2 Tim. 4:17. And He strengthened me.
That is, He granted boldness, He did not allow [him] to fall.
2 Tim. 4:17. That through me the preaching might be fully established.
Look how great his humility is. Not because, he says, God strengthened me so that I would be worthy of such a gift, but "that through me the preaching might be fully known," or that it might pass from end to end and be fulfilled. This is like someone wearing purple robes and a diadem, and being saved because of them.
2 Tim. 4:17. And all the Gentiles heard.
That is, so that both the glory of the preaching and the care of Providence for me might become known to all.
2 Tim. 4:17. I was delivered from the lion's jaws.
That is, from Nero. He calls him a lion, on account of the might of his kingdom and his inflexibility. You see how close he was to death, having fallen into the very jaws of the lion.
2 Tim. 4:18. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work.
Before this He delivered me from bodily death; but since I have already preached sufficiently, henceforth, I hope, He will deliver me not from bodily death, since I am already "being poured out as a drink offering," but from every sin, that is, He will not allow me to grow weak before death, but will grant me to resist sin to the point of blood, which means to be delivered from the noetic lion. Thus, this last deliverance, when he was about to be handed over to death, is more important than the first, when he escaped death.
2 Tim. 4:18. And will preserve for His Heavenly Kingdom.
That is, He will deliver me from every sin and preserve me there. For to be saved for the Heavenly Kingdom means to die for it here. "He who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (Jn. 12:25). This is true salvation, when we shine forth in this way.
2 Tim. 4:18. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Here is a doxology to the Son, as also to the Father; for He is the Lord.
2 Tim. 4:19. Greet Prisca and Aquila.
These are the persons who received and taught the faith to Apollos, whose hospitality Paul himself enjoyed, and whom he constantly remembered. He places the wife first because she was more zealous and more devoted to the faith—she taught the faith to Apollos as well—or the apostle does this without distinction. He expresses his greeting partly to comfort them, partly to show them honor and love, and—what is more important—to impart great grace. For even one greeting from such a blessed and holy man could fill with great grace the one who was deemed worthy of it.
2 Tim. 4:19. The house of Onesiphorus.
That is, his household. He himself was in Rome and served Paul in his bonds, as was said above. By his greeting, the apostle makes them more zealous for advancement in such matters.
2 Tim. 4:20. Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
Since the apostle had not mentioned them, he now mentions them and shows that he has been abandoned by everyone, thereby urging Timothy to come to him more quickly. Why did the apostle not heal the sick Trophimus? Because the saints cannot do everything, for this is God's prerogative, so that people would not deify them. So too Moses, tongue-tied from childhood, did not heal himself and did not enter the promised land, lest they regard him as God. So too Paul himself had a severe illness. Miletus is near Ephesus. Consequently, Paul left Trophimus in Miletus either when he was sailing to Judea, or after he had been in Rome and returned again to these regions — we find it difficult to say.
2 Tim. 4:21. Make haste to come before winter.
Come quickly, since I have been completely abandoned by everyone, as you can see. He does not say: before my death, since that would cause grief, but: so as not to encounter difficulties from winter — to see me, although this is not stated.
2 Tim. 4:21. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus.
About this Linus, some say that he was the second bishop of the Roman Church after Peter.
2 Tim. 4:21. And Claudia.