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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - 2 Timothy 1:9 - 1:9
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Who hath saved us
Salvation is ascribed to God. See on our Savior, 1Ti 1:1.
Called (καλέσαντος)
Comp. 1Ti 6:12, and see Rom 8:30; Rom 9:11; 1Co 1:9; Gal 1:6; 1Th 2:12. It is Paul's technical term for God's summoning men to salvation. In Paul the order is reversed: called, saved.
With a holy calling (λκήσει ἁγίᾳ)
Κλῆσις, calling, often in Paul; but the phrase holy calling only here. In Paul, κλῆσις sometimes as here, with the verb καλεῖν to call, as 1Co 7:20; Eph 4:1, Eph 4:4.
Purpose (πρόθεσιν)
See on Act 11:23; see on Rom 9:11.
Grace which was given (χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν)
Comp. Rom 12:3, Rom 12:6; Rom 15:15; 1Co 3:10; Eph 3:8; Eph 4:7. The phrase only here in Pastorals.
Before the world began (πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων)
See additional note on 2Th 1:9. In Pastorals the phrase only here and Tit 1:2. Not in Paul. Lit. before eternal times. If it is insisted that αἰώνιος means everlasting, this statement is absurd. It is impossible that anything should take place before everlasting times. That would be to say that there was a beginning of times which are from everlasting. Paul puts the beginnings of salvation in God's purpose before the time of the world (1Co 2:7; 1Pe 1:20); and Christ's participation in the saving counsels of God prior to time, goes with the Pauline doctrine of Christ's preexistence. The meaning, therefore, of this phrase is rightly given in A.V.: before the world began, that is, before time was reckoned by aeons or cycles. Then, in that timeless present, grace was given to us in God's decree, not actually, since we did not exist. The gift planned and ordered in the eternal counsels is here treated as an actual bestowment.