2 Timothy 1:15-17

Paul’s Asia was not in Asia. When Rome conquered the region they created a providence in present-day western Turkey and called it Asia. They made the city of Ephesus its capital. Timothy had been placed by Paul as the overseer of the church in Ephesus. Many scholars believe it was at Ephesus that Paul was arrested the second time and returned to Rome. They believe that when Paul return to Rome the second time several Christians from Ephesus went with him. However, at Rome when they saw the extent of Nero’s persecution of Christians they fled in terror. When Paul said that everyone in the province of Asia had deserted him, he was either speaking in hyperbole, or he was being literal and limiting his statement to those who had traveled with him from Ephesus. Either way, Paul had to have felt abandoned and betrayed. Yet, in spite of how we might have felt, we cannot truly know Paul’s feelings. We do not know if he was feeling angry, sad, fearful, betrayed or conflicted. He simply does not give us enough information.

I like to believe he was feeling sad that they surrendered to fear while at the same time feeling merciful and forgiving because he knew that was the right way to respond. Few Christians had the experience of being courageous as Paul had. Faced with certain death in the Coliseum, desertion becomes more forgivable.

We do know that Paul focused upon their desertion less than he focused upon Onesiphorus’ faithfulness. Onesiphorus not only went out of his way to find Paul, he was not ashamed of Paul or his imprisonment. He did not allow fear to overwhelm him, but he ministered to Paul just as he had when Paul was in Ephesus.

In the midst of trials Christians depend upon their fellow Christians. Some will fail and some will surpassed expectations. We forgive those who fail and are thankful for those who do not fail. After all, Paul was deserted, not defeated.