“LETTERS TO TIMOTHY” THE MOVIE
The Supporting Cast
A couple of days ago, I introduced this concept of looking at the Bible and the Gospel story like film series. Moreover, looking at each book of the Bible like a single movie in that Gospel Film Series.
Under that concept, we started looking at the final scene of Paul‘s second letter to Timothy:
“19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.” (2 Tim. 4:19-22)
If “Letters To Timothy” were a movie, questions would arise on these final characters. Today, I’d like to highlight our somewhat familiar Key Supporting Roles in verse 19, and some not-so-well-known Supporting Cast in verse 20.
In a couple of days, I’ll be highlighting our unknown Extras in the remaining verses.
Key Supporting Roles: Priscilla & Aquila
In verse 19, Paul mentions Priscilla and Aquila. If the Gospel were a film series, these two would be considered as Key Supporting Roles. Why? Well, they’ve appeared before.
They’ve also appeared in “Acts of The Apostles“, “The Roman Church” and “Corinthian Corruption“. (The books of Acts, Romans & 1 & 2 Corinthians.) Throughout the New Testament, their names have come up in a number of circumstances:
- We have information that they’re Jews from Pontus, who have spent time in Rome, but ended up settling in Corinth (Act. 18:1-2).
- We see that they’ve traveled with Paul to Ephesus (Act. 18:18-19), and they were used to clarify the Gospel for another Supporting character, Apollos (Act. 18:26).
- And eventually, Priscilla and Aquila hold key roles in the church as Deacons (Rom. 6:13) and House Church Hosts (1 Cor.16:19).
Supporting Cast: Onesiphorus, Erastus & Trophimus
In the second half of verse 19 and in verse 20, Paul writes about a few characters that we don’t know a lot about. And yet, they’ve been mentioned before. In the film world, these folks would be considered the Supporting Cast.
After greeting Priscilla and Aquila, Paul adds in a greeting for Onesiphorus who visited Paul in prison according to 2 Timothy 1:16. Then Paul tells Timothy that Erastus stayed in Corinth.
Who’s Erastus?
Well, according to Acts 19:22; he had been on a missionary journey with Timothy to Macedonia. Moreover, according to Romans 16:23, he was the Director of Public Works for the city of Corinth.
And our last Supporting Cast member is Trophimus who apparently will be staying in Miletus because he’s ill.
Who’s Trophimus?
Well, according to Acts 20:4 and 21:29, he’s a born and raised Ephesian, who spent most of his life in the Province of Asia (know to us today as Turkey).
Next, the Extras
In a couple of days, I’ll be highlighting the Extras of our Gospel Film Series: Eubules, Pudens, Linus and Claudia.
They seem like nobodies; not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. But history tells an important tale of these 4 Christians.
