This section of Chapter 2 has but the one verse:
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth
them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
First the Barclay's commentary
THE FIRM FOUNDATION
2 Timothy 2:19
…paraphrased
But the firm foundation of God stands fast with this
inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his’, and
‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart
from unrighteousness.’
IN English, we use foundation in a double sense. We
use it to mean the basis on which a building is
erected, and also in the sense of an association, a
college, a city which has been founded by someone.
For instance, we talk about the foundation of a
house; and we also say that King’s College,
Cambridge, is a foundation of Henry VI. Greek used
the word themelios in the same two ways, and the
foundation of God here means the Church, the
association which he has founded. Paul goes on to
say that the Church has a certain inscription on it.
The word he uses is sphragis, whose usual meaning is
seal. The sphragis is the seal which proves
genuineness or ownership. The seal on a sack of
goods proved that the contents were genuine and had
not been interfered with, and it also indicated the
ownership and the source of the goods. But sphragis
had other uses. It was used to denote the brandmark,
what we would call the trademark. Galen, the Greek
doctor, speaks of the sphragis on a certain phial of
eye ointment, meaning the mark which showed what
brand of eye ointment the phial contained. Still
further, the sphragis was the architect’s mark.
Architects always put their mark on a monument, or a
statue, or a building, to show that they were
responsible for its design. The sphragis can also be
the inscription which indicates the purpose for
which a building has been built.
The Church has a sphragis which shows at once what
it is designed to be. Paul gives the sign on the
Church in two quotations. But the way in which these
two quotations are made is very illuminating in
regard to the manner in which Paul and the early
Church used Scripture. The two quotations are: ‘The
Lord knows those who are his’ and ‘Let everyone who
names the name of the Lord depart from
unrighteousness.’ The interesting thing is that
neither is a literal quotation from any part of
Scripture.
The first is a reminiscence of a saying of Moses to
the rebellious friends and associates of Korah in
the wilderness days. When they gathered themselves
together against him, Moses said: ‘The Lord will
make known who is his’ (Numbers 16:5). But that Old
Testament text was read in the light of the saying
of Jesus in Matthew 7:22: ‘On that day many will say
to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many
deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to
them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you
evildoers.”’ The Old Testament text is, as it were,
retranslated into the words of Jesus. The second is
another reminiscence of the Korah story. It was
Moses’ command to the people: ‘Turn away from the
tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of
theirs’ (Numbers 16:26). But that, too, is read in
the light of the words of Jesus in Luke 13:27, where
he says to those who falsely claim to be his
followers: ‘Go away from me, all you evildoers.’
Quoted verses:
Numbers 16:5
...the Lord knoweth them
that are his.
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company,
saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are
his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come
near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he
cause to come near unto him.
Numbers 16:26
And he spake unto the congregation,
saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these
wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be
consumed in all their sins.
Luke 13:37
...departing from evil
But he shall say, I tell you, I know
you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye
workers of iniquity.
Two things emerge. The early Christians always read
the Old Testament in the light of the words of
Jesus, and they were not interested in verbal
niceties; but to any problem they brought the
general sense of the whole range of Scripture.
These are still excellent principles by which to
read and use Scripture.
The two texts give us two broad principles about the
Church.
The first tells us that the Church consists of those
who belong to God, who have given themselves to him
in such a way that they no longer possess themselves
and the world no longer possesses them, but God
possesses them. The second tells us that the Church
consists of those who have turned away from
wickedness. That is not to say that it consists of
perfect people. If that were so, there would be no
Church. It has been said that the great interest of
God is not so much in where someone has reached as
in the direction in which that person is facing. And
the Church consists of those whose faces are turned
away from wickedness and towards righteousness. They
may often fall, and the goal may sometimes seem
distressingly far away, but their faces are always
set in the right direction. The Church consists of
those who belong to God and have dedicated
themselves to the struggle for righteousness.
~Barclay's commentary
To more fully understand the meaning of verse 19,
let us review the last section of verse coming up to
our verse:
2 Timothy 2:15-18
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they
will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom
is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that
the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the
faith of some.
Then...
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
We will begin with the Matthew Henry Main
commentary. It covers verses 19-21.
2 Timothy 2:19-21
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels
of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet
for the master's use, and prepared unto every good
work.
Here we see what we may comfort ourselves with, in
reference to this, and the little errors and
heresies that both infect and infest the church, and
do mischief.
I. It may be a great comfort to us that the unbelief
of men cannot make the promise of God of no effect.
Though the faith of some particular persons be
overthrown, yet the foundation of God standeth sure
(2 Timothy 2:19); it is not possible that they
should deceive the elect. Or it may be meant of the
truth itself, which they impugn. All the attacks
which the powers of darkness have made upon the
doctrine of Christ cannot shake it; it stands firm,
and weathers all the storms which have been raised
against it. The prophets and apostles, that is, the
doctrines of the Old and New Testament, are still
firm; and they have a seal with two mottoes upon it,
one on the one side, and the other on the other, as
is usual in a broad seal.
1. One expresses our comfort - that the Lord knows
those that are his, and those that are not; knows
them, that is, he owns them, so knows them that he
will never lose them. Though the faith of some be
overthrown, yet the Lord is said to know the ways of
the righteous, Psalm 1:6. None can overthrow the
faith of any whom God hath chosen.
Quoted verse:
Psalm 1:6
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but
the way of the ungodly shall perish.
2. Another declares our duty - that every one who
names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity.
Those who would have the comfort of the privilege
must make conscience of the duty. If the name of
Christ be called upon us, we must depart from
iniquity, else he will not own us; he will say in
the great day (Matthew 7:23), Depart from me, I
never knew you, you workers of iniquity.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 7:23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Observe,
(1.) Whatever errors are introduced into the church,
the foundation of God standeth sure, his purpose can
never be defeated.
(2.) God hath some in the church who are his and
whom he knows to be his.
(3.) Professing Christians name the name of Christ,
are called by his name, and therefore are bound to
depart from iniquity; for Christ gave himself for
us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, Titus
2:14.
Quoted verses:
Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
II. Another thing that may comfort us is that though
there are some whose faith is overthrown, yet there
are others who keep their integrity, and hold it
fast (2 Timothy 2:20): In a great house there are
not only vessels of gold, etc. The church of Christ
is a great house, a well-furnished house: now some
of the furniture of this house is of great value, as
the plate in a house; some of small value, and put
to mean uses, as the vessels of wood and earth; so
it is in the church of God. There are some
professors of religion that are like the vessels of
wood and earth, they are vessels of dishonour. But
at the same time all are not vessels of dishonour;
there are vessels of gold and silver, vessels of
honour, that are sanctified and meet for the
Master's use. When we are discouraged by the badness
of some, we must encourage ourselves by the
consideration of the goodness of others. Now we
should see to it that we be vessels of honour: we
must purge ourselves from these corrupt opinions,
that we may be sanctified for our Master's use.
Observe,
1. In the church there are some vessels of honour
and some of dishonour; there are some vessels of
mercy and other vessels of wrath, Romans 9:22-23.
Some dishonour the church by their corrupt opinions
and wicked lives; and others honour and credit it by
their exemplary conversation.
2. A man must purge himself from these before he can
be a vessel of honour, or meet for his Master's use.
3. Every vessel must be fit for its Master's use;
every one in the church whom God approves must be
devoted to his Master's service and meet for his
use.
4. Sanctification in the heart is our preparation
for every good work. The tree must be made good, and
then the fruit will be good.
~Matthew Henry Main
Now to our verse of the lesson and the specific
commentaries. Let me give you the verse once again:
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
The verse is primarily in four parts:
1] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth
sure.
2] Having this seal.
3] The Lord knoweth them that are his.
4] And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity.
1] Nevertheless the foundation of
God standeth sure.
Nevertheless the foundation of
God is sure - Margin, “steady.” The meaning
is, that though some had been turned away by the
arts of these errorists, yet the foundation of the
church which God had laid remained firm; compare
Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief cornerstone.” As long as this
foundation remained firm, there was no reason to be
troubled from the few instances of apostasy which
had occurred; compare Psalm 11:3. It is not uncommon
to compare the church to a building erected on a
solid foundation; Ephesians 2:20-21; 1 Corinthians
3:9-10; Matthew 16:18.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Psalm 11:3
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the
righteous do?
Ephesians 2:20-21
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
1 Corinthians 3:9-10
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are
God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto
me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let
every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now from the Adam Clarke:
The foundation of God standeth
sure - The word signifies literally a
foundation, and especially the foundation of a
building; and metaphorically, the building itself,
and often a noble mansion or palace. In this place
the apostle compares the religion of Christ to a
great or noble mansion. And as this religion is
founded on the authority and power of the Almighty,
it necessarily must stand sure and be permanent.
~Adam Clarke
Next the John Gill:
Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure - That faith, which is
the faith of God's elect, is of the operation of
God, and is the gift of his grace, and of which
Christ is the author and finisher, is firm and
immovable as a foundation; it is solid and
substantial; it is the substance of things hoped
for; and it is permanent and abiding; it stands
sure, being supported by the power of God, and
prevalent mediation of Jesus Christ.
~John Gill
Let us look at the Biblical Illustrator for the
word, "foundation."
The foundation
Rather, “God’s firm foundation stands,” i.e., the
Church, the “great house” of 2 Timothy 2:20, but
here designated by its “foundation,” because the
antithesis is to the baseless fabrics of heresy.
Other explanations have been: the doctrine of the
resurrection of the body, the promises of God, the
fidelity of God, Christ, the Christian faith, the
election of God. But the context and the analogy of
Ephesians 2:19-22 leave little doubt of the
correctness of the first interpretation.
~Biblical Illustrator
Quoted verses:
2 Timothy 2:20 [see
Lesson]
But in a great house there are not only vessels of
gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth;
and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
Ephesians 2:19-22
...which we read in part
already
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and
of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.
2] Having this seal.
Having this seal - The
seal here is one that was affixed to the foundation,
and seems to refer to some inscription on the
foundation-stone which always remained there, and
which denoted the character and design of the
edifice. The allusion is to the custom, in rearing
an edifice, of inscribing the name of the builder
and the design of the edifice on the cornerstone. So
the church of Christ is a building reared by the
hands of God. Its foundation has been firmly and
securely laid, and on that foundation there is an
inscription always remaining which determines the
character of the edifice.
~Barnes Notes
3] The Lord knoweth them that are
his.
The Lord knoweth them that are
his - This is one of the inscriptions on the
foundation-stone of the church, which seems to mark
the character of the building. It always stands
there, no matter who apostatizes. It is at the same
time a fearful inscription - showing that no one can
deceive God; that he is intimately acquainted with
all who enter that building; and that in the
multitudes which enter there, the friends and the
foes of God are intimately known. He can separate
his own friends from all others, and his constant
care will be extended to all who are truly his own,
to keep them from falling.
~Barnes Notes
The Lord knoweth them that are
his - i.e. Approves, watches over, and
provides for, them that are his true followers. To
this his followers most cheerfully subscribe, and
say: Let every one that nameth this Lord avoid every
appearance of evil. ~Adam
Clarke
4] And, Let everyone that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity -
This is the other seal or inscription which is made
on the foundation which God has laid. The foundation
has two inscriptions - the first implying that God
knows all who are his own people; the other, that
all who are his professed people should depart from
evil. This is not found in so many words in the Old
Testament, and, like the former, it is not to be
regarded as a quotation. The meaning is, that it is
an elementary principle in the true church, that all
who become members of it [are
called by God to it and the Body of Christ]
should lead holy lives.
~Barnes Notes
Recap:
With verse 19 God is establishing that the Plan of
God is His. He is the foundation of it. It is a sure
foundation which cannot be affected by any outside
source anywhere in the Universe. This foundation
underlies the Body of Christ, each true church
organization and the Salvation Process. This
foundation has two seals or inscriptions:
1] God knows them that are His. He knows
firstfruits. He knows who is in the Salvation
Process.
2] Them that are His are in the process of departing
from iniquity which is both sin and false doctrines. |