Last updated on May 5th, 2025 at 06:33 pm
In our last post, we reflected on Apostle Paul’s famous final charge “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” But before those words were ever quoted in sermons or printed on bookmarks, they were written in a personal letter. A letter not to a church or a crowd, but to a young man named Timothy.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy is widely understood to be his last. At this point, he knows his time is short. He’s no longer travelling, preaching or writing letters to large gatherings. He’s in a Roman prison, awaiting execution. And yet, even in this moment, his mind and heart are focused on someone else.
This post is about that final letter. About what mattered to Paul near the end. And what we can take away from it today.
The Personal Tone of Paul’s Last Letter
Unlike Paul’s other letters, 2 Timothy feels deeply personal. He refers to Timothy as “my dear son” (2 Timothy 1:2) and recalls his sincere faith, even mentioning his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. It’s a letter from a spiritual father to a son in the faith. And you can feel the tenderness in his words.
One of the moments that stood out to me most is in 2 Timothy 4:21, where Paul says:
Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.
It’s a small phrase, easy to skim past. But it holds a lot of weight. Winter in those days made travel difficult, and if Timothy delayed, he might not get there in time. Paul knew that. So he urges Timothy to come not when it’s convenient, but now.
There’s a Time to Act
Sometimes in life, the door is open for a season, and then it closes. “Come before winter” is a gentle reminder that not all opportunities last forever. Paul wasn’t just asking Timothy to visit. He was asking him not to miss the moment. Winter in this case could be taken to mean his death. He knew winter was coming for him it is coming for all of us.
We all have moments like that. Times when God places something on our hearts – maybe it’s to reconcile with someone, start a ministry, reach out to a friend, or spend time with a loved one. But we delay. We say “soon.” Then winter comes, and the window closes.
Paul’s words remind us to move when the Lord prompts us. Don’t wait for the perfect time. The right time is when God says “go.”
Ministry is About People
Paul had preached to multitudes. He had written letters that would shape theology for centuries. But in his final moments, it wasn’t the crowds he asked for it was Timothy. He wanted to see his friend his son, to feel the presence of someone who had walked the road of faith with him.
He even gets specific. He asks Timothy to bring his cloak (v.13), because the prison was likely cold. He asks for the scrolls, especially the parchments, possibly Old Testament Scriptures. And he asks for Mark, the same Mark he once parted ways with (Acts 15:37–39). A small sign that healing and restoration had taken place.
This tells us something important: faith is not only about the mission; it’s about the people God places in your life along the way.
Faithfulness Matters
Even while facing death, Paul doesn’t express regret. He doesn’t wish he had travelled more or spoken to larger crowds. Instead, he points to his faithfulness. This was also encouragement for Timothy, reminding him even though the journey was tough, he kept the faith until the end.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
His confidence wasn’t in a perfect life, but in a faithful one. This speaks to us today. God isn’t asking for perfection. He’s asking for perseverance. A heart that doesn’t give up. A faith that holds on, even when things don’t go as expected.
God Stood With Me
One of the most powerful moments in Paul’s final chapter is his honesty about abandonment. In 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Paul says:
“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…”
These words echo forgiveness, but they also highlight something deeply encouraging. – when no one else showed up, God did. Paul wasn’t alone. In the coldness of prison and rejection, God’s presence was real and sustaining. There will be time when all you have to rely on is God. We all will or have faced seasons of abandonment but we must always remind that God will always stand with us.
Lesson for Us: Even if people let you down, God remains faithful. He will strengthen you when others walk away. You may feel abandoned, but you are never truly alone.
Paul’s Warning to Timothy
As a spiritual father, Paul also uses his final letter to warn Timothy. He names names – Demas, Alexander, and others who turned away or caused harm (2 Timothy 4:10-15). Paul wasn’t bitter. He was protective. He knew the cost of ministry and wanted Timothy to walk wisely. Even great men like Apostle Paul had people who stood against their ministry. Here Paul warns. Timothy while remind him to leave the judgement to God.
10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
Lesson for Us: Not everyone who starts with you will finish with you. Some will walk away. Some may even oppose you. But stay faithful. God will handle your enemies, just like He did for Paul.
God Doesn’t Forget Our Labour
Paul closes with hope:
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day...” (2 Timothy 4:8)
Even in a prison cell, he speaks with assurance. Paul knows that what lies ahead is far better than anything he’s leaving behind. And the promise he clings to isn’t just for him—it’s for “all who have longed for His appearing.”
It’s a reminder that our efforts aren’t wasted. Every prayer, every act of service, every moment of obedience—God sees it all. And He rewards faithfulness.
What Can We Take From This Letter?
Here are a few simple takeaways from Paul’s final words to Timothy:
1. Don’t Delay When God Nudges You
If God has put someone on your heart, reach out. If there’s something you need to do, don’t wait. Come before winter.
2. Invest in People, Not Just Platforms
Ministry isn’t about numbers—it’s about relationships. Who has God called you to pour into? Who is your Timothy?
3. Stay Faithful, Even When It’s Hard
Faithfulness isn’t always flashy. It’s showing up. It’s holding on. It’s finishing what God started in you.
4. You’re Not Alone in the Journey
Even when others abandon you, God stands with you (2 Timothy 4:17). Like Paul, you can be confident that He will never leave you.
5. Your Effort Matters to God
There’s a reward waiting for those who endure. Not for the perfect, but for the faithful.
Final Thoughts
Paul’s final letter is not dramatic—it’s deeply human. It’s a letter written with love, urgency, and quiet strength. And it still speaks to us today.
We don’t know how long we have. But we do know this: the people we invest in, the faith we hold on to, and the moments we don’t delay—those are the things that matter in the end.
So ask yourself today:
Who do I need to reach out to before winter?
What unfinished obedience is still sitting in my heart?
Like Paul, may we all live in such a way that when the time comes, we can say with confidence:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
John Thole is the voice behind Beyond Salvation, a blog that captures the highs and lows of life through faith, laughter, and honest reflection. With a passion for storytelling, technology, and spiritual growth, he creates content that resonates with seekers, believers, and anyone navigating life’s journey. Whether sharing personal insights, devotionals, or thought-provoking discussions, John aims to inspire, uplift, and spark meaningful conversations.
