PERSONAL COMMENTS. 2nd Timothy 4:9-22 If you can come, I would dearly love to see your face, and perhaps in this prison cell, we can explore the ways of God together. I know my days of service and my time here will not be extended, but I will personally find strength through such fellowship. Other brothers have moved on to different places to do a work for God that is genuine. Another loved this present world system, hoping to find some kind of joy and satisfaction in it.
But I am cold here; I need that warm, comfortable cloak to keep me warm. Even more important than that, I really need those letters I have written, the books of scripture, and the parchments I can use for writing. You are indeed my spiritual son, and this final letter I am writing to you may be my last exhortation until we see our Lord in timeless light.
Not only was Paul faithful to the Lord, but he was also loyal to his fellow servants. Sometimes, when under pressure or set apart for some reason, a worker feels isolated and wonders where everyone is. Paul was probably feeling lonely and deeply wanted to see Timothy. He was a man like all of us, craving the comfort of companionship while suffering in prison. It's always reassuring to know there are people we can trust, knowing they are doing everything they can for us even if they can't be physically present. We might sigh a little because of our circumstances, but we should learn from Paul and avoid being overly critical of others. It's wise to commit our work to the Lord, trusting that He has complete knowledge of everything we do. He appreciated his fellow workers and their faithfulness to him. It was not uncommon for those around him to disassociate with him when the pressure was on and he was accused of wrongdoing. They likely felt a distance from Paul would keep them safe from criticism.