2 Timothy 4:17

I just love little details like this. It just hit me. Paul was probably not using imagery here when he speaks of being delivered from the lion's mouth. Paul uses imagery so often and this image of being delivered from the lion's mouth is used so often. We never think of it as literal because no one does that anymore.

The main image comes from the book of Daniel where Daniel is thrown into a den of lions and has to survive the night without being eaten. So when Paul uses this image he could be thinking of Daniel.

Yet Paul has just mentioned being before the court. He successfully defending himself. Under Emperor Nero Christians were literally thrown into the Colosseum to be eaten by wild animals for the entertainment of the Romans.

Paul was ever the brilliant defender of the faith. This time he defended himself in court.

Probably he had to convince the court to follow the law. Roman citizens, as Paul was, were executed in a more humane fashion. They could not be crucified and they could not be given to the lions. But Nero felt he was the law. He could do what he liked. He hated Christians and certainly was willing to treat them as badly as possible.

But Paul was successful in getting the Roman court to follow the law. It did not mean Paul would not be executed for being a Christian. But it would be done in a more humane, respectful way.

What spiritual truth do we get from this? I am at a loss. Yet Paul does see a great truth here shown in verse 4:18. Paul sees God's faithfulness. He believes God is still in control despite all. And he is confident that God will accept him in his own time. He will be accepted into God's heavenly kingdom. Paul is looking forward to it. He will be very present in this world as long as he remains. But he is confidently looking forward to the next world too.

Thank God for his faithfulness. Let us all be like Paul, confident in God and his promises to us.