Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 46

Paul Writes to Timothy his Farewell Oration Part 1

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. KJV

The Apostle Paul steps aside for one moment from his commanding and instructing Brother Timothy to now declare to him his farewell speech, that is, Paul had probably received a word from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in his inner man that he was coming to the end of the ministry work He had given Paul to do, so he begins his farewell speech to Timothy and to us with these words, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." (2 Timothy 4:6) (KJV). Paul was not a morbid man, that is, one who was mentally disturbed or horrorfied of death, but he knew that he had done all that our Lord Jesus Christ had commanded him to do from the time he encountered Him on the Damascus road to the present time of the writing of this letter to Brother Timothy and all we true born again believers today and of every time and era. The English phrase 'am now ready to be offered' Paul uses here as a word picture of his going to be with our Lord Jesus Christ is translated by the Greek word spendō which is a primary verb; to pour out as a libation, that is, (figuratively) to devote (one's life or blood, as a sacrifice) ('spend'): - (be ready to) be offered. In other words, from the moment the Apostle Paul was knocked off his horse or donkey on the Damascus road by our Lord Jesus Christ, he considered the remainder of his life as a pilgrim and sojourner on the earth as a daily living sacrifice to Him, just as he wrote to the Church at Rome with these words exhorting the Christians there to be and to do, "Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him." (Romans 12:1-2) (Contemporary English Version).

Paul told the Philippian Church that he would gladly become a martyr for them and for the truth of their faith in Christ Jesus our Lord with these words, "Your faith in the Lord and your service are like a sacrifice offered to Him. And my own blood may have to be poured out with the sacrifice. If this happens, I will be glad and rejoice with you. In the same way, you should be glad and rejoice with me." (Philippians 2:17-18) (Contemporary English Version). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning Paul being offered, "Here the Apostle looks forward, upon his death approaching: I am now ready to be offered. The Holy Ghost witnessed in every city that bonds and afflictions did abide him, Acts 20:23. He was now at Rome, and it is probable that he had particular intimations from the Spirit that there he should seal the truth with his blood; and he looks upon it now as near at hand: I am already poured out; so it is in the original, that is, I am already a martyr in affection. It alludes to the pouring out of the drink-offerings; for the blood of the martyrs, though it was not a sacrifice of atonement, was a sacrifice of acknowledgment to the honour of the grace of God and His truths." When Paul writes, 'and the time of my departure is at hand', he plainly means his death was near at hand for witnessing the Gospel of Christ and standing for the truth of the Word of God.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about Paul's departure, "Death analyzes men, and reduces them to their first original earth; it is a removing of persons from one place and state to another; from an house of clay, from this earthly house of our tabernacle, to an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, to everlasting habitations, and mansions in Christ's Father's House. This phrase, 'a departure', is an easy representation of death, and supposes an existence after it. Now there is a 'time' for this; saints are not to continue here always; this is a state of pilgrimage, and a time of sojourning, and which is fixed and settled; the time for going out of this world, as well as for coming into it, is determined by God, beyond which there is no passing; the number of men's days, months, and years, is with Him; and the Apostle knew partly from his age, and partly from his situation, being in bonds at Rome, and it may be by divine revelation, that his time of removing out of this world was very near; and which he mentions, to stir up Timothy to diligence, since he would not have him long with him, to give him counsel and advice, to admonish him, or set him an example." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about the time of Paul's departure being at hand, "Greek: 'dissolving, or dissolution.' So we speak of the 'dissolution' of the soul and body. The verb from which the noun analusis, is derived analuō, means to loosen again; to undo. It is applied to the act of unloosing or casting off the fastenings of a ship, preparatory to a departure. The proper idea in the use of the word would be, that he had been bound to the present world, like a ship to its moorings, and that death would be a release. He would now spread his sails on the broad ocean of eternity. The true idea of death is that of loosening the bands that confine us to the present world; of setting us free, and permitting the soul to go forth, as with expanded sails, on its eternal voyage. With such a view of death, why should a Christian fear to die?"

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…