2 Timothy 4:9

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
diligence	Σπούδασον Spoudason	G4704	to use speed · verb — aorist active imperative, 2nd person singular
come	ἐλθεῖν elthein	G2064	to come or go (in a great variety of applications · verb — second aorist active infinitive
shortly	ταχέως. tacheōs	G5030	briefly · adverb
unto	πρός pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
me	με me	G3165	me · personal pronoun — 1st person accusative singular

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

2 Timothy 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
2 Timothy 4:21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Timothy 4:9-15

Here are divers particular matters which Paul mentions to Timothy, now at the closing of the epistle. 1. He bids him hasten to him, if possible (Ti2 4:9): So thy diligence to come shortly to me. For Timothy was an evangelist, one who was not a fixed pastor of any one place, but attended the motions of the apostles, to build upon their foundation. Paul wanted Timothy's company and help; and the reason he gives is because several had left him (Ti2 4:10); one from an ill principle, namely, Demas, who abides under an ill name for it: Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. He quitted Paul and his interest, either for fear of suffering (because Paul was now a prisoner, and he was…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Timothy 4:9

(Ti2 4:21; Ti2 1:4, Ti2 1:8.) Timothy is asked to come to be a comfort to Paul, and also to be strengthened by Paul, for carrying on the Gospel work after Paul's decease.

Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:9

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me - He appears to have wished Timothy to be present at his death, that he might have his faith confirmed by seeing how a Christian could die; and, as he had but a short time to live, he begs Timothy to hasten his visit, and particularly so as he had scarcely now any companions.

John Gill on 2 Timothy 4:9

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me. From Ephesus, where Timothy was, to Rome, where the apostle was; and this request did not arise purely from a desire of seeing Timothy, as in 2 Timothy 1:4 but rather because he had some things to say to him, relating to the care of the churches and the good of the interest of Christ, which he chose not to write with ink and paper; and he desires the rather that he would use diligence, and hasten his coming to him; partly because winter was coming on, when travelling would not be so safe and comfortable, 2 Timothy 4:21 and partly because the time of his death was at hand, 2 Timothy 4:7 and also because he was almost alone.

The Church Fathers

That is, for relaxation and luxery.
— John Damascene,

I urged you to come to me quickly. For what reason does Paul call Timothy to himself to whom the Church of Ephesus had been entrusted? Since Paul being in prison, he was not able to leave. Therefore, he wishes Timothy to come to him, both because he is alone, and because he had given him certain instructions. come to me quickly. Paul did not say: Meanwhile, while I am still alive: for he did not want to sadden Timothy.
— Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY

It is worth while to enquire why he calls Timothy to him, inasmuch as he was intrusted with a Church, and a whole nation. It was not from arrogance. For Paul was ready to come to him; for we find him saying, "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God." (1 Tim. iii. 15.) But he was withholden by a strong necessity. He was no longer matter of his own movements. He was in prison, and had been confined by Nero, and was all but on the point of death. That this might not happen before he saw his disciple, he therefore sends for him, desiring to see him before he dies, and perhaps to deliver much in charge to him. Wherefore he says, "Hasten to come to me before the winter."
— John Chrysostom, Homily on 2 Timothy 10

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Timothy — Honouring God, a young disciple who was Paul’s companion in many of his journeyings. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are mentioned as eminent for their piety (2 Tim. 1:5). We know…

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

2 Timothy 4:9

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Timothy 4:9-15

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Timothy 4:9

Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:9

John Gill on 2 Timothy 4:9

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

2 Timothy 4:9

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Timothy 4:9-15

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Timothy 4:9

Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:9

John Gill on 2 Timothy 4:9

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 2 Timothy 4:9-13

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Timothy 4:9