spring of A.D 66, his enemies had no problem arresting him and transporting him to a prison in Rome Read the following verses of Timothy, which point to the fact of this last imprisonment: 1:16-17; 2:3, 9-13; 4:6-8, 16 Study the comparisons of the two imprisonments, as shown on Chart 100 CHART 100: PAUL’S TWO IMPRISONMENTS COMPARED Occasion and purpose The immediate occasion of the letter was Paul’s desire to see Timothy and Mark again (4:9, 11, 21) and to have Timothy bring Paul’s cloak, books, and parchments, which the apostle had left at Troas (4:13).18 The cloak was for the damp of the cell and the cold of the winter Of the two kinds of writing (books and parchments) that Paul requested, the latter no doubt included the Scriptures (Old Testament), hence the accent, “especially the parchments” (italics added) Paul’s main purpose in writing was to inspire and challenge Timothy to take up the torch of the gospel ministry left by the apostle It is possible that Timothy had left Ephesus by this time, suggested by 4:12 If so, he probably was engaged in evangelistic work in Macedonia or Asia If Paul was executed before Timothy could visit him, the letter was that much more signi cant for Timothy.19 Try to imagine how Timothy felt when he received this letter from his friend who just recently had been torn from him by Nero’s soldiers As far as Timothy knew, Paul already might have been executed by the tyrant Nero Here is how one writer has described the soul of Timothy at that time: Timothy stood awfully lonely, yet awfully exposed, in face of a world of thronging sorrows Well might he have been shaken to the root of his faith He might almost have tasted a drop of that last despair which gives up to God and wishes that being could cease to be To such a heart, when some sad weeks had passed away, came this Letter … to pour its mighty sympathies into his sorrow and to bid him be strong again in the living Lord Jesus Christ.20 Tone Paul’s last inspired writing has been called “an epistle of mingled gloom and glory.” True, there is a pathos about such lines as “I am already being poured out” (4:6) and “Demas has deserted me” (4:10) Paul was ever truthful, and exposing his wounded heart like this could only have spurred Timothy on to the fellowship of su ering But the prominent tone of the letter, even in references to trials as mentioned above, is triumph, and glory, and ... (4:13).18 The cloak was for the damp of the cell and the cold of the winter Of the two kinds of writing (books and parchments) that Paul requested, the latter no doubt included the Scriptures (Old Testament) ,... Testament) , hence the accent, “especially the parchments” (italics added) Paul’s main purpose in writing was to inspire and challenge Timothy to take up the torch of the gospel ministry left by the apostle... been executed by the tyrant Nero Here is how one writer has described the soul of Timothy at that time: Timothy stood awfully lonely, yet awfully exposed, in face of a world of thronging sorrows