Note 1 at 2 Tim. 1:1: It is important to realize as you study the book of 2 Timothy that this letter contains some of the last words Paul ever wrote. The subscript at the end of this letter mentions that Paul wrote this letter from Rome when he was brought before Nero the second time. Many believe this was his second imprisonment in Rome (see DATE OF WRITING in INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY, p. 1260).

Tradition says that a short time after this letter was written, Paul was taken to the outskirts of Rome on what is known as the Ostian Way and there he was executed by beheading. This is just tradition and has no scriptural confirmation, but it is clear that this letter was one of the Apostle Paul's last letters. In 2 Timothy 4:6 Paul says, "...the time of my departure is at hand." In the next verse he says, ". . .I have finished my course. . . ." In the next verse he speaks of receiving rewards from the Lord. Paul was clearly on his way out.

This means that Paul was at the peak of his revelation at the time of writing this letter. There are no more recorded Pauline revelations. He was bringing all his maturity to bear in this last letter to the man who was closer to him than any other (Phil. 2:20). He is reflective (2 Tim. 3:10-11; 4:6-8, 14-18) and prophesies about things that will happen in the body of Christ in the coming days (2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13; 4:3-4).

Note 2 at 2 Tim. 1:1: Second Timothy is called a prison epistle because Paul was imprisoned in Rome at the time of this writing. Second Timothy is written several years after 1 Timothy. In this letter we have insight into some of the circumstances that faced Paul.

(1) He seemed to miss his friends. In 2 Timothy 1:3-4, he states, ". . .I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee . . . ." In this letter, Paul urges Timothy to come visit him very soon (2 Tim. 4:9, 21).

(2) He may have felt forsaken by others. He writes, ". . .all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." He also wrote, ". . .Demas hath forsaken me. . .Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. . ." (2 Tim. 1:15; 4:10-11).

(3) He was facing poor conditions in prison. He states, "The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee. . ." (2 Tim. 4:13).

(4) In the long hours of imprisonment he asked, "Bring. . .the books, but especially the parchments" (2 Tim. 4:13). To the very end, Paul was a lover and studier of God's Word.

(5) He knew that the end of his life was near. He wrote, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:6-7).

Yet despite all he faced, he opened this letter with the truths of "grace, mercy and peace from God" (v. 2). He described the Gospel as "the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (v. 1). Paul proved by his life that we can experience God's abundant life, even if facing the hardest of circumstances.

Note 3 at 2 Tim. 1:1: It is interesting to compare the opening verse of 2 Timothy with the opening verse of 1 Timothy. In 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul says he is an apostle "by the commandment of God." In 2 Timothy 1:1, Paul says he is an apostle "by the will of God." By comparison, we see that the commandment of God is the will of God.