John Bengel Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:8 - 4:8

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John Bengel Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:8 - 4:8


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2Ti 4:8. Λοιπὸν, Henceforth) How delightful is this particle!-the decisive moment. Paul, in accordance with the actual moment of his departure, looks to his three states: 1. the past, I have fought; 2. the immediately present, there is laid up; 3. the future, the Lord shall give.-ἀπόκειται, there is laid up) after all hardship and danger have been for ever overcome.-δικαιοσύνης) of righteousness, for which I have contended. The righteous refers to this.-στέφανος, a crown) The crown used to be bestowed after wrestling, running, fighting.-ἀποδώσει, will award) The word righteous accords with this, 2Th 1:6-7.-ὁ Κύριος, the Lord) Christ. Of whom also, 2Ti 4:1; 2Ti 4:14; 2Ti 4:17-18; 2Ti 4:22, speak.-ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, in that day) Whether or not Paul knew of the first resurrection, and claimed any such thing for himself, I do not know. That day is the last-the day of the universal judgment. A great part of the glory will then, and not till then, be added to the elect, 2Co 5:10; a passage which ought to be understood universally. There is nothing to prevent the partakers of the first resurrection from receiving a crown also at the last day, and from obtaining in that general assembly of all men an entirely new award of praise. The number of the brethren, Mat 25:40, will be far less than that of the others who conferred benefits upon them. Therefore the favourable sentence passed upon those ‘brethren’ is taken for granted as already awarded.[14]-ἐμοὶ, to me) Individual application.-πᾶσι, to all) This is a great additional source of joy to Paul; it is calculated to sharpen Timothy. Paul had gained many of these.-ἠγαπηκόσι, who love and have loved) This has a higher signification in the preterite, than ἀγαπήσας, 2Ti 4:10; where see a mournful antithesis. This desire of the appearing of the Lord presupposes in the individuals the whole state of sincere Christianity, especially faith. A Metonymy of the consequent for the antecedent.-ἐπιφάνειαν, His appearance) viz. the first and the second.

[14] The ‘brethren’ are supposed as already having had glory awarded to them, and as sitting beside the Judge as His assessors in judgment.-ED.