2 Timothy 4:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Next, see how he recounts still other trials of his. Do you see how meekly he speaks of those close to him, though they committed a serious fault? It is not the same thing to be abandoned by strangers and by one’s own. Do you see how strong his sorrow was? You cannot say, he means, that when I was persecuted by strangers, I found consolation, relief, and help in my own. They too betrayed me: “all forsook me.” Truly this is no small sin. If in war the man who leaves his companion in danger and saves only himself from the enemy’s hands is justly punished by his own side, as one who ruined the whole matter and as a traitor, how much more in the preaching. But what first defense does he mean? He had previously been brought before Nero and escaped execution. But when he converted Nero’s cupbearer, his head was cut off.

“At my first defense no one was with me, but all forsook me.” Again the Apostle recounts other trials, so as to encourage his disciple still more. But what first defense does he mean? He had previously been brought before Nero and escaped death, so that from that time he continued to preach. But when he converted Nero’s cupbearer, Nero burned with anger and had him beheaded. The Apostle expresses sorrow in the words, “all forsook me.” It is as though he says, “Even my own betrayed me, and I was deprived of every consolation.” Therefore you too, when left alone in dangerous circumstances, should find consolation in my example. “May it not be charged against them!” Do you see how he spares those close to him?

At my first interrogation, when I stood before Caesar, none of the brethren was with me. All abandoned me out of fear and fled. May this not be counted to them as sin, for although fear drove them to flight, love gathered them again.

“At my first defense no one was with me.” The first time, when I was bound and stood before Nero’s tribunal, I succeeded in defending myself and was released. The second time, when it became known that I had converted Nero’s cupbearer to the faith, I was bound again and was then condemned to death. By “first defense” he means his previous defense at trial. “But all forsook me.” They forsook me out of fear before Nero’s cruelty. “May it not be charged against them,” that is, as sin. May they not be made answerable for abandoning me as though for betrayal. Do you see how he spares his own and is not angry with them?

"At my first defense no one was with me." This points to the first interrogation to which the Apostle was subjected during his second imprisonment. Witnesses and defenders of his innocence should have appeared with the Apostle, but it is not known why they abandoned him at the decisive moment.

The Apostle Paul, informing Timothy of his own approaching death, asks him to come to him quickly. He says how all except Luke have abandoned him. He gives Timothy certain instructions for the journey, tells of the help from God that was shown to him after his first interrogation in court, and commands him to greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. He also sends greetings from certain Roman brethren.

The trial of the Apostle was conducted according to the form of Roman law. It consisted of several separate proceedings, and the pleading often took place before all who wished to be present, publicly. In such a trial, seeing familiar and sympathetic faces is pleasant for the accused and, if he is innocent, consoling. Yet although the Apostle Paul was innocent, those close to him still abandoned him, just as the Apostles abandoned Christ Himself when He was taken by the soldiers. The first fear of responsibility is very common. It acts even on those close to a king when they see danger to themselves, as happened, for example, with David. He complained, “My neighbors stood far off from me” (Ps 37:18; 87:9). But the Lord does not abandon His faithful servants. Thus He did not abandon Paul.

In the following reports about himself and his work, the Apostle appears to us as one who has in no way lost courage, even in view of his approaching death. For example, he remembers the cloak left in Troas and some books that he needed. Speaking of his first appearance at trial or interrogation, he notes that no acquaintances or friends were seen around him. According to Roman custom, such people supported the accused with their voices. But the Lord helped him instead. He had promised to give His apostles the power of the Holy Spirit, so that they might stand firm at trial (Mt 10:19-20). Thus the preaching of the Gospel was fulfilled. Proclaimed in the world city, before representatives of world authority, it reached, so to speak, its culminating point.

The final judgment had not yet been pronounced. Saint Paul had only stood at trial for the first time and made his defense. One cannot conclude that the case was turning against him. On the contrary, the following words, verse 17, suggest that Saint Paul was not without hope of deliverance from condemnation and death, as during his first imprisonment. Yet it was very painful for him that, during his defense, none of those close to him and none of his helpers were with him. What “no one was with me” means, whom Saint Paul has in mind, and what exactly they could have done by their presence, is not clear. But it is self-evident that their presence would not merely have given Saint Paul consolation. He knew how to find consolation in other sources apart from men.

By these words Paul clearly establishes that, the first time, he was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Apostle seems to call Nero this because of his cruelty. This happened so that his preaching might be fully completed. For afterward he does not add anything like, “He delivered me from the lion’s mouth.” He saw in the Spirit that his end was near. Therefore, after the words, “I was delivered from the lion’s jaws,” he adds, “The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly Kingdom,” indicating his approaching martyrdom. He foretells it still more clearly in the same epistle, saying, “I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.”