2 Timothy 4:19-22 19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick in Miletus. 21Hurry to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Paul sent greetings to certain people associated with Timothy’s ministry. Prisca is a shorted form of Priscilla. Priscilla her husband Aquila significant teachers and church planters in the early church. They were Jews from Pontus who fled Rome because of persecution under the Emperor Claudius. They were tentmakers like Paul and met him in Corinth where they hosted him in their home. They followed Paul to Ephesus and continue mission work there (Acts 18). They were able to set up shop at different locations and work in ministry (Romans 16:3). This is the second time Paul mentions the household of Onesiphorus in the letter (1:16-18). This man and his family must have made an impression on Paul and been a big blessing.
The name Erastus is mentioned in Acts 19:22 as accompanying Timothy to Macedonia. Paul later sent him to Corinth. In Romans 16:23, Erastus is mentioned as the director of public works. A paving block in Corinth bares the name Erastus as the city treasurer. It is uncertain if these are the same persons but certainly possible and fits the biblical and archaeological evidence.
Trophimus was from Ephesus and went with Paul to deliver the offering in Jerusalem (Acts 21:29). Miletus was about 30 miles from Ephesus. Left sick could mean that Paul sent him back home to get better. Paul may essentially be asking Timothy to go check up on him to see how he was doing.
Paul was planning ahead for a stay in prison during winter and so urges Timothy to come to him by then. Although Rome would not be freezing cold because of its Mediterranean location, it would get cold without heating and warm clothing. It would be very helpful if Timothy could bring Paul’s warm cloak. Travel during winter was difficult and dangerous, so Timothy needed to ask quickly.
The final greetings are to four people mentioned only here. It is odd that Paul claimed earlier that everyone had deserted him when actually there were people around. His earlier statement may have been when he had to go to trial. Other believers caught up with the situation and began to surround him. The church in Rome was growing. Paul was ministering and preaching the gospel even while imprisoned.
The letter ends with a benediction in the form of two-part prayer. In the first, Paul asks the Lord, which likely refers to Jesus, to be with Timothy’s deep inner person. If Timothy were strong in his mind, will, and devotion, he would be better equipped to deal with the challenges in the Ephesian church. What he needed most was the grace of God to sustain him and guide him through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Although the closing of this letter has many personal details, it shows how important teamwork was in the early church. Timothy was an extension of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (2:2). Others joined them in strategic cities scattered around the Roman Empire. As Paul faced an uncertain future, his confidence in his ultimate outcome stands out in this letter. Few people will face the same type of predicament as he or Timothy, but we each will have our own struggles and fears to overcome. In the midst of trials, hard times, and uncertainty, we must keep our focus on what matters most: salvation in Christ and helping others experience it.
For older posts, click here.