The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.

2 TIMOTHY 4:22KJV
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2 Timothy 4:22 (KJV)

What does 2 Timothy 4:22 mean?

2 Timothy 4:22 is a closing blessing from Paul to Timothy, asking that the Lord Jesus Christ be with Timothy’s spirit and that grace would be with all the recipients. This verse serves as Paul’s final farewell in the letter, expressing his hope for God’s presence and kindness to remain with Timothy and the church.

Paul is writing from Rome, likely near the end of his life, to Timothy, his close companion and a leader in the church at Ephesus. The verse wraps up the letter with a personal and spiritual encouragement, highlighting Paul’s care for Timothy’s inner well-being (“spirit”) and his desire for God’s grace to be with the wider group addressed.

The Greek behind 2 Timothy 4:22

  • “Lord” (Κύριος, Kyrios), “Jesus” (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous), “Christ” (Χριστός, Christos): These titles together emphasize the authority and identity of the one Paul is invoking to be with Timothy, underlining both Jesus’ divinity and his role as Messiah.
  • “Spirit” (πνεῦμα, pneuma): This word often refers to the inner life or the deepest part of a person. Paul’s wish for the Lord to be with Timothy’s spirit points to a desire for God’s presence at the core of Timothy’s being, not just in outward circumstances.
  • “Grace” (χάρις, charis): In Greek, this word means favor, kindness, or unearned blessing. Paul’s blessing of grace is a prayer for God’s ongoing kindness and help, not just for Timothy but for all who read the letter.
  • “Amen” (ἀμήν, amēn): This is a word carried over from Hebrew, meaning “truly” or “so be it,” and it marks the end of the blessing and the letter.

Why 2 Timothy 4:22 matters

  • This verse shows Paul’s deep personal concern for Timothy, focusing on his spiritual well-being rather than just practical matters.
  • The blessing of grace “with you” shifts from singular (“thy spirit”) to plural, suggesting Paul’s prayer extends beyond Timothy to the whole church community.
  • The closing reminds readers that Paul’s letters were often written in difficult circumstances, yet he ends with hope and encouragement, not despair.

Where else these words appear

“ordained” Greek G5500 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
  • 2 Corinthians 8:19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
  • Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.

“Ephesians” Greek G2180 · used in 6 verses

  • Acts 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
  • Acts 19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
  • Acts 21:29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

“bishop” Greek G1985 · used in 7 verses

  • Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
  • 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
  • Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.

“Rome” Greek G4516 · used in 14 verses

  • Acts 18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla;(because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
  • Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
  • Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.