2 Timothy 4:22

4:19-22 We need no more to make us happy, than to have the Lord Jesus Christ with our spirits; for in him all spiritual blessings are summed up. It is the best prayer we can offer for our friends, that the Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirits, to sanctify and save them, and at last to receive them to himself. Many who believed as Paul, are now before the throne, giving glory to their Lord: may we be followers of them.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit ; se the like, Galatians 6:18 Philemon 1:25 . Grace be with you ; the free grace of God, it its various emanations, suited to all your necessities, be with you. Amen . < epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first Bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.>> Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit,.... To counsel and advise in every difficult matter; to comfort under every distress; to supply with all grace in every time of need; and to strengthen and fit for every part and branch of duty. Grace be with you, Amen: which is the apostle's common salutation in all epistles. The Syriac version renders it, "grace be with thee"; but the Greek copies read in the plural, "with you"; which shows that the epistle was designed for the use of the whole church, as well as of Timothy. The subscription follows, which is not in many ancient copies, and is not to be depended on. The second epistle unto Timotheus; so far is right; this is certainly the second epistle to Timothy: ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians: this is omitted in the Syriac version; nor is it likely, much less certain, that he ever was bishop of Ephesus, or ordained as a bishop of any place, but was rather an evangelist, 2 Timothy 4:5, was written from Rome: this is evident from his being a prisoner when he wrote it, 2 Timothy 1:8.

And yet in the Alexandrian copy it is said to be written from Laodicea: when Paul was brought before Nero the second time; but whether he was before Nero at all is a question, or only before a Roman governor or judge. Geneva Study BibleThe Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:22 . μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματός σου : This expression, with ὑμῶν for σου , occurs in Galatians 6:18 , Philemon 1:25 ; but in both those places it is “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with,” etc. Here a very close personal association between the Lord and Timothy is prayed for. Dean Bernard compares the conclusion of the Epistle of Barnabas, ὁ κύριος τῆς δόξης καὶ πάσης χάριτος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν . μεθʼ ὑμῶν : See note on 1 Timothy 6:21 .

Verse 22. - The Lord for the Lord Jesus Christ , A.V. and T.R. The Lord be with thy spirit, etc. The manuscripts vary. The salutation as it stands in the R.T. is like the versicles, "The Lord be with you. A. And with thy spirit." It is a peculiarity of the salutation here that it is double - one to Timothy personally, μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματός σου ; the other to the Church, ἡ χάρις μεθ ὑμῶν . 1 Corinthians 16:24 exhibits another variety. Grace (see 1 Timothy 6:21 , note). The R.T. omits the "amen" at the end, as in 1 Timothy 6:21 . Thus doses our last authentic account of this great apostle; these are, perhaps, the last words of him who wrought a greater change in the condition of mankind by his speech than any man that ever lived. All honour be to his blessed memory! 2 Timothy 4:22

Observe how often this one brief name of his Saviour and Master has fallen from his pen in these closing paragraphs, taking the place of the full special title Christ Jesus (see 1 Timothy 1:1 ) used through the Pastorals; five times in the last fifteen verses, 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:22 , is the ‘Master’s’ presence and aid claimed and acknowledged by one whose highest title of honour as an Apostle had been ‘the Lord’s servant,’ ‘the Master’s bond-slave.’ We are reminded of pious George Herbert, who at his induction to his sacred charge at Bemerton made his resolve and prayer that his humble and charitable life might so win upon others as to bring glory, he said, ‘to my Jesus whom I have this day taken to be my Master and Governor; and I am so proud of this service that I will always observe and obey and do His will; and always call Him Jesus my Master, and I will always contemn my birth, or any title or dignity that can be conferred upon me, when I shall compare them with my title of being a priest and serving at the altar of Jesus my Master’; and who could in his last hours of suffering answer his wife’s anxious enquiry with the reassuring certainties of that Master’s presence; ‘he had passed a conflict with his last enemy and had overcome him by the merits of his Master Jesus.’ Walton, Life of George Herbert . The subscription has no sufficient authority; see note on subscription to 1st Epistle, p. 152.