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"Be diligent to come to me quickly."

Text: 2 Timothy 4:9

PERSONAL MATTERS

The relationship of the apostle Paul was that of a father to a beloved son. The last part of Paul’s letter to Timothy were personal matters. These words are to be understood as private opinions that a father shares with his son because of the closeness that they had as father and son.

“Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me,
having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica-
Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”
2 Timothy 4:9-10

1. “Be diligent to come to me”

a) Paul must have missed the company of his beloved son.

i) It is natural for a father to want to see his son one last time.

ii) It is natural for Paul to express this wish openly to his spiritual son.

b) He made a request to Timothy.

i) To exercise diligence in making a passage to see Paul.

ii) Timothy must plan to come quickly.

iii) If he delayed he might not see Paul alive.

iv) Paul knew that he would die soon and hence the sense of urgency.

2. An update

a) Demas

i) Not too long ago Demas was mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

He had sent greetings to the Colossians then (Colossians 4:14).

ii) But Demas had forsaken Paul.

iii) He had grown to love the world.

iv) He had abandoned Paul in his hour of need!

v) He had left Paul and headed out to Thessalonica.

b) Crescens

i) Little is known about him (apart from this mention).

ii) Paul had sent him to minister to the churches in Galatia.

c) Titus

Titus was another beloved spiritual son. He was sent to minister in Dalmatia.

(This region was also known as Illyricum and mentioned in Romans 15:19.)