4:12,13
Tychicus is mentioned in Acts 20:4 and Ephesians 6:21, and he sometimes travelled as Paul’s representative. Paul asks Timothy to bring a cloak and some scrolls. The cloak would probably be a large heavy garment, and scrolls were somewhat heavier than books!
4:14,15
We then come to another person who actively opposed Paul, Alexander the metalworker. This may be the same person mentioned in 1 Tim 1:20, but Alexander was a very common name, so there can be no certainty about this.. Whatever the case, he “strongly opposed the message”, and did great harm to Paul. Paul is not afraid to tell Timothy to be on his guard. We need to be realistic about what some people can be like.
4:16,17
Paul would have appeared in court, but no one came to his defence. However, Paul does not want it held against them. It is one thing to stand with persecuted Christians in distant lands, it is quite another to do it for those in your own land. For in the latter course you will be putting yourself at potential risk as well, and there will also be all sorts of slander against the Christian who is on trial. However, the Lord stood by Paul. God gave him strength so that he could proclaim the message. Proclaiming the gospel was the motivating force in Paul’s life. Paul himself would not be at risk of being thrown to the lions as he was a Roman citizen, but he uses the analogy because Nero was doing this sort of thing.
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