was taken to Rome. Trophimus was one of Paul’s companions from Ephesus who was apparently taken ill and left at the port city of Miletus.
Paul also sends greetings from the brethren who were with him at the time of the writing of this second letter to Timothy. These were the saints who were with him during his imprisonment in Rome when he was brought the second time before Nero. It is humbling when we consider all that these faithful saints endured for the cause of Christ and for the fellowship of one another. Seeing these witnesses, we should not take lightly our own devotion to our Lord and Savior nor to the brethren with whom we labor.
Amid these greetings, Paul makes a plea to Timothy to “do thy diligence to come before winter.” It behooves us, as the servants of God, to make a prompt and earnest effort in our service to God and His children. We should be willing to arrive in front of (before) the great tempests (winter) of life. This may seem a daunting task at times, but we have proof (both in His word and in our experience) that our God is able to see us through all adversity.
Even as we may be facing great adversity, as Paul was at this time, we can still pray for others. Paul’s prayer for Timothy was that grace (God’s divine favor) be with him. It is a wondrous love indeed that allows us to look beyond our own trials and pray for others. This is the love that Jesus told us to have for one another.
May we be faithful to exercise ourselves in the love the Jesus has placed in our hearts to see us through great adversity!
