Why the Apostle Paul wrote Timothy

Emperor Nero. Plaster cast in Pushkin museum after original in British museum, London (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The death of James, the brother of Jesus, takes place in Jerusalem, Easter of 66, shortly before the outbreak of the Jewish War. Because of his public confession of Jesus, James is hurled from the top of the temple by fanatical Jews, stoned, and finally clubbed to death. Paul returns to Rome in the spring of 66 and is soon arrested. When he writes II Timothy in the summer of 66, he has been in prison in Rome for some time, no longer able to preach, and bound with chains like a criminal, his whereabouts hard to ascertain. 

Where Timothy is at this time is not known. Only Onesiphorus and Luke ministered to Paul's needs during this final imprisonment. Onesiphorus showed great devotion and courage in searching for Paul until he found him. However, by the time of the writing of this letter he has died. Luke has remained with Paul the entire time. Tychicus is not with Paul since Paul has sent him to Ephesus.

Many others have deserted him or are, like Timothy, tempted to do so.  These desertions are possibly due to lack of courage lest they become involved in Paul's fate or, like Demas, a result of love for the world. Paul knows now that he will never preach again and that he will soon be executed. However, he is not depressed but writes his letter with a feeling that uplifts him and is intended to hearten Timothy. Paul has finished his course. 

The journey to Spain that he had planned before his first Roman imprisonment, and for which the Lord had brought about his acquittal and freedom, has been accomplished. There now remains only for him to receive the victor's crown. He asks Timothy to come to him quickly, bringing Mark with him. 

When Timothy passes through Troas, he is to pick up Paul's cloak and scrolls that were left there in the care of Carpus at the time of Paul's departure not long ago. On Paul's last stop at Troas, he had been opposed by Alexander the metalworker, who was hostile to the apostolic doctrine. This hostility had compelled Paul to leave Troas hastily without his cloak and scrolls. 

Timothy is warned to beware of Alexander, who had done Paul much harm. It is on account of the near approach of his martyrdom that Paul exhorts Timothy so earnestly to be unremitting in his efforts to preach the gospel. Exercising all the powers that he has, Timothy is to fill Paul's place, bearing in mind his own calling. 

He is to be sure that both in his own time and afterward there shall be other men faithful to the doctrine he had received from Paul to take his place when he is gone. Paul is beheaded toward the end of 66 or the beginning of 67 on the Via Ostiensis. Mark's Gospel is published in 67. The war in Galilee begins in 67 when Rome responds to the Jewish revolt. Because of Jesus' warning recorded in Luke 21:20-21, the Christians in Jerusalem fled to Pella in 67 as the Romans advance on Jerusalem. There is a civil war in Jerusalem during the winter of 67-68. 

The Emperor Nero dies on June 9th, 68. The settlement of the Apostle John and other disciples in the province of Asia also occurs in 68. Following the death of Nero in 68, three emperors follow in rapid succession, and then Vespasian comes to power in July of 69. In April of the year 70, the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus begins. In August that year Jerusalem is captured and the temple destroyed. Afterward, the church in Jerusalem is reassembled under the leadership of Simeon, a cousin of James.