2 Timothy 4:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

NIV: Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

NASB: Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

CSB: Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.

NLT: Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.

KJV: Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

NKJV: Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

While many people had left Paul behind in Rome, for various reasons, Luke had remained. This is the physician (Colossians 4:14) who travelled as a missionary with Paul, including during his first imprisonment. He appears to have been extremely loyal to Paul, remaining as his final friend during his second imprisonment. In addition, he penned both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. It's possible that Luke served as Paul's secretary for this letter, writing down his words. This, however, is uncertain.

A second friend is mentioned in this verse: Mark. This was John Mark, a young man whose mother hosted early believers in her home in Jerusalem. He travelled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, leaving them early to return to Jerusalem. When Paul and Barnabas prepared for a second trip, they divided because Paul refused to take Mark with them, while Mark's relative Barnabas chose to remain with him and minister on the island of Cyprus. Mark later appears with Paul during his first arrest in Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). Interestingly, Mark and Luke both wrote one of the Gospels, perhaps during this same time period in Rome.

Second Timothy 4:9–18 updates Timothy on Paul's ministry partners, as well as his antagonists. Some of Paul's friends have been sent out on missionary causes. Others, such as Demas, have turned their back on Paul and abandoned him. Only Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, is still with him. Paul specifically warns Timothy about Alexander the coppersmith. Paul knows full well that he will not survive this trip through the Roman legal system. Rather than despair, he still rejoices in his salvation and praises God.

Paul summarizes his instructions to Timothy, through a practical application of his prior teachings. Timothy is "charged" by Paul to defend his faith, against all error and false teaching, at all times. Timothy will face resistance. Paul also openly admits that his life is nearly over, so Timothy will need to soldier on without him. After this, Paul gives some personal updates about his situation, giving Timothy a few instructions and advice about particular people. Paul makes a final appeal for Timothy to visit him, then closes his letter—as he will close his life—focused on the grace of God.

Second Timothy is the last New Testament letter written by Paul. Paul writes these words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all hardships: his own impending death. So, he encourages Timothy to stand strong in his faith, with a reliance on the written Word of God. This letter echoes many of the themes Paul uses in his other letters.