At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
The first answer was Paul's first defense at trial, when he had to answer the charges and accusations against him before Nero, after being brought a second time before Nero to witness with his life to the faith he held. He was then an aged man with the crown of martyrdom before him, answering the bloodthirsty Nero and pleading for his life, yet calm and given opportunity to speak in his own behalf as a witness to the gospel before his judges. At that first defense no one stood with or beside him, but all forsook him and left him almost alone. His friends, fellow Christians, companions, and Christian friends in Rome abandoned him, and no advocate or friend was present to support his defense or to record the charges and his arguments.
Though forsaken, he prayed that God would not lay their desertion to their charge. The letter containing the verse was written to Timothy, the first bishop of the church at Ephesus, as Paul's solemn charge to him. It is to be read together with the example of Paul's faithful doctrine, life, persecution and deliverance and with the call to continue in the Scriptures, and it places on record his trials through men who turned from the faith. The lonely stand caps a life of real sacrifice in exchanging Pharisaism for the gospel of Christ, turning from wealth and friends and social distinction and public honor and beloved kinsmen to link his name and destiny with a despised people. That sacrifice meant suffering the loss of all things with labors more abundant than the other disciples, stripes above measure, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, perils by land and sea and in city and wilderness from robbers and countrymen, infirmity, pain, weariness, watchings, cold and nakedness.
Even alone he was not ashamed of the cause he advocated, but made it his one great purpose to serve Him whose name had once filled him with contempt, and no opposition or persecution could turn him aside. His faith, made strong by effort and pure by sacrifice, upheld and strengthened him, and despite his loneliness God's sustaining grace remained with him. He did not devote his time to recounting his grievous abuses but called attention away from himself to Jesus. Though he did not live for his own happiness he was happy and presented a cheerful front, even though the trials he felt keenest were those brought by false brethren.
In immediate context Alexander the coppersmith had done him much evil and had greatly withstood his words, so Timothy must beware of him. The verse shows the Lord sends messages by His servants to those He well knows will not accept them but will brace themselves against them as though their wrongdoings were just and right. In proportion to the light given but disregarded and virtually rejected will be the darkness that envelops the mind. The verse encourages believers passing over the same ground in similar trials, when some who were once with them as teachers deny the faith and work against the truth they once advocated, not to lose faith and confidence in God. It means God's workers will meet the same experience over and over, when those who profess truth choose the world before Christ and leave the minister disappointed and alone. It teaches not to be overwhelmed with discouragement by this desertion and not to stop working, but to forgive as Paul forgave, to keep lifting Christ higher and still higher as the sin-pardoner, and to remember that when men forsake, the Lord stands with His servant and strengthens him so that the preaching may be fully known.
The first answer was Paul's first defense at trial, when he had to answer the charges and accusations against him before Nero, after being brought a second time before Nero to witness with his life to the faith he held. He was then an aged man with the crown of martyrdom before him, answering the bloodthirsty Nero and pleading for his life, yet calm and given opportunity to speak in his own behalf as a witness to the gospel before his judges. At that first defense no one stood with or beside him, but all forsook him and left him almost alone. His friends, fellow Christians, companions, and Christian friends in Rome abandoned him, and no advocate or friend was present to support his defense or to record the charges and his arguments.
Though forsaken, he prayed that God would not lay their desertion to their charge. The letter containing the verse was written to Timothy, the first bishop of the church at Ephesus, as Paul's solemn charge to him. It is to be read together with the example of Paul's faithful doctrine, life, persecution and deliverance and with the call to continue in the Scriptures, and it places on record his trials through men who turned from the faith. The lonely stand caps a life of real sacrifice in exchanging Pharisaism for the gospel of Christ, turning from wealth and friends and social distinction and public honor and beloved kinsmen to link his name and destiny with a despised people. That sacrifice meant suffering the loss of all things with labors more abundant than the other disciples, stripes above measure, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, perils by land and sea and in city and wilderness from robbers and countrymen, infirmity, pain, weariness, watchings, cold and nakedness.
Even alone he was not ashamed of the cause he advocated, but made it his one great purpose to serve Him whose name had once filled him with contempt, and no opposition or persecution could turn him aside. His faith, made strong by effort and pure by sacrifice, upheld and strengthened him, and despite his loneliness God's sustaining grace remained with him. He did not devote his time to recounting his grievous abuses but called attention away from himself to Jesus. Though he did not live for his own happiness he was happy and presented a cheerful front, even though the trials he felt keenest were those brought by false brethren.
In immediate context Alexander the coppersmith had done him much evil and had greatly withstood his words, so Timothy must beware of him. The verse shows the Lord sends messages by His servants to those He well knows will not accept them but will brace themselves against them as though their wrongdoings were just and right. In proportion to the light given but disregarded and virtually rejected will be the darkness that envelops the mind. The verse encourages believers passing over the same ground in similar trials, when some who were once with them as teachers deny the faith and work against the truth they once advocated, not to lose faith and confidence in God. It means God's workers will meet the same experience over and over, when those who profess truth choose the world before Christ and leave the minister disappointed and alone. It teaches not to be overwhelmed with discouragement by this desertion and not to stop working, but to forgive as Paul forgave, to keep lifting Christ higher and still higher as the sin-pardoner, and to remember that when men forsake, the Lord stands with His servant and strengthens him so that the preaching may be fully known.