Scripture Daily

Context No. 1573 of 4322 · 2 Timothy

Context · Reflection

2 Timothy 4:16-22: in context

16At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick. 21Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. 22The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Near the end of his last letter, facing trial and death, Paul recalls a lonely moment. At my first defense, he writes, no one came to my support; everyone deserted me. But he adds, may it not be held against them. And then: but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. He closes with greetings to friends.

Two things in Paul's words are moving. The first is the pairing of human abandonment with God's faithfulness: everyone deserted me, but the Lord stood by me. At the moment Paul most needed human support, standing trial for his life, no one came; they all deserted him. It was a real and painful abandonment. And yet, he says, the Lord stood by me and strengthened me. When the people failed him, God did not; the Lord's presence met him precisely where human support fell away. There is deep comfort in that for the times we are let down by others, deserted when we most needed them, left alone. People will fail us, sometimes badly, sometimes at the worst moments; but the Lord stands by us when they do not. His faithful presence is most felt, often, exactly where human faithfulness fails. The second moving thing is Paul's response to those who deserted him: may it not be held against them. He does not nurse the abandonment into bitterness or curse those who failed him; he forgives them, praying that their desertion not be charged to them, echoing his Lord who prayed forgiveness for those who crucified him. Both belong together. When people fail and desert us, the Lord stands by us; and the grace we have received frees us to forgive those who let us down rather than harbor bitterness. Deserted by all, yet not alone, for the Lord stood by him; and free, even so, to forgive those who left.

When I am let down or deserted by others, left alone when I most needed them, can I know, as Paul did, that the Lord stands by me where human support fails, and can his grace free me to forgive those who abandoned me rather than nurse the hurt into bitterness?

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