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Any Last Requests?

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2 Timothy 4:9-13
9  Do your best to come to me soon. 10  For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11  Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12  Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13  When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

Paul sits alone in a Roman prison as he pens these words to Timothy, He finds himself a deserted and without anyone to attend to him except for Luke.  That is in part because Demas loved the world and ran after it deserting the ministry work that was originally in his hands.  It still happens today.  Paul also finds himself alone because the others that were around him, are off dong faithful gospel ministry in the places that God had called them to.  For that he would have rejoiced.  

He hopes now to be refreshed by a visit from Timothy.  Paul was likely awaiting his execution.  He has said earlier - vs 6-8 "6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."  In the midst of that, he wants a few things from his scattered homes to keep him company.

Not asking for a cigarette before he goes to the firing line, he asks instead for three things - Mark (a restored friend), his cloak, books and he says, especially the parchments.  My Greek professor at Moody always made a big deal about this verse.  He had said that Paul especially wanted his parchments because on them would have been his writing out of the Scriptures, they would have been his Bible.  Unlike us who have maybe numerous copies of the Bible at our disposal, not everyone did.  Paul would have likely copied much of the Scriptures, by hand onto (sheepskin) parchments for later study.

This is what Paul wanted in his final days: a friend, a coat to keep warm, a few books (parchment loosely bound) and his parchments (handwritten copies of the Scriptures). His example is one to emulate, not just at the end of our lives, but all through.  This is a man who loved the Word, and missed studying it.

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