With Eyes that See
It says it right there in the Holy Pages… when Paul was writing his last recorded words to Timothy, his spiritual-son. Paul knew his death was on the horizon. Not because of an accident or a disease, but because of a crazed leader who hated what was good. Nero hated Paul. Any excuse he could use to end Paul’s life was in his darkened heart. Paul knew it.
Imagine the setting with me. Paul is in prison in Rome. Not in the comfortable sort of prison most Roman citizens experienced. Not in the prison Paul had endured during his first long confinement in Rome. No, the prison where Paul wrote from just prior to his death, was a gruesome place. Picture it in your mind… allow the reality of Paul’s situation to sink in to a deeper place inside you. Mamertine prison, also referred to as the Tullianum, was designed to hold prisoners awaiting trial and/or execution, specifically prisoners considered to be a threat to the Roman government. This prison was a dungeon; two large holding cells underground. One cell was affixed atop the other with stone walls, stone floors and stone ceilings. These holding cells were dark, damp, musty, and cold. No light. No windows. No fresh air. One can only imagine the impact these two lower cells had on all the senses of prisoners unfortunate enough to be confined in them. It is recorded that Paul was held in the bottom of these two cells. It measured about 23 feet in diameter. Paul was allowed to write letters and we know he was allowed some visitors, for without that we would not have his last recorded words to Timothy.
There is so much about Paul’s imprisonments I do not know. But I share with you here what I have learned and am confident of — because it matters greatly for our understanding. So often we can sit with scripture and take it in as we read the words, but when we do not have the fullness of context and if we do not pause long enough to allow our senses to be engaged in the words we are reading, then the words can be just ink on a page and we fly through them as if we’re racing through the market needing to get on to the next task of the day. Instead, if we slow down and let ourselves accurately envision the setting, and use the context of the senses our Creator gave us — then a fullness begins to form and remembrance has a better chance of taking hold in our minds. Interestingly, we can begin to understand a major purpose in God choosing to give us these five ways of experiencing life. The senses — seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touch — these allow fullness of understanding. I’m a big fan of reading scripture slowly enough to allow each possible level of understanding. If you do not already do this when you’re reading God’s Word, please accept my invitation to begin doing so. You might only read 10 verses in your morning time, but you will have read them in a way that allowed you to better experience them. It’s the essence of seek and you will find.
Let’s do this together as we more slowly take in Paul’s situation as he wrote to Timothy. The room was dark, cold, smelled of human waste and decay (it is recorded that many prisoners simply died in the hole of Mamertine and might or might not be removed quickly), the sounds were harsh (stone and metal type sounds with no sound buffers), and if there was a taste on Paul’s tongue, it was not that of a good meal or minty toothpaste. He wrote by the light of an oil lamp, there’s another smell to add to your imagining. But as we slow down to truly think of the plight of Paul, we give space for the fullness of his recorded words to travel closer to our hearts.
And it was in this terrible setting Paul wrote saying, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil doers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned…” (2 Timothy 3: 12-14a)
Paul knew Nero was ruthless, and “drunk” on power, hatred, and cruelty. 2 Timothy 4:6 let’s us know that Paul realized his end was near. But up to that end, Paul was found being faithful. He wanted souls saved, false teachers exposed, truth told, correction given, encouragement served to sincere Christ followers, and warnings heard. But Paul did not want his warnings to compel fear — not at all. Paul wanted true followers of Christ to know and be prepared — “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. And even as he penned those strong words, Paul himself was in a place of persecution surrounded by hard stone and darkness. He wanted no one who “lived a godly life in Christ Jesus” to be shocked when persecution and hardship came on them like a high storm pounding a raft.
He is saying
Where I am, you might be - but don't be overwhelmed or dismayed - it's a fact, it's a shadow of the cross, the same cross that saves - it's simply the path ahead. Be brave and persevere, for the godly life in Christ leads to the throne-room of Heaven where the mercy seat is found. But we are not there yet, you won't find the mercy seat here. Be brave in the persecution - when you are finally HOME, you will be glad you persevered. (Paraphrased by me)
In the study notes of my Bible it words it this way, “In this charge, Paul told Timothy that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted. Don’t be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don’t give up. Continue to live as you know you should. God is the only one you need to please.”
No one reading this is in a stone prison cell underground. But persecution for Christ’s sake comes in many forms. Do you love someone who has left you? Paul did. (V9) Has someone wrongly accused you and even intended harm to you? Paul understands. (V14) Does someone strongly refuse your beliefs in Christ? Paul felt it. (V15) Do you feel abandoned, rejected, and deserted? Paul did too. (V16) Do you feel attacked and in harm’s way? You’re in good company friend. (V18) Are you found in “a stone-type cell” and you can’t seem to break out — all you can do is pray? Close your eyes and know that you are near the heart of Paul and beside the robes of Christ.(V17)
Persecution doesn't happen only in dungeons.
Within a short time of writing his second letter to Timothy, Paul was pulled out of the hole of that dungeon prison. It is believed it was in the dark of night for there was no audience at the event. The exact date is not known. He was taken by order of Nero to a nearby square and beheaded. Nero didn’t want Paul to become more famous in his death.
Oh but friend — Paul went HOME. And he knew he had done all he could to live a godly life in Christ Jesus ‘til the end. Saul had been blind, but Paul could see. And he never “closed his eyes” to the Light after he had been given “eyes to see”. How very, very blessed we are to have his example and his encouragements resting within the Holy pages we get to hold today.
Paul’s last recorded words to Timothy are well spoken and they are for us as well friend — See them, hear them, let your heart feel them, run your fingers across them and imagine the smells of that dungeon cell where this brave one penned them by oil lamp,
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned.”
