"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"
A Tale Of Three Men (4:10-11)
INTRODUCTION
1. As Paul nears the end of his second epistle to Timothy, he mentions
several people...
a. Demas, Crescens, and Titus, who are no longer with him - 2Ti 4:10
b. Luke, Mark, and Tychicus - 2Ti 4:11-12
c. And others as well - 2Ti 4:14-22
2. An interesting comparison can be made between three individuals in
particular...
a. Demas, who had forsaken Paul
b. Luke, who was with Paul
c. Mark, who was to come to Paul
[In "A Tale Of Three Men", there are lessons to be gleaned that
hopefully all can take to heart. Let's begin by considering...]
I. THE APOSTATE DEMAS
A. THE STORY OF DEMAS...
1. He served as a fellow laborer with Paul
a. Joining Paul and others in sending greetings - Phm 1:24; Co
4:14
b. During the time of Paul's first Roman imprisonment
2. Yet at the end of Paul's life, he forsook Paul - 2Ti 4:10a
a. Not that he merely left Paul
b. But that he left him in the lurch, i.e., abandoned Paul
- Hendriksen
3. Because he "loved this present world" - 2Ti 4:10b
a. Barnes and Gill believe it simply means Demas did not want
to die
b. Clarke contends Demas reverted back to Judaism
c. The tradition is he became apostate from the faith - cf.
Erdman
d. Loving the world is certainly contrary to loving the Father
- cf. 1Jn 2:15-17
4. At best, he deeply disappointed Paul; at worst, he fell away
from the Lord
B. WILL WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF DEMAS...?
1. Beginning a life of faith, only to fall away?
a. It is possible to fall from grace - Ga 5:4
b. We can become entangled again by the pollution of the world
- 2Pe 2:20-22
c. We can fall from our own steadfastness - 2Pe 3:17
d. We can become hardened by sin's deceitfulness - He 3:12-14
2. Loving the world, more than we love God and our brethren?
a. Letting the world's distractions render us fruitless? - cf.
Lk 8:14
b. Leaving our brethren and God in the lurch?
[The cause of Christ is often hindered by those who forsake their faith
and brethren because of their love for the world. On the other hand,
consider...]
II. THE STEADFAST LUKE
A. THE STORY OF LUKE...
1. He too was a fellow laborer with Paul
a. A Gentile, a medical doctor, "the beloved physician" - cf.
Col 4:11,14
b. Who first joined Paul at Troas on his second journey (note
the "we") - Ac 16:10-11
c. Who stayed at Philippi until he rejoined Paul on his third
journey - Ac 20:3-5
d. Who went to Rome with Paul for his first imprisonment - Ac
27:1; 28:16
2. He proved to be a steadfast companion and faithful Christian
a. Who wrote the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts
b. Possibly the "brother whose praise is in the gospel" - cf.
2Co 8:18
c. Who was with Paul during his first imprisonment - Phm 1:24;
Col 4:14
d. Who was with Paul during his last days - 2Ti 4:11
B. WILL WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF LUKE...?
1. Living a life of faith characterized by steadfastness?
a. Faithful to the Lord in our service? - cf. 1Co 15:58
b. Remaining faithful steadfast to the end? - cf. He 3:14
2. Pleasing not just the Lord, but a constant source of
encouragement to the brethren?
a. As the Colossians were to Paul? - Col 2:5
b. Refreshing the hearts of brethren, as did the household of
Stephanus? - 1Co 16:15-18
[What a contrast between Demas and Luke! The difference was determined
by the direction of their devotion. Demas loved the world; Luke loved
the Lord and his brethren. But let us also note...]
III. THE PENITENT MARK
A. THE STORY OF MARK...
1. A man who proved unreliable at first
a. His name was John, surnamed Mark, son of Mary - Ac 12:12
b. He joined Paul and Barnabas on their return to Antioch - Ac
12:25
c. He started with Paul and Barnabas on their first journey
- Ac 13:5
d. He left them prematurely and returned to Jerusalem - Ac
13:13
e. His departure later caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas
- Ac 15:36-41
2. A man who eventually redeemed himself
a. He later proved useful to Paul for ministry - 2Ti 4:11; cf.
Col 4:10; Phm 1:24
b. He was also dear to Peter - 1Pe 5:13
c. He wrote the gospel that bears his name (Mark)
d. Thought to have gone to Alexandria in Egypt and martyred in
62-63 A.D.
B. WILL WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF MARK...?
1. Perhaps we are more like Mark than Luke
a. Our service to God and brethren has not been what it should
be
b. We have not been as steadfast and dependable as Luke
c. Rather than like Luke, we have instead been 'lukewarm' - cf.
Re 3:15-16
d. Maybe like Mark (and Demas), we have left other brethren 'in
the lurch'
2. Yet the example of Mark gives us hope and direction!
a. Mistakes can be corrected, sin forgiven
b. We who may have been useless can still become "useful for
ministry"
c. Accepting opportunities for restoration and service - cf. Ac
15:39; Re 3:18-19
d. Responding to calls to get back up and continue the race of
faith - e.g. He 12:12-15
CONCLUSION
1. And so we have "The Tale Of Three Men"...
a. The apostate Demas
b. The steadfast Luke
c. The penitent Mark
2. In the course of our spiritual sojourn in this life, which person
will we be like...?
a. Hopefully never Demas!
b. Ideally like Luke
c. But if necessary, then at least be like Mark
Remember, the difference is determined by the direction of your
devotion. Will you love the world, or will you love the Lord and His
brethren...?
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
