The Second Epistle to Timothy was written to an individual, Timothy, and not to an assembly—1 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon are similar in this respect. This was Paul’s last letter recorded by inspiration, and thus his last recorded words. This fact alone should make it of special interest to us. Furthermore, this epistle was written in view of the coming departure from the faith in the professing church, and thus has a prophetic character.

Paul knew his time of ministry, and life in this world, was drawing to a close: “My departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:6–7). Peter made similar statements about his impending departure (2 Pet. 1:13–15). We read the last words of Moses in Deuteronomy 33; we read the last words of David in 2 Samuel 23:1–7. We ought to give heed to the last words of the saints recorded in the Bible!

Paul tells Timothy, and us, that the time would come when professing Christians would not “endure sound doctrine” and turn from the truth (2 Tim. 4:3). C. H. Spurgeon famously said the time would come when “They would entertain the goats and starve the sheep.” Paul also predicted that “in the last days perilous times will come” (3:1).

In his benediction to Timothy, Paul wrote from prison, “the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” The personal pronoun here is singular, so it was a special word to Timothy. He needed to be very close to the Lord, in heart, not just in an external way. The second pronoun used by Paul was plural: “Grace be with you,” meaning all the saints, including us. We are living in the times Paul predicted to Timothy. Oh, how we need the grace of the Lord Jesus in these last days!