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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Ti_4:6-8
6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2Ti_4:6 "being poured out" This is a present passive indicative. This phrase is used in Php_2:17 of an OT wine sacrifice (cf. Exo_29:40; Num_15:4-7; Num_15:9-10; Num_28:7; Num_28:10; Num_28:14-15; Num_28:24). Paul saw his life as a sacrifice to Christ.
▣ "the time of my departure has come" This is a perfect active indicative. This term analusis (English "analysis") is found only here in the NT, but the verb form is used several times to refer to a ship being loosed from its moorings (cf. Luk_12:36). It is used metaphorically of death in Php_1:23. This is the last letter Paul wrote before being beheaded, between a.d. 67-68 (Nero killed himself in a.d. 68).
2Ti_4:7 "I have fought the good fight" This is the first of three perfect middle indicatives. Paul used athletic (1Co_9:27; Php_3:13-14) and military (cf. Eph_6:10-18) metaphors to describe his ministry. What he encouraged Timothy to do (cf. 1Ti_1:18; 1Ti_6:12) he had done himself.
▣ "I have finished the course" This is the second perfect active indicative. Paul knew his death was imminent. He had fulfilled Ananias' prophecy in Act_9:15 (cf. Act_26:32). He had preached to all the categories mentioned and now Caesar.
▣ "I have kept the faith" This is another perfect active indicative. It refers to
1. doctrine
2. faithfulness
3. an athletic metaphor for keeping the rules (cf. 1Co_9:27)
2Ti_4:8 "crown of righteousness" This is either (1) not our own but Christ's imputed righteousness, and/or (2) believers' Christlike living. The term refers to an athletic victor's laurel wreath. We get the English name "Stephen" from this Greek word. There are several crowns assigned to believers in the NT:
1. an imperishable crown (1Co_9:25)
2. a crown of righteousness (2Ti_4:8)
3. a crown of life (Jas_1:12; Rev_2:10)
4. a crown of glory (1Pe_5:4)
5. a crown of gold (Rev_4:4)
See hyperlink at Tit_2:12.
▣ "which the Lord, the righteous Judge" The term "Lord" could apply to YHWH because He is called the Judge (cf. Gen_18:25; Psa_5:6; Psa_94:2; Joe_3:12; Heb_12:23; Jas_4:12) or to Jesus because this judgment is linked to "His appearing" (cf. 2Ti_1:10; 2Ti_4:1; 2Ti_4:8; 1Ti_6:14; Tit_2:13). YHWH has appointed Jesus as judge (cf. Mat_25:31-46; Act_17:31; 2Co_5:10; see note at 2Ti_4:1).
▣ "will award to me on that day" This has an end time (eschatological) orientation (cf. 2Ti_1:18; 2Ti_4:1). Apparently Paul believed that believers would be with the Lord at death (cf. 2Co_5:8), but the rewards and full fellowship awaited Resurrection Day (cf. 1Th_4:13-18).
▣ "but also to all who have loved His appearing" This refers to believers' eager anticipation of the Lord's Second Coming. It is no longer fearful. It is joyous! It is a sign of true Christianity!