(to honor God)
Paul, about to depart, pens his last epistle, not to the assembly at Ephesus, where Timothy lived, but to the frail young devoted individual who had a willing heart to suffer for the truth’s sake, (See Phil. 2:20, 2120For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. (Philippians 2:20‑21); Prov. 23:2323Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)). He sees the need of stirring up exceptional divine “energy in the darkening state of the assembly,” these very difficult times in which we are now living, when many prefer not the whole truth of God. All is compared to a house in disorder. Nevertheless in the midst of the cumbersome religious machinery of Christendom, with so much that dishonors the Lord, there still remains the narrow path of Paul’s doctrine of the “one body” and the “unity of the Spirit” to be kept, outside of all divisions, counting on His faithfulness, His word and His grace to continue therein until He comes. (See Hag. 2:4-74Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: 5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. 6For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:4‑7)). Wonderful stay for the weak remnant.
He closes this fourteenth epistle and his one hundredth chapter with, “The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.”
Written by Paul in prison at Rome, before Nero beheaded him. A.D. 67.