2 Timothy 4:18

Paul's confidence that 'the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom' echoes the sixth petition of the Lord's Prayer ('deliver us from evil') but applies it to his specific situation of impending martyrdom. Notably the deliverance promised is not from physical death — the preceding verse speaks of being poured out as a sacrifice — but 'unto his heavenly kingdom,' suggesting that even martyrdom is a form of divine deliverance into glory. The phrase 'every evil work' may refer to moral corruption rather than physical danger, indicating Paul's primary concern is preservation of integrity rather than longevity. The doxology that follows ('to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen') transforms a personal testimony into worship, modelling the Pauline pattern of integrating crisis and praise.