2 Timothy 4:21
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Winter 67 was Paul's final winter before execution, traditionally placed in early 68. The urgency proved justified. Whether Timothy arrived in time is unknown, though tradition suggests he did. Linus, mentioned here, possibly became Rome's second bishop after Peter's martyrdom. Claudia's Roman name and Pudens's (possibly Latin senator name) suggest social diversity in Roman church—slaves and aristocrats worshiping together. Despite Neronian persecution that killed Peter, Paul, and countless others, Roman church survived and eventually flourished. The greetings from these courageous saints preserved their memory for eternity, honoring faithfulness during dark times.
Questions for Reflection
- What urgent spiritual matters are you delaying that require immediate attention before it's too late?
- How can you maintain pastoral care and relational connections even amid personal crisis and suffering?
- Who are the faithful but unsung believers in your life whose courage and service deserve recognition and greeting?
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Analysis & Commentary
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. Paul repeats his urgent request (v. 9) with added detail: "before winter" (pro cheimōnos, πρὸ χειμῶνος). Cheimōn (χειμών) means winter, storm season. Mediterranean navigation typically ceased during winter (roughly November through March) due to dangerous storms. If Timothy delayed, he couldn't travel until spring—possibly too late to see Paul alive. The urgency is palpable: come now or never. This reveals Paul's realistic assessment—execution would occur soon, probably before spring.
Paul conveys greetings from Roman believers: "Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren" (Aspazetai se Euboulos kai Poudēs kai Linos kai Klaudia kai hoi adelphoi pantes, Ἀσπάζεταί σε Εὔβουλος καὶ Πούδης καὶ Λίνος καὶ Κλαυδία καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες). These Roman Christians, otherwise unknown except that church tradition identifies Linus as early bishop of Rome (possibly the Linus mentioned in apostolic father writings), demonstrated courage by associating with condemned Paul. Their greetings encouraged Timothy and showed faithful believers remained in Rome despite persecution.
These final personal notes reveal Paul's pastoral heart to the end: urging Timothy to hurry, conveying greetings from faithful saints, maintaining relational connections. Even facing imminent death, Paul thinks of others—encouraging, connecting, building up the body. The mundane details (weather concerns, travel logistics, personal names) remind readers that Scripture deals with real people in actual circumstances, not mythological heroes. Paul was flesh-and-blood human facing real death, yet faithful to the end.