2 Timothy 4:9-22

Paul’s days were numbered. Timothy needed to be quick or Paul would already be dead when he arrived in Rome.

Nero had accused Christians of starting a fire, that he himself had set, and now he was killing Christians as sport in the Coliseum. One of his favorite ways of having them killed was to throw them into a pit with hungry lions. Paul had not been exaggerating when he stated that he had been delivered from the lion’s mouth. Even though Nero was the Emperor, he still had to make a show of following Roman law. Part of that show was a sham trial where Christians were condemned to death and then carried off to the Coliseum. When Paul appeared at his first trial, nobody appeared with him because doing so would have been much like committing suicide. Paul did not hold it against them because they stayed away. Because Paul was a Roman citizen, Nero had to give him a second trial with the benefit of counsel.

When Paul said that he knew the Lord would rescue him from every evil attack and bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom, he was not denying reality. He knew he was going to be found guilty and he knew he was going to die. However, he also knew that although Nero could kill his earthly body, he could not take his life. God had given Paul eternal life, and God would take Paul safely home to be with Him in Heaven.

We have no way of knowing how many days or weeks passed between Paul writing to Timothy and his death. He asked Timothy to bring him his scrolls and parchments. He knew he was going to die, but he was not dead yet, and he did not want to waste his remaining time. Paul knew his days were numbered, but he did not stop living just because he was dying. He remained faithful until the end. When our days are numbered, we should make them count.