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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 2 Timothy 4:16 - 4:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Ti_4:16-18
16At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2Ti_4:16 "At my first defense" From this Greek term, apologia, we get the English word "apology." It was used in the sense of a legal defense (cf. Act_19:33; Act_22:1; Act_26:1-2; Act_26:24). Paul defended, explained, and proclaimed the gospel in several legal settings, both in Palestine and Rome (cf. Act_9:15).
▣ "no one supported me, but all deserted me" This may explain 2Ti_4:10. As fear melted the hearts of Jesus' followers after His arrest, so too, Paul's helpers began to become fearful and they deserted him (i.e., Demas).
In the Roman court system of Paul's day there was a preliminary investigation of the charges before the formal trial took place. Apparently in this legal procedure no one testified on Paul's behalf.
There is a Greek variant related to the tense of the verb.
1. imperfect – MSS A, C, D2,3, F, G, L
2. aorist – MSS à , D* (in the UBS4 text)
Bruce Metzger's textual commentary (p. 649) mentions that this same confusion is found in 2Ti_4:10; 2Ti_4:13; 2Ti_4:20.
▣ "may it not be counted against them" Paul reflects Jesus' words from the cross (cf. Luk_23:34) and Stephen's words in Act_7:60, but notice also the accountability phrase of 2Ti_4:14.
2Ti_4:17 "the Lord stood with me" Jesus promised to be with us in Mat_28:20. The same verb is used of Paul being encouraged by a supernatural presence in Act_23:11; Act_27:23 (also notice Act_18:9).
▣ "and strengthened me" Paul often speaks of Christ strengthening him (cf. Eph_3:16; Php_4:13; Col_1:11; 1Ti_1:12; 2Ti_2:1).
▣ "the proclamation might be fully accomplished" Paul was sent as an Apostle to the Gentiles (cf. Act_9:15; Act_22:21; Act_23:11; Act_26:17; Rom_1:5; Rom_11:13; Rom_15:16; Gal_1:16; Gal_2:7; Eph_3:1-8; 1Ti_2:7).
▣ "I was rescued out of the lion's mouth" Since Paul, as a Roman citizen, could not be given to be killed by wild beasts, this could be an OT idiom for (1) God delivering believers from their enemies or (2) God delivering them from death. Read Psa_7:2; Psa_22:21; Psa_35:17. Possibly Paul's first trial ended without a verdict.
Several times in the NT people are described as animals.
1. Mat_10:16
a. believers – sheep, snakes, and doves
b. unbelievers – wolves
2. Luk_13:32 – Herod as a fox
3. Mat_15:26-27; Php_3:2; 2Pe_2:22; Rev_22:15 – dogs used for Gentiles, false teachers, unbelievers
2Ti_4:18 "the Lord" In this verse (and 2Ti_4:14), this could refer to YHWH, but in 2Ti_4:17 (and 2Ti_4:1) it refers to Jesus. Jesus is the best option for all the occurrences in chapter 4.
NASB "rescue me from every evil deed"
NKJV "deliver me from every evil work"
NRSV "rescue me from every evil attack"
TEV "rescue me from all evil"
NJB "rescue me from all evil attempts on me"
Paul knew that the Lord was with him, for him, and in him. He also realized that human opposition had a Satanic or demonic origin (cf. Eph_6:10-19). The proclamation of the gospel is always accompanied by evil opposition!
This phrase is all the more striking and paradoxical when it occurs so close to Paul's execution!
▣ "will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom" See hyperlink at 2Ti_3:1.
▣ "to Him be glory forever and ever" Paul often breaks into doxologies of praise (i.e., two good examples, Rom_11:36; Eph_3:14-21).
▣ "Amen" See Special Topic at Tit_2:12.