2 Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18: (NRSV)

⁶ As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

¹⁶ At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! ¹⁷But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The author realised that his time was over and that the remainder of his life must be poured out as a sacrifice to God. It does not appear that the author did not think of himself as going to be executed, but that he also saw himself as offering up his life to God in the process; his life was not been taken from him; he was laying it down. Barclay assumes that the author was the Apostle Paul and reminds us that ever since Paul’s conversion, Paul had offered everything to God: money, scholarship, strength, time, devotion and passion. Now ‘... only life itself was left to offer, and gladly Paul was going to lay life down ...’

And now the time of his departure had come and the word Paul uses – ‘analusis’ is rich in meaning as Barclay explains, it is the word used to describe the unyoking of an animal. Paul therefore implies that his death was going to be an unyoking, was going to be rest from his labours and he was glad of it. Death was going to be a ‘liberation’ and a ‘release’. The word was also used to describe the unloosing of fetters and so the implication here too is the sense of release. The word was also used to describe the loosening of ropes from a tent. Here the implication could be that it was time to move on, and strike up camp elsewhere. It was also used to describe the loosening of the mooring ropes of a ship. Paul had sailed many times and so was about to embark on a final voyage.

For Christians death is therefore a laying down of the burdens in order to rest, a loosening of the shackles in order to be free, a striking up of camp to take up a new residence, a casting off of the ropes which bind us to this world and embarking on a new journey which ends in the presence of God.

There is no need to fear death ...

Paul loves using sporting metaphors (if it was indeed Paul who wrote this epistle), and this is one area where being humbled came naturally to me because I was always so rubbish at games! But the author makes a wonderful point and that and that is what really matters is the inner feeling of fulfilment we experience, as Barclay writes: “There is no satisfaction in all the world like knowing that we have done our best.”

There is also the notion of finishing. It is very easy to start things, but it is another thing to finish them. It is so easy to fall in the last lap of a race.

Paul had finished the race and had the satisfaction of reaching his goal.

The author continues: “I have kept the faith ...” This is an accomplishment of grace; with God’s help he had completed the course and had (to keep in mind the sporting image) kept the rules of ‘... honour and honesty in the race of life ...’

Barclay suggests that one can also use a business image paraphrasing this passage as ‘... I have kept the conditions of the contract; I have been true to my engagement.’ He had engaged himself to serve Christ and he had stood by that engagement and had not let his Master down.

He had kept the faith, he had never lost confidence and hope. Through the many difficult times, in all the dangers of land and sea and now even in the face of the final journey – death - he had never lost the confidence that comes to those united with Jesus Christ.

If we can say the same, one day, we too will die well.

The author speaks of there being a ‘crown of righteousness’ reserved for him. Thinking of his continued use of sporting imagery, he could have being referring to the laurel wreath awarded to winners at the Greek Games. This ‘crown’ would wither within a few days, but the crown of righteousness would never fade or wither.

Here the author is turning from seeing things in human terms, to seeing things in the eyes of God. He was going to face two verdicts: the earthly Roman court whose verdict was pretty obvious as Nero’s reputation went before him; but he also knew what God’s verdict was going to be. Barclay writes: “The person whose life is dedicated to Jesus Christ is indifferent to the verdict of men. They care not if they condemn him so long as they hear their master’s ‘Well done!’”

As the author continues to write it is as if he is saying to Timothy: “My end is near, and I know that I am going to my reward. If you follow in my steps you will feel the same confidence and the same joy when you when the end comes to you.”

The experience of this author is open to all who fight the same fight and who finish the race and who keep the faith.

And so to the final verses ...

The author tells of three things that brought him courage during this difficult time.

Firstly, when all people forsook him, he felt in a very real sense that God was with him in a special way. This is the promise of Jesus who said that he would never leave his own or forsake them and that he would be with them to the end of the world. The author is saying that this has been his experience.

Secondly, the author never forgot his privilege and duty of proclaiming Christ. He did so even in the Roman court, and when he began thinking of his task of preaching he began to forget the danger and this conquered his fear.

Finally, he was assured of his final rescue in eternity. Barclay concludes: “It is always better to be in danger for a moment and safe for eternity, than to be in safety for a moment and to jeopardise eternity.”

I know there is debate over whether Paul was indeed the author of this letter, and the style of the Greek is the point at hand; but in translation, it certainly sounds like Paul and it is definitely his theology.