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See Miletus

MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO COME BEFORE WINTER: Spoudason (2SAAM) pro cheimonos elthein (AAN):

Make every every (4704) (spoudazo from spoude = earnestness, diligence) (Click for in depth study of spoudazo) conveys the idea hastening to do something with the implication of associated energy or with intense effort and motivation. It means marked by careful unremitting attention or persistent application. The idea is give maximum effort, do your best, spare no effort, hurry on, be eager!  Hasten to do a thing, exert yourself, endeavour to do it. It means not only to be willing to do with eagerness, but to follow through and make diligent effort. In other words spoudazo does not stop with affecting one's state of mind, but also affects one's activity. Spoudazo conveys the idea of exertion. It means to be conscientious, zealous and earnest in discharging a duty or obligation. The verb speaks of intensity of purpose followed by intensity of effort toward the realization of that purpose.

"to make haste, do one’s best, take care, desire. The idea of making haste, being eager, giving diligence, and putting forth effort are in the word. The word speaks of intense effort and determination." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament Grand Rapids: Eerdmans)

"Before winter"

Practical Application: Winter is a season. Seasons pass. And when they pass, the opportunities (Click for an in depth word study on kairos, the Greek Word which means "opportunity") that were present during that season will also pass. God gives us all opportunities but He won't force us to respond. We have to choose to respond to opportunities. In this last section of Paul's final known communication he makes the plea (a second time) to "make every effort" but not qualifies it with  “Come before winter”. This plea should be a reminder to all of us that opportunities do not wait forever. Practically speaking, in the ancient world, once the winter season began, Timothy would no longer be able to travel easily to Rome and see his beloved friend for the last time.

Dr. Clarence Macartney in his famous sermon “Come Before Winter” asks...

Why “before winter”? Because when winter set in the season for navigation closed in the Mediterranean and it was dangerous for ships to venture out to sea. How dangerous it was, the story of Paul’s last shipwreck tells us. If Timothy waits until winter, he will have to wait until spring; and Paul has a premonition that he will not last out the winter, for he says, “The time of my departure is at hand.” We like to think that Timothy did not wait a single day after that letter from Paul reached him at Ephesus, but started at once to Troas, where he picked up the books and the old cloak in the house of Carpus, then sailed past Samothrace to Neapolis, and thence traveled by the Egnatian Way across the plains of Philippi and through Macedonia to the Adriatic, where he took ship to Brundisium, and then went up the Appian Way to Rome, where he found Paul in his prison, read to him from the Old Testament, wrote his last letters, walked with him to the place of execution near the Pyramid of Cestius, and saw him receive the crown of glory.

Before winter or never!

There are some things which will never be done unless they are done “before winter.” The winter will come and the winter will pass, and the flowers of the springtime will deck the breast of the earth, and the graves of some of our opportunities, perhaps the grave of our dearest friend. There are golden gates wide open on this autumn day, but next October they will be forever shut. There are tides of opportunity running now at the flood. Next October they will be at the ebb. There are voices speaking today which a year from today will be silent. Before winter or never! (Click for full sermon)

To reiterate...

“Before winter or never!...

There are some things which will never be done unless they are done ‘before winter.’”

Beloved, are there opportunities you are neglecting today that may soon vanish forever? Are there people you should contact and decisions you should make? Today is yours; tomorrow may be too late.

Beloved "Timothy" or "Timothea", "Come before winter!" whatever that plea might mean to you in your present life circumstance...don't delay! Dr. Arnot Walker did not delay...

Dr. Arnot Walker, when a student in the Jefferson Medical College, heard Dr. Clarence E. Macartney preach a sermon on the text, “Do thy diligence to come before winter” (II Tim. 4:21). The text continued to linger in his thoughts as he sat in his room. He decided, “I had better write a letter now to my mother. Perhaps the winter of death is near for her.” He wrote to her and expressed gratitude for her exemplary Christian life. Two days later while he sat in class a telegram was given to him. It read, “Come at once. Your mother is critically ill!” Hurriedly he went to the country home. His mother was still living. A smile of recognition and satisfaction was on her face. Under her pillow lay a treasured possession—the loving letter her son had written her after the Sunday service. It had cheered and comforted her as she entered “the valley of the shadow of death!”  (Bolding Added) (Tan, P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations: Garland TX: Bible Communications)

EUBULUS GREETS YOU, ALSO PUDENS AND LINUS AND CLAUDIA AND ALL THE BRETHREN: se Euboulos kai Poudes kai Linos kai Klaudia kai oi adelphoi pantes:

 GRACE BE WITH YOU: e charis meth' humon