Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:21
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
21. before winter ] ‘ The motive (rather a motive) of the letter is the desire for Timothy’s presence, Haste! Come! 2Ti 4:9 “ Haste to come quickly,” 2Ti 4:21 “ Haste to come before winter,” 2Ti 4:13 “when thou comest,” 2Ti 1:4 “ Yearning to see thee,” 2Ti 4:5 “my death is near at hand.” ’ Farrar, Message of the Books, p. 397.
Eubulus ] Of him nothing is known.
Pudens and Claudia ] The identity of these two members of the Church at Rome with the Pudens and Claudia of Martial is discussed in Appendix, H.
Linus ] According to general testimony bishop of Rome. Cf. Iren. iii. 3, 3 ‘Peter and Paul, when they founded and built up the church of Rome, committed the office of its episcopate to Linus.’ Cf. also Euseb. H. E. iii. 2 ‘of the church of the Romans after the martyrdom of Paul and Peter the first to be appointed to the office of bishop was Linus, of whom Paul makes mention at the end of his letter to Timothy.’ Eusebius also gives the length of his episcopate as twelve years a.d. 68 80.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Do thy diligence; – 2Ti 4:9.
To come before winter – Probably because of the dangers of the navigation then, and because the circumstances of the apostle were such as to demand the presence of a friend.
Eubulus, … – These names are of common occurrence in the works of the classic writers, but of the persons here referred to we know nothing.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Ti 4:21
Come before winter.
Winter voyages
I. The voyage to the eternal city.
1. The departure.
2. The voyage.
3. The guidance of the helmsman.
4. The propulsion of all progress must come from the winds of heaven.
5. Industry on board the ship.
6. The shipping of the anchor.
7. The end of the journey.
II. The avoidance of winter risks. Put not off to old age, etc.
III. The adventure of diligence. Make haste. There is no time to lose. (S. H. Tyng, Jr. , D. D.)
Friendships
Of such friendships biography happily furnishes us with many examples:–Gray, the poet, and Mason; Cowper and Mrs. Unwin; Tennyson and Arthur Henry Hallam; Keats and Severn; Elizabeth Carter and Bishop Seeker; Mrs. Taft and Miss Marsh. This collocation of names reminds us of the old fallacy that true friendship can subsist only between individuals of similar character and disposition. Never was there a greater delusion! A mans friend is never his counterpart, but his complement; supplies that which is wanting in himself. And this is the use and value of friendship, it is like an offensive and defensive alliance between two equal powers, in which the one undertakes to furnish a military and the other a naval force, it provides for each party to the bond that which he or she most needs. (The Fireside.)
Eubulus and Pudens, and Ltuus, and Claudia. Eubulus is mentioned here only. It has been thought possible that Pudens may be the friend of the poet Martial, whose marriage with Claudia, a foreign lady, he celebrates in Epigram 8. lib. 4., supposing that other epigrams which are not favourable to the moral character of Pudens were written before his conversion. An inscription found at Colchester mentions a site given by one Pudens for a temple, built under the sanction of a British king, Claudius Cogidubrius; and it has been conjectured that this was the same Pudens who was a centurion in the army, and who may have married the daughter of Cogidubrius, whose name would consequently have been Claudia. The Claudia Rufina of Martial was a Briton, and may have received the name of Rufina from Pomponia, the wife of Aulus Ptantius, commander in Britain, who was connected with the Ruff family, and was accused of holding foreign superstitions. All this, however, is very uncertain. Linus is probably the same Roman Christian who became the first bishop of the Church there, according to Ignatius and Eusebius. (Bp. Jackson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 21. Come before winter.]
1. Because the apostle’s time was short and uncertain.
2. Because sailing in those seas was very dangerous in winter. Whether Timothy saw the apostle before he was martyred is not known.
Eubulus] This person is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament.
Pudens] Of this person we have traditions and legends, but nothing certain. The Catholics make him bishop of Rome.
Linus] He also is made, by the same persons, bishop of Rome; but there is no sufficient ground for these pretensions.
Claudia] Supposed to be the wife of Pudens. Some think she was a British lady, converted by St. Paul; and that she was the first that brought the Gospel to Britain.
All the brethren.] All the Christians, of whom there were many at Rome; though of Paul’s companions in travel, only Luke remained there.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Do thy diligence to come before winter; that is, to come to Rome to me before winter, either because sailing in the winter time would be more dangerous, or because in the winter time he might have more need of assistance.
Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren; we have no further account of these persons in holy writ; the first is a Greek name, the rest Latin, Claudia is a womans name. Paul sends the respects of these persons, and all the other Christians that at that time were in Rome to Timothy.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. before winterwhen avoyage, according to ancient usages of navigation, would be out ofthe question: also, Paul would need his “cloak” against thewinter (2Ti 4:13).
Pudens . . .Claudiaafterwards husband and wife (according to MARTIAL[Epigrams, 4.13; 11.54]), he a Roman knight, she a Briton,surnamed Rufina. TACITUS[On Agriculture, 14], mentions that territories in southeastBritain were given to a British king; Cogidunus, in reward for hisfidelity to Rome, A.D. 52,while Claudius was emperor. In 1772 a marble was dug up atChichester, mentioning Cogidunus with the surname Claudius, addedfrom his patron, the emperor’s name; and Pudens in connectionwith Cogidunus, doubtless his father-in-law. His daughter would beClaudia, who seems to have been sent to Rome for education, as apledge of the father’s fidelity. Here she was under the protection ofPomponia, wife of Aulus Plautius, conqueror of Britain. Pomponia wasaccused of foreign superstitions, A.D.57 [TACITUS, Annals,3.32], probably Christianity. She probably was the instrumentof converting Claudia, who took the name Rufina from her, thatbeing a cognomen of the Pomponian gens (compare Ro16:13, Rufus, a Christian). Pudens in MARTIALand in the Chichester inscription, appears as a pagan; butperhaps he or his friends concealed his Christianity through fear.Tradition represents Timothy, a son of Pudens, as taking partin converting the Britons.
Linusput third;therefore not at this time yet, as he was afterwards, bishop.His name being here inserted between Pudens and Claudia, implies thetwo were not yet married. “Eubulus” is identified by somewith Aristobulus, who, with his converts, is said to have been amongthe first evangelists of Britain. Paul himself, says CLEMENT,”visited the farthest west [perhaps Britain, certainlySpain], and was martyred under the rulers at Rome,” whowere Nero’s vicegerents in his absence from the city.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Do thy diligence to come before winter,…. When travelling would not be so safe and comfortable: the apostle consults Timothy’s good, as well as his own advantage.
Eubulus greeteth thee. Eusebius k makes mention of one of this name of Manganaea, who suffered martyrdom with one Adrian at Caesarea; but he cannot be thought to be the same with this, since he suffered in the times of Dioclesian.
And Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia; the first of these is said to be a person of note at Rome, and of the senatorial order, and the father of two pious virgins, Praxis and Pudentiana. He is put among the seventy disciples; [See comments on Lu 10:1]. Mention is made by Pliny the younger l, of Servilius Pudens, a Roman; and Martial, a poet of those times, speaks m of the marriage of Pudens and Claudia, and of Aulus Pudens. Linus is said to be the first bishop of Rome after the martyrdom of Peter and Paul n. Though some will have it, that he was bishop of Rome in the time of Peter, and that he and one Cletus were co-pastors with Peter; and Platina, who wrote the “Lives of the Popes”, first makes Peter to consecrate Clement his successor, and to commend the chair, and the church of God, to him, and yet afterwards places Linus, and not Clement, as his immediate successor; yea, puts Cletus also before Clement; so much are the Papists at a loss about, and so little account can they give of the boasted succession of their popes from Peter, that they are not agreed about his immediate successor. This Linus is said to be born at Volterra in Tuscany, and to be of the family of the Moors, whose father was one Herculaneus, who sent him at twenty two years of age to Rome, for the sake of his studies; at which time, as is pretended, Peter came thither, by whom he was converted, and with whom he continued as a fellow helper in the Gospel. He is moreover said to be bishop of Rome ten years, (Platina says eleven,) three months, and twelve days, and to have suffered martyrdom under Saturninus the consul, whose daughter he had delivered from a diabolical possession, and was buried in the Vatican. He is reckoned among the seventy disciples of Christ, but very wrongly;
[See comments on Lu 10:1]. The name is a Latin one, and is often mentioned by Martial the poet. And Claudia is the name of a woman, very likely of considerable note. Some think she was the wife of Pudens, the same Martial speaks of, and is said to be a Briton.
And all the brethren: that is, of the church of Rome, these all sent greeting to Timothy.
k Eccl. Hist. l. 8. de Martyr. Palestin. c. 11. l L. 10. ep. 10. m Epigram. l. 4. ep. 10. 23. 1. 6. ep. 45. l. 7. ep. 10. n Iren. adv. Haeres. l. 3. c. 3. Euseb. Ec. Hist. l. 3. c. 2, 4. & l. 5. c. 6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Before winter ( ). Pathetic item if Paul was now in the Mamertine Dungeon in Rome with winter coming on and without his cloak for which he asked. How long he had been in prison this time we do not know. He may even have spent the previous winter or part of it here. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia are all unknown otherwise. Irenaeus does speak of Linus.
The Lord be with thy Spirit ( ). Let us hope that Timothy and Mark reached Paul before winter, before the end came, with the cloak and with the books. Our hero, we may be sure, met the end nobly. He is already more than conqueror in Christ who is by his side and who will welcome him to heaven and give him his crown. Luke, Timothy, Mark will do all that mortal hands can do to cheer the heart of Paul with human comfort. He already had the comfort of Christ in full measure.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia. N. T. o.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Do thy diligence to come before winter” (spoudason pro cheimonos elthein) “Hasten to come (if you will), of your own accord, before winter;” when a voyage against the wind was near impossible; also Paul needed his coat, 2Ti 4:13.
2) “Eubulus greeteth thee, and” (aspazetai se Euboulos) “Greets or salutes thee Eubulus.” Nothing more is known of him than that he loved Timothy, for Paul’s sake, as David did Jonathan. 2Sa 9:1.
a) “Pudens” (kai Poudes) Thought to be a Christian Roman knight.
b) “And Linus” (kai Linos) Thought to have later become pastor at Rome.
c) “And Claudia” (kai Klaudia) Thought to be a British Christian convert, saved while attending school in Rome, as per Apostolic Fathers, Volume 1.
d) “And all the brethren” (kai hoi adelphoi pantes) “And all the brothers,” from Rome, to 1) Timothy, 2) the church brethren in Ephesus, and 3) Asia, to whom this prison epistle was addressed. The latter three named Christians from Rome may not be elsewhere identified in the New Testament.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(21) Do thy diligence to come before winter. Probably this was added to hasten his coming. If he delayed, the season of the year would put off, perhaps hinder altogether, his voyage.
Eubulus greeteth thee.Of this Eubulus nothing is known.
And Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia.Of these, Linus was, no doubt, the first of the long line of Bishops of Rome. The date of his consecration corresponds with the year of St. Pauls martyrdom, A.D. 66. We know, from this greeting, he was one of the few faithful to his old master.
It is, perhaps, fair to assume, though of course there is no certainty of this, that the consecration of Linus to the government of the Roman Church as its first Bishop was one of the dying acts done by the Apostle Paul.
Some commentators identify the other two with Pudens and Claudia mentioned by Martial (Epigrams, iv. 13; xi. 54). Pudens was the son of a Roman senator; to Claudia, Martial gives the name of Rufina, and states she was a Briton. The dates of the Epigrams in question would agree with the identification. It is, however, only a supposition.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Before winter When the ancient vessels were mostly laid up, and voyage across sea impossible. Such a delay might postpone Timothy’s coming until after Paul’s martyrdom.
Eubulus Nowhere else mentioned.
Pudens and Claudia An epigram of the Roman poet, Martial, written not long after this time, celebrates the marriage of Pudens and Claudia. English scholars have found proofs that Martial’s Claudia was daughter of a British prince, and was a Christian lady at Rome. Hence a plausible and pleasing theory identifies Paul’s Pudens and Claudia with Martial’s. See Alford’s Prolegomena, and Conybeare and Howson, vol. ii, pp. 500-502.
Linus Irenaeus says: “The apostles conferred upon Linus the office of the episcopate [at Rome.] Of this Linus Paul makes mention in his epistles to Timothy.”
All the brethren From which it appears that the Church had not been wholly scattered by persecution. And this was destined soon to become “the Church of the Catacombs.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Give diligence to come before winter.’
Having provided news of all who might be of interest to Timothy Paul now urges him to come to him before winter closes in and prevents sea travel. It is clear that he recognises that he might not have much time left.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eubulus salutes you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.
These final names are probably those of members of the churches in Rome, after which the greetings of the whole church is mentioned (‘all the brothers and sisters’). They are added with him in his final salute. A Linus was later mentioned by Irenaeus as having been a prominent ‘overseer’ (bishop) at Rome.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Ti 4:21. Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, What some have said concerning Pudens’s being of the senatorial order, and Claudia’s being a British lady who was converted by St. Paul, and sent the gospel first into England, does not seem sufficiently supported. Martial speaks of them as young persons at that time, lib. 4: epigr. 13. Linus is said by the ancients to have been afterwards the first bishop of Rome. When the apostle says, 2Ti 4:11 that Luke only was with him, he must be understood to speak of his companions and fellow-labourers in the gospel: for here is an intimation that there were Christian brethren still at Rome, and that the whole church there was not entirely dispersed and broken up. And when he says, 2Ti 4:16 that at his first apology they all forsook him, we are not to suppose that all the Christians then left the city,but that none of them stood by him, or appeared with him before the praefect.
Inferences drawn from 2Ti 4:13. The sacred writings, being penned by holy persons, immediately inspired by the Divine Spirit in what they wrote, have nothing in them frivolous or useless; nothing but what may yield us profitable matter of instruction, if rightly understood: so that the seemingly very little things in them are many times, upon farther search and consideration, found to be of no little use.
Such is the portion of scripture now before us; whence we may naturally deduce the following observations, no less pleasing perhaps than edifying to the attentive reader.
1. And first we may remark the poverty and mean estate of the apostle St. Paul. “Behold, (says Erasmus on the place,) behold the apostle’s goods and moveables;a poor cloak to keep him from the weather, and a few books;” hence he himself often takes notice of his own poverty, as 1Co 4:11-12. Act 20:34 and in various other places. This was a singular design of Divine Providence toward the apostles in general, who were all of them kept in a poor and mean, yea, in a most afflicted and miserable condition, as St. Paul observes, 1Co 4:9-13 hereby fully to convince the world of their sincerity in preaching the gospel, that they sought not themselves, or their own ease or advantage; but were content, for the propagation of the sacred ministry, to endure the greatest extremities; and that their only aim was the advancement of that truth, which with so great a loss and hazard to themselves they constantly published to the world.
2. From the passage in question we may observe, secondly, “that even the infallibly inspired ministers of God did not so wholly depend upon divine inspiration, but that they made use also of the ordinary helps and means,such as reading of books, with study and meditation on them, for their assistance in the discharge of their office.”
St. Paul, the pupil of Gamaliel, had his books, which he had read, and his parchmentshis peculiar manuscripts too,his collections of notes, most probably,which he found to be useful to him; and therefore gives Timothy a special charge to convey them safely to him.
Nay, and he elsewhere exhorts this his son Timothy to the same course of reading and study: Till I come, says he, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine: neglect not the gift that is in thee, &c.meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. 1Ti 4:13-15. Whence it is very remarkable, (1.) that the exhortation is to Timothy;a man placed by the apostle as bishop at Ephesus, the metropolis of Asia Minor;a man especially beloved of the great apostle;a man marked out long before by prophesy as one who would prove a very eminent and excellent person; (1Ti 1:18.)nay more,a man endowed with extraordinary gifts and abilities, conferred on him in his ordination. This man St. Paul exhorts to reading and meditation, for the better discharge of his office. (2.) The order of the apostle’s admonition is observable: Give attendance to reading, &c.to reading, before exhortation or doctrine: he is advised to be himself first a well-read divine, that he might be the better able to instruct others. (3.) The emphatical words used by the apostle are very striking; he advises Timothy not only to read and study, that he might be able to exhort and teach with effect, but presses him to give attendance to reading;not to neglect the supernatural gift bestowed on him; to meditate on what he read and learned, and to give himself wholly to these things. All which phrases plainly signify the greatest industry and diligence to be used by him in reading and study, and the other exercises there mentioned.
The same thing is evidently intended by our apostle, 2Ti 1:6 where he admonishes Timothy to stir up the gift of God within him;to rekindle and cherish that divine fire by prayer, reading, meditation, &c. which would be answered by a further supply of divine fuel,of the Holy Ghost and of fire.
And thus the gifts of God in men,even the extraordinary gifts, such as Timothy had, demand, in the order of God, the improvement of every means provided of God in his providence, particularly diligent reading, study, and prayer; and (we may add) a charitable use and exercise of those gifts for the good of others.
This is sufficient to shew us the practice of the divinely inspired persons under the New Testament; and we may further remark, that the holy prophets under the Old Testament took the same course, not depending so wholly upon immediate revelation and inspiration from God, as to think all endeavour on their own part needless; for we read of schools, and societies, consisting of prophets and their sons, scholars, and disciples, the one receiving instructions from the other. See 1Sa 10:10; 1Sa 19:20. 2Ki 7:15; 2Ki 4:38 and compare Deu 33:3 with Act 22:3.
3. These considerations may amply serve to expose their folly, who renounce all books and book-learning, as needless and of no use to them, and bid defiance to study and reading. Such would do well to consider, that the Spirit of God never was given to the slothful or lazy. The divine assistance and human industry always went together hand in hand; and the doctrine that aims to separate and divide them, merits the severest censure.
4. Hence likewise all ministers of the gospel may learn their duty,diligently to read and study the holy scriptures in the first place, and next to them the books of learned and good men, who have exerted their abilities in explaining them; and whatever other books they can procure, that may be in any way useful to them in their ministry. The learned and judicious Estius has a note upon the text in question very applicable to this purpose: “Let bishops and elders (says he,) learn from hence, what great need they have of continual reading and study, how great soever their proficiency may already be; seeing St. Paul, who had been taught the mysteries of religion by our Lord Christ himself, and had now for a long time exercised the office of an apostle, had still occasion to make use of books.”And indeed, when we consider how strict a charge he here gives Timothy, and that the inspired prophets under the Old Testament thought the same exercises necessary for themselves, how can we venture (weak and feeble, the best of us, compared with them) either through pride to scorn and reject, or out of sloth and indolence to wave and neglect, those helps? Let us therefore give all attention to reading and study, and addict ourselves assiduously to these exercises, with daily prayer to God for his blessing on them, that our proficiency may appear unto all men, to his glory and the general good.
Lastly, This may serve also to instruct lay Christians of every rank in their duty, diligently to consult the sacred scriptures, and those other good works with which the providence of God has furnished them, in order to their instruction in matters of religion. It is the peculiar happiness of our nation to be amply supplied with these helps to divine knowledge: and if the prophets of old, if the ministers of Christ,nay, if the apostles themselves have thought reading and study useful to them, can any serious private Christian conceive that he has no need at all of it? It is true, more time and pains in those exercises are required of the ministers of religion than of others; but none are exempted and excused from the duty, because all men are bound by every means, in dependance upon the grace and blessing of God, to be wise unto salvation. Ministers are to read, that they may be able to teach; and the people are to read, that they may be capable of learning, or being taught; for unless there be a concurrent industry in the teacher and the disciple, the one teacheth in vain, because the other will never learn.
It becomes the part therefore of every good man daily to read the holy scriptures, and those other good books which he has, or can procure, that may help him to understand the volumes of truth; and if any cannot read himself, to get some relation, friend, or neighbour to read to him; and they must be very uncharitable indeed, who will deny that assistance. They who cannot read, are concerned to double their diligence in hearing; in a more careful attendance on all the means and opportunities of instruction that shall be offered them in public; and in asking and seeking after instruction from their ministers in private; adding their daily and most earnest prayers to God for the assistance of his Holy Spirit in the use of those means, and encouraging themselves with that divine promise, Jam 1:5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
[ See Lardner, Michaelis, Benson, Doddridge, Heylin, Calmet, Raphelius, Mintert, Grotius, Whitby, Bishop Sherlock, Parry, Wetstein, Barrington, Archbishop Tillotson, Clement, West, Bowyer, Hallet, Archbishop Leighton, Parkhurst, Clarke, Piscator, Bengelius, Vitringa, Pliny, Eusebius, Mill, Diodati, Evans, Slater, Blackwall, Gataker, Morris, L’Enfant, Pearson, and Echard.]
REFLECTIONS.1st, The apostle, being now ready to conclude his epistle, gives Timothy,
1. His solemn charge. I charge thee before the great heart-searching God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, in the last great day, when he shall come in his glory, and give to every man according to his works; preach the word, proclaiming, as a herald aloud, the blessed gospel; be instant in season, and, as some may think, out of season; earnest to inculcate the truth upon men’s consciences, both on the Lord’s day, and every other opportunity, not only in time of peace, but amidst all opposition and persecution; reprove, rebuke gainsayers, backsliders, sinners; exhort and encourage the faithful, with all long-suffering, unwearied in the service, not discouraged at any difficulties in the way, and with that doctrine, which is according to the scriptures, and profitable for the souls of men. Note; (1.) Ministers must not only preach, but be instant; frozen discourses, languidly delivered, will never fire the hearer’s soul. (2.) They who have the work of Christ at heart, will be perhaps often thought very unseasonable in the frequency of their public ministrations, or the freedom of their private rebukes; but they have here a divine warrant.
2. He warns him how difficult it will prove to be faithful amid the abounding errors. For the time will come, and the mystery of iniquity already begins to operate, when they will not endure sound doctrine, the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, but after their own depraved lusts and passions, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, desiring to have their fancies entertained, and their corruptions flattered, instead of the free, honest, and faithful rebukes which the true gospel ministers deliver. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, averse from it, and refusing to obey it, and shall be turned unto fables, listening to the seducing teachers, who with idle tales amuse, and with falsehoods lull their consciences asleep. Note; They who like to be flattered in their sins, rather than to hear faithful reproof, are given up to their own delusions; and the blind are then suffered to follow the blind, till both fall into the pit of hell.
3. He admonishes Timothy to guard against these deceivers, and to caution the people that they be not imposed upon. But watch thou in all things, over thy own heart, and over the church committed to thy care, guarding against the first appearances of evil and error; endure afflictions with fortitude and patience: do the work of an evangelist with all fidelity and zeal; make full proof of thy ministry, that gainsayers may be silenced, and believers comforted and edified.
4. He informs Timothy of his approaching dissolution and glorious hope, for his encouragement to follow his steps. For I am now ready to be offered up, and to pour out my blood as a libation in the service of the gospel; and the time of my departure is at hand, when my disembodied soul shall go to the bosom of my Lord. I have fought a good fight, and through grace can look back with satisfaction on my warfare; I have finished my course, and am near the glorious prize; I have kept the faith, maintaining the purity of the doctrines of Christ, and adorning them by unimpeached fidelity in my own conversation. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, the rewarder of all his faithful saints, shall give me at that day of his appearing and glory; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing, and live under its influence, and in the prospect and earnest expectation of it. Note; (1.) The fidelity of others should be a quickening motive to excite our diligence; and their dying testimony to the blessedness of Christ’s ways, should comfort and encourage us to persevere in them. (2.) The day of our departure will be the brightest that ever dawned upon us, if we then enjoy the sure hope of the crown of righteousness. (3.) They who are faithful unto death, may with delight look back; and while they ascribe all to their Master’s grace, they cannot but rejoice in the evidence which the review affords of their approved sincerity before him. (4.) Whatever difficulties are in our way, we have a good cause to bear us out, and should comfortably and courageously persevere: and, in that case, whatever we lose for Christ here, we shall, at least in eternity, be unspeakable gainers by him. (5.) There is an aweful day at hand, and a righteous judge expected. Blessed and happy are they who truly love the day of his appearing, and can say with confidence, and real desire, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
2nd, Several directions are given to Timothy:
1. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me, as I especially need thy company at this time. For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and now, in this trying season, has shamefully deserted me, pursuing his own base and worldly interests, and is departed unto Thessalonica, to be out of the danger to which here he might, as my companion, have been exposed: Crescens is gone, on affairs of the church, to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia; so that I am almost left alone. Only Luke is with me, my true and faithful fellow-labourer; and Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. Note; The love of this present world has fatally warped multitudes from their fidelity to Christ.
2. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. Whatever just cause of displeasure the apostle might have had formerly against him, he was now returned to his duty, and therewith to St. Paul’s favour and regard.
3. The cloke, or, as some render it, the desk, that I left at Troas, with Carpus my host, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. What these writings contained, of which the apostle was so careful, is uncertain: some have thought it was the roll of his freedom; others, the copies of his epistles, which had been sent to the several churches: these they might include; but I believe they also referred to other things. See the Inferences on this chapter.
4. He admonishes him to beware of a bitter enemy to Christianity. Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evil, (Act 19:33.) and still bears all implacable enmity to me. The Lord reward him according to his works, to whose righteous judgment I leave him: Of whom be thou aware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words, and endeavoured to prejudice both Jews and Gentiles against that gospel which we preach. Note; Though no private revenge must dictate a thought or wish of resentment, yet obstinate and incorrigible enemies of truth and godliness are to be delivered up to an avenging God.
3rdly, The apostle,
1. Informs Timothy of his present circumstances. At my first answer, when I was called to defend myself before the emperor, no man stood with me, but all men, who could be of any service by their countenance or presence, forsook me, through fear and cowardice: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge, but that he would pardon this unfaithfulness, and bring them to repentance. Notwithstanding, though deserted by men, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me to plead with boldness, freedom, and fidelity, the cause of his gospel; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear, who were present at my trial, or to whom the substance of it should be related, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, from the cruel Nero, or his praefect, and the jaws of death, which seemed to yawn for me. And I am fully confident, from long experience, that the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, that I shall never speak nor act unbecoming the character I bear, intimidated by any fear of sufferings; and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, giving me the inheritance in glory which he hath promised: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen! Note; (1.) In trying times we are not to be surprized, if many desert us, who promised very fair. (2.) If the Lord stand by us, we want no other support.
2. He sends his own and others’ salutations, and hastens Timothy to come to him. Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus, the chamberlain, abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum, sick, not having any suggestion from the Lord, or power, miraculously to restore him. Do thy diligence to come before winter.
Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren, in these parts.
3. He concludes with his hearty benediction and prayer for him. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit, to quicken, teach, guide, preserve thee. Grace be with you, and all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ti 4:21 . ] see 2Ti 4:9 , . Even if is to be connected with , it does not follow that the epistle was written just before winter; comp. Introd. 3. may indeed mean the “ winter-storm ” (Wieseler), but it is more natural here to understand it of the season of the year (Wiesinger). Timothy is to come to the apostle before winter, that the winter might not prevent him from coming soon.
Finally, Paul sent greetings from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia, who are mentioned only here, and from all the Christians in Rome. These are named specially, not as the apostle’s , but probably because they were personally acquainted with Timothy. Linus is probably the one whom the Fathers name as the first bishop of Rome.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
Ver. 21. Do thy diligence, &c. ] The apostle quickeneth Timothy, as Cicero did his friend, Quamobrem si me amas, &c., si dormis expergiscere, si stas ingredere, si ingrederis curre, si curris advola. Credibile non est quantum ego in amore et fide tua ponam. Make all possible haste hither, for I rely much upon thy love and loyalty.
And Claudia ] An English (or rather British) woman, who went to Rome, was converted by Paul, married a Roman gentleman called Pudens (as here) for his parts, but before called Rufus. It is thought she sent the gospel first into England. (See Antiq. Britan., Camden in Britan., Matth. Parker, Bale, Godwin’s Catalogue, Speed’s Chron., &c.) This is no article of our faith.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ti 4:21 . : “That thou be not detained,” sc. by storm (Chrys.). This seems less urgent than of 2Ti 4:9 , and we may infer that St. Paul did not expect his final trial to take place for some months.
: Nothing else is known of this good man.
: Light-foot ( Apostolic Fathers , part i. vol. i. pp. 76 79) has an exhaustive discussion of the various ingenious theories which, starting with the assumption that Pudens and Claudia were man and wife a supposition opposed by the order of the names have identified them with (1) Martial’s congenial friend Aulus Pudens, to whom the poet casually “imputes the foulest vices of heathenism,” and his bride Claudia Rufina, a girl of British race ( Epigr . iv. 13, xi. 53), (2) “a doubtful Pudens and imaginary Claudia” who have been evolved out of a fragmentary inscription found at Chichester in 1722. This appears to record the erection of a temple by a Pudens with the sanction of Claudius Cogidubnus, who is probably a British king who might have had a daughter, whom he might have named Claudia, and who might have taken the name Rufina from Pomponia, the wife of Aulus Plautius, the Roman commander in Britain. This last supposition would identify (1) and (2). It should be added that in Const. Apost . vii. 46 she is mother of Linus. See also arts. Claudia and Pudens in Hastings’ D. B .
Linus is identified by Irenus with the Linus whom SS. Peter and Paul consecrated first Bishop of Rome ( Haer . iii. 3). See also art. in Hastings’ D. B .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
before. App-104.
Pudens. Pudens and Claudia are supposed by some to be man and wife, and have been identified with Titus Claudius and Claudia Quinctilia, whose inscription over a child they lost has been discovered near Rome.
Linus. Probably a bishop of Rome.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ti 4:21. , before winter) In former times, during the actual winter, there was almost no sailing; and the martyrdom of Paul was at hand.-, to come) He is invited by the mention of Eubulus, etc., who were with Paul, and were notwithstanding alive [therefore Timothy need not be afraid of his life in coming].- , and Linus) He is put third in order; he was not yet a bishop.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Ti 4:21
Give diligence to come before winter.-Pauls life was near to the end. Sailing and traveling were dangerous and uncertain in winter. If he did not come before winter, he might be delayed another season.
Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.-Nothing is known of Eubulus and of the others whose names are mentioned here. They all send greetings to Timothy. He had been with them and this was a kindly remembrance.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
thy: 2Ti 4:9, 2Ti 4:13, 2Ti 1:4
and all: Rom 16:21-23, 1Co 16:20, 2Co 13:13, Phi 4:22, 2Jo 1:13, 3Jo 1:14
Reciprocal: Act 17:15 – receiving Tit 3:12 – be Jam 1:1 – greeting
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ti 4:21. Come before winter. (See the comments at verse 9.) It might have been an additional reason for this instruction in the fact that sailing was difficult in the winter season. The other persons named were friends and disciples who joined with Paul in sending their greetings to the evangelist.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Ti 4:21. Before winter. The special reason for the urgency was, of course, that after October or November, the navigation of the Mediterranean was suspended, as we see in Act 27:9; Act 27:12. The prospect of the winter was doubtless connected also with the wish for the cloak left at Troas.
Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia. Two of the names connect themselves with an interesting series of coincidences. Here it will be sufficient to give a brief summary of them. They may be found at length in an Excursus in vol. 3 of Alfords Greek Testament, and in a paper by the present writer in the Bible Educator (3 p. 245), and in a poem Claudia and Pudens in his Master and Scholar. (1) There are several epigrams by Martial in which a Pudens is mentioned as married to a Claudia, a foreigner, and of British descent (i. 32, iv. 13, v. 48, vi. 58). She is called Rufina as a second name. (2) A Roman inscription was found at Chichester, and is now at Goodwood, in which Pudens is named as giving a site for a temple erected to Neptune and Minerva by a king and chieftain Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus. The same Cogidubnus is named by Tacitus as ruling over cities in Sussex (Agricola, c. 14). (3) Pomponia, the wife of Aulus Plautius, who was connected with the Rufi, and had been commander in Britain (A.D. 57), was accused of having adopted an alien superstition (Tacit. Ann. xii. 32), which led her to habits of seclusion and melancholy, The description fits in with the supposition that she was a convert to the new faith, seeking sadly after a higher life. (4) The conclusion drawn from these facts is that Pudens served under Aulus Plautius in Britain, and was stationed in Sussex; that the wife of the commander took the daughter of Claudius Cogidubnus with her to Rome; that under her influence Claudia became a Christian; that St. Paul in his first imprisonment at Rome, through his frequent contact with the soldiers of the Praetorian guards, brought Pudens also to the faith, or found that he was already half convinced; that an affection which ended in marriage sprang up between the two. It is noticeable that Martial speaks with an unusual reverence both of the intellectual and moral character of Claudia.
Linus. The name occurs in the list of Bishops of Rome given by Irenus (iii. 3, 3) and Eusebius (H. E. iii. 4) as next in succession to Clement.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Our apostle being greatly desirous to see Timothy before his death, reneweth his request and suit to him to make haste and come before winter: the personal presence of good men is much, very much desired by them, in order to excite and quicken each other.
To encourage Timothy to hasten to him, he names several persons of note that were then at Rome, who sent salutations to him, and would rejoice to see him.
But where were all these, when our apostle was upon his trial?
Ans. They all forsook him, and not one of them stood with him.
Behold what frailty there may be! and what fear will do, in persons of choice note for eminency and grace in the church of God!
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Verse 21
Before winter; when the navigation would be no longer safe.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
“Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.”
We have four believers mentioned, but we know little about them other than the meaning of their names. Eubulus means prudent, Pudens means modest, Linus means a net, and Claudia means lame.
We dont know if these are some of those that left him that are re-gathering or possibly these are people that werent as close to Paul when the trouble came and decided to gather round.
I assume that there was a hurry involved in Paul’s request, as well as the weather – it was difficult to travel in some areas during the winter.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
Winter severely restricted travel in some parts of the Roman world. Timothy needed to leave Ephesus soon so he could reach Rome without undue difficulty. Paul relayed the greetings of four other brethren, probably local, who Timothy evidently knew, as well as the greetings of all the local Christians.
"Linus is mentioned by Irenaeus (Against Heresies, iii.3) as the first bishop of Rome after the death of Peter and Paul." [Note: Earle, "2 Timothy," pp. 417-18.]