Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.  Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.

 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

2 Timothy 4:19 – 22

Paul was in chains in a Roman prison but his spirit was as free as the morning breeze.  He regretted that no one had been there in Rome to stand with him and defend him as he was sentenced by the Roman Empire as worthy of death, but that does not mean that he was friendless.  Paul moved on, carrying no grudge in his heart.  Why the leaders of the Christian communities in Rome did not stand with Paul is a mystery to me.  It could be that the believers were seen as part of the Jewish community that Rome had trouble controlling.  In any case, Nero had his own agenda.  He used Jews and Christians as scape-goats for his mad vision of self-splendor when need be.

Paul knew that he was deeply loved by many.  In the concluding section of his letter he named several.  Some, like Priscilla and Aquila we know, others not. But they were precious to Paul.  Were he to have greeted all those who loved him dearly it would have taken many, many lines.  I would have been on that list for I have developed a deep and profound relationship with the missionary Paul through the years and I am only one among thousands who thank God for this mighty man of God who knew what it meant to be praised and hated.  Like Jesus himself.

I find so much included in his last words, “The Lord be with your spirit.  Grace be with you all.”  Paul knew that young Timothy would be stretched and tried.  That was a burden God wants him to carry.  It is only possible if the Lord is with him.  The Lord is the God of all grace.