CONTEMPORARY BIBLE VERSION

                      Timotheous  

Demas:
Sir, I must needs go, I can’t stay here anymore…the tumult be much on me.
I think it is preferable that I journey to Thessalonica, maybe the saints there might need
comforting.
I hear of rumours, that Thessalonica burdens, even Timotheus knows…
Father permit my leave, the lord knows I love him but for me to die, it is not profitable to the church.

The apostle:
“What a coward! after all we had been through together and how he has known my doctrine, he prefers to embrace this world…”
pithuuu!!! He spits on the ground

“The way he scribbles shows me the weakness of his heart.  Demas! Demas!! How can you love this present world? Nothing good emanates from it!”

“I must write Timotheus, at least he is faithful”

He picks up his only remaining piece of writing material, rests his back on the wall and starts to write.

Dear Timotheus,

I write to you from this cold walls of roman shackles, I have heard of all the interesting news brought me from our brothers in the vine yard with you. I am glad you have listened and have not forgotten the teachings of your darling mother and her mother to you. I remember how from the Holy Scriptures you learnt of salvation. Hold fast.
My son, as a father I have taught you well. Hold fast.
I miss your company, but I understand that is for the gospel’s sake that you are distant from me. Your brother Demas has left for Thessalonica. Remember how I picked him up and trained him in the way of Christ? Demas’ heart lies not with me. He desires veronica in Thessalonica, hence he runs to dwell in the bosom of his lover…


As he writes, the lamp oil dries up and the light deems, he gently pushes against his bed to stand, holding fast to the rails of the prison, he yells the name of the warden “Brutus!” , “Brutus, I need oil, my light deems away”.
Oil is brought, and he writes on…


…Demas is in love with her. She has sealed his heart in-between her legs. I weep for the Demas. Beauty is vain, favour can deceive…right now Timotheus, I lack strength to speak especially to Demas.
He sent me a letter by the hand of one Pitus....

As he writes something disrupts him...

“Paul!”

 a sonance is heard from the veranda—the voice resembles Brutus’. Paul moves his lamp to enable him view his beckoner.
“I have news from the judge. He has granted the romans their plea.  Very soon from now, you will be executed”
Paul responds “my spirit knows all. Never to worry dear friend, the one who has called me is ready to receive me. Thank you”

He returns to his writing…

…I just read his letter, it disgusts me.
Your brother Luke is with me although fast asleep. I refuse to bother him—he read all through the day and night unto me letters from our provinces.

As you know my son how I have kept the faith and fought a good fight. I choose now to return from whence I came and to whom I came from.
You must return to me quickly. If possible, before winter. I need the cloak I left back with Carpus at Troas. Bring books and the special parchments I wrote the revelations of Christ on, I need them for Luke’s sake.
Lest I forget, there is this liverish smith of copper, his name is Alexander. He has done evil unto me. He would be rewarded same. Avoid him, for he attacks the gospel we preach.


My son, when I was judged no one was there with me, but I trust your heart yearned to be with me and even it dwelt at the time of judgement with me.

Do well to come with mark in whom I am well pleased with.

He stops writing—his frail hands fail the pressure of writing long epistles as Luke his special writer was fast asleep.

“I presume this will suffice Timotheus”.
“Brutus, I plea that this be delivered to my son Timotheus. Grant me this favour last”.
He wraps his letter in a bag and hands It over to Brutus...
**********************************************

The letter gets to timotheus about mid-afternoon the next week. It was about a weeks' journey travelling from Rome to where timotheous dwelt.

Knock,  knock!
Door opens...

“Good afternoon sir, I have a letter from the apostle Paul to one timotheus, do you by chance know him? ”

“yes, I am he!”
He hands the letter to timotheus and bids him farewell.

Timotheus unwraps the letter with joy and a lot of anticipation as he had not heard from his spiritual father a while...
The first lines of the letter disgust him...he continues...his feelings began to heighten... As he reads On he fights back his tears.
His emotions were a brew of sadness, disgust and urgency…
As he reads, he runs to his room and announces to mark “we leave for Rome”


Mark, a young man in his early twenties, with dark rich curly hair. His calves were moderately formed. His torso seemed to perfect to be true, carved at all sides. He was almost timotheus’ height with a soft tone, fairly baritone attached to him. He had brown coloured eyes and fairly tanned skin. His lips were dark—some say he is African. On his back he carried a slight hunch from praying.
Mark jumps down from his heightened bed and runs towards timotheus, “you said?”...

***to be continued ***