Survey of the Letters of Paul back to the top     back to main page for this verse 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: This section has 4 verses: 2 Timothy 1:8-11 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. A GOSPEL WORTH SUFFERING FOR So, then, do not be ashamed to bear your witness to our Lord; and do not be ashamed of me his prisoner; but accept with me the suffering which the gospel brings, and do so in the power of God, who saved us, and who called us with a call to consecration, a call which had nothing to do with our own achievements, but which was dependent solely on his purpose, and on the grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus: and all this was planned before the world began, but now it stands full-displayed through the appearance of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and incorruption to light by means of the good news which he brought, good news in the service of which I have been appointed a herald, and an apostle and a teacher. IT is inevitable that loyalty to the gospel will bring trouble. For Timothy, it meant loyalty to a man who was regarded as a criminal, because as Paul was writing he was in prison in Rome. But here Paul sets out the gospel in all its glory, something worth suffering for. Sometimes by implication and sometimes by direct statement, he brings out element after element in that glory. Few passages in the New Testament have in them and behind them such a sense of the sheer grandeur of the gospel. (1) It is the gospel of power. Any suffering which it involves is to be borne in the power of God. To the ancient world, the gospel was the power to live. That very age in which Paul was writing was the great age of suicide. The highest-principled of the ancient thinkers were the Stoics; but they had their own way out when life became intolerable. They had a saying: ‘God gave men life, but God gave men the still greater gift of being able to take their own lives away.’ The gospel was, and is, power – power to conquer self, power to take control of circumstances, power to go on living when life is unlivable, power to be a Christian when being a Christian looks impossible. (2) It is the gospel of salvation. God is the God who saves us. The gospel is rescue. It is rescue from sin; it liberates people from the things which have them in their grip; it enables them to break with the habits which are unbreakable. The gospel is a rescuing force which can make bad people good. (3) It is the gospel of consecration. It is not simply rescue from the consequences of past sin; it is a summons to walk the way of holiness. (4) It is the gospel of grace. It is not something which we achieve, but something which we accept. God did not call us because we are holy; he called us to make us holy. If we had to deserve the love of God, our situation would be helpless and hopeless. The gospel is the free gift of God. He does not love us because we deserve his love; he loves us out of the sheer generosity of his heart. (5) It is the gospel of God’s eternal purpose. It was planned before time began. We must never think that God was once stern law and that only since the life and death of Jesus has he been forgiving love. From the beginning of time, God’s love has been searching for us, and his grace and forgiveness have been offered to us. Love is the essence of the eternal nature of God. (6) It is the gospel of life and immortality. It is Paul’s conviction that Christ Jesus brought life and immortality to light. The ancient world feared death; or, if it did not fear it, regarded it as extinction. It was the message of Jesus that death was the way to life, and that far from separating us from God it brought us into his nearer presence. (7) It is the gospel of service. It was this gospel which made Paul a herald, an apostle and a teacher of the faith. It did not leave him with the comfortable feeling that now his own soul was saved and he did not need to worry any more. It laid on him the inescapable task of wearing himself out in the service of God and of other people. This gospel laid three obligations on Paul. (a) It made him a herald. The word is ke¯rux, which has three main lines of meaning, each with something to suggest about our Christian duty. The ke¯rux was the herald who brought the announcement from the king. The ke¯rux was the one who was sent when two armies were opposed to each other, who brought the terms of or the request for truce and peace. The ke¯rux was the person whom an auctioneer or a merchant employed to advertise the wares and invite people to come and buy. So, the Christian is to be the one who brings the message to others; the one who brings men and women into peace with God; the one who calls on others to accept the rich offer which God is making to them. (b) It made him an apostle, apostolos, literally one who is sent out. The word can mean an envoy or an ambassador. The apostolos did not speak for himself, but for the one who sent him. He did not come in his own authority, but in the authority of the one who sent him. Christians are the ambassadors of Christ, whose task is to speak for him and to represent him to the world. (c) It made him a teacher. There is a very real sense in which the teaching task of Christians and of the Church is the most important of all. Certainly, the task of the teacher is very much harder than the task of the evangelist. The evangelist’s task is to appeal to people and confront them with the love of God. In a vivid moment of emotion, someone may respond to that summons. But a long road remains. That person must learn the meaning and discipline of the Christian life. The foundations have been laid, but the main structure still has to be built. The flame of evangelism has to be followed by the steady glow of Christian teaching. It may well be that people drift away from the Church after their first decision, for the simple yet fundamental reason that they have not been taught about the full meaning of the Christian faith. Herald, ambassador, teacher – here is the threefold function of all Christians who would serve their Lord and their Church. Now back to the list of what the gospel is... (8) It is the gospel of Christ Jesus. It was fully displayed through his appearance. The word Paul uses for appearance is one with a great history. It is epiphaneia, a word which the Jews repeatedly used of the great saving manifestations of God in the terrible days of the Maccabaean struggles, when the enemies of Israel were deliberately seeking to obliterate God. In the days of the high priest Onias, a certain Heliodorus came to plunder the Temple treasury at Jerusalem. Neither prayers nor pleading would stop him carrying out this sacrilege. And, so the story runs, as Heliodorus was about to set hands on the treasury, ‘the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused so great a manifestation [epiphaneia] . . . For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned [harnessed] horse with a rider of fighting mien . . . it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him with its front hooves . . . When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep darkness came over him’ (2 Maccabees 3:24–7). What exactly happened, we may never know; but in Israel’s hour of need there came this tremendous epiphaneia of God. When Judas Maccabaeus and his little army were confronted with the might of Nicanor, they prayed: ‘O Lord, you sent your angel in the time of King Hezekiah of Judah, and he killed fully 185,000 in the camp of Senacharib [cf. 2 Kings 19:35–6]. So now, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel to spread terror and trembling before us. By the might of your arm may these blasphemers who come against your holy people be struck down.’ And then the story goes on: ‘Nicanor and his troops advanced with trumpets and battle songs, but Judas and his troops met the enemy in battle with invocations to God and prayers. So, fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, they laid low at least 35,000, and were greatly gladdened by God’s manifestation [epiphaneia]’ (2 Maccabees 15:22–7). Once again, we do not know exactly what happened; but God made a great and saving appearance for his people. To the Jews, epiphaneia denoted a rescuing intervention of God. To the Greeks, this was an equally great word. The accession of the emperor to his throne was called his epiphaneia. It was his manifestation. Every emperor came to the throne with high hopes; his coming was hailed as the dawn of a new and precious day, and of great blessings to come. The gospel was fully displayed with the epiphaneia of Jesus; the very word shows that he was God’s great, rescuing intervention and manifestation into the world. ~Barclay Commentary First to the Matthew Henry and its commentary on verses 9 and 10: Mentioning God and the gospel, he takes notice what great things God has done for us by the gospel, 2 Timothy 1:9-10. To encourage him to suffer, he urges two considerations: - The nature of that gospel which he was called to suffer for, and the glorious and gracious designs and purposes of it. It is usual with Paul, when he mentions Christ, and the gospel of Christ, to digress from his subject, and enlarge upon them; so full was he of that which is all our salvation, and ought to be all our desire. Observe, [1.] The gospel aims at our salvation: He has saved up, and we must not think much to suffer for that which we hope to be saved by. He has begun to save us, and will complete it in due time; for God calls those things that are not (that are not yet completed) as though they were (Romans 4:17); therefore he says, who has saved us. Quoted verse: Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. [2.] It is designed for our sanctification: And called us with a holy calling, called us to holiness. Christianity is a calling, a holy calling; it is the calling wherewith we are called, the calling to which we are called, to labour in it. Observe, All who shall be saved hereafter are sanctified now. Wherever the call of the gospel is an effectual call, it is found to be a holy call, making those holy who are effectually called. [3.] The origin of it is the free grace and eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus. If we had merited it, it had been hard to suffer for it; but our salvation by it is of free grace, and not according to our works, and therefore we must not think much to suffer for it. This grace is said to be given us before the world began, that is, in the purpose and designs of God from all eternity; in Christ Jesus, for all the gifts that come from God to sinful man come in and through Christ Jesus. [4.] The gospel is the manifestation of this purpose and grace: By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who had lain in the bosom of the Father from eternity, and was perfectly apprised of all his gracious purposes. By his appearing this gracious purpose was made manifest to us. Did Jesus Christ suffer for it, and shall we think much to suffer for it? [5.] By the gospel of Christ death is abolished: He has abolished death, not only weakened it, but taken it out of the way, has broken the power of death over us; by taking away sin he has abolished death (for the sting of death is sin, 1 Corinthians 15:56), in altering the property of it, and breaking the power of it. Death now of an enemy has become a friend; it is the gate by which we pass out of a troublesome, vexatious, sinful world, into a world of perfect peace and purity; and the power thereof is broken, for death does not triumph over those who believe the gospel, but they triumph over it. O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55. Quoted verses: 1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [6.] He has brought life and immortality to light by the gospel; he has shown us another world more clearly than it was before discovered under any former dispensation, and the happiness of that world, the certain recompence of our obedience by faith: we all with open face, as in a glass, behold the glory of God. He has brought it to light, not only set it before us, but offered it to us, by the gospel. Let us value the gospel more than ever, as it is that whereby life and immortality are brought to light, for herein it has the pre-eminence above all former discoveries; so that it is the gospel of life and immortality, as it discovers them to us, and directs us in the ready way that leads thereto, as well as proposes the most weighty motives to excite our endeavours in seeking after glory, honour, and immortality. ~Matthew Henry Main Now to specific commentaries: The verse is broken down into 4 parts: 1] But is now made manifest. 2] by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Note:  Some commentaries do not discuss this phrase as it is self-evident.  Some commentaries attached it to the other phrases. 3] Who hath abolished death. 4] And hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel [some commentaries do not show, "through the gospel." in discussing the eight words prior.]. 1] But is now made manifest. But is now made manifest - The purpose to save us was long concealed in the divine mind, but the Saviour came that he might make it known. ~Barnes Notes 2] by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ - The grace according to which the elect of God are saved and called; though it was given to them in Christ, before the world was, yet lay hid in the heart of God; in his thoughts, council and covenant; and in Jesus Christ; and in the types, shadows, sacrifices, prophecies, and promises of the Old Testament; but is now made manifest in the clearness, freeness, and abundance of it by the appearance of Christ, as a Saviour in human nature; who is come full of grace and truth, and through whom there is a plentiful exhibition of it to the sons of men: ~John Gill 3] Who hath abolished death. Who abolished death.- Took away from death his power, and will finally destroy him. ~People's New Testament Who hath abolished death - That is, he has made it so certain that death will be abolished, that it may be spoken of as already done. It is remarkable how often, in this chapter, Paul speaks of what God intends to do as so certain, that it may be spoken of as a thing that is already done. In the meaning of the expression here, see the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:54; compare the notes at Hebrews 2:14. The meaning is, that, through the gospel, death will cease to reign, and over those who are saved there will be no such thing as we now understand by dying. ~Barnes Notes Quoted verses: 1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Who hath abolished death - Who has counterworked death; operated against his operations, destroyed his batteries, undersunk and destroyed his mines, and rendered all his instruments and principles of attack useless. By death here, we are not to understand merely natural death, but that corruption and decomposition which take place in consequence of it; and which would be naturally endless, but for the work and energy of Christ. By him alone, comes the resurrection of the body; and through him eternal life and glory are given to the souls of believers. ~Adam Clarke Who hath abolished death - the law of sin and death, which is the cause of death; and has destroyed him which has the power of it, the devil; he has abolished corporeal death with regard to his people, as a penal evil, he has took away its sting, and removed its curse, and made it a blessing to them; and he has utterly, with respect to them, abolished the second death, so as that it shall have no power over them, or they ever be hurt by it; all which he did by dying, and rising again: for though he died, yet he continued not under the power of death; but rose again and triumphed over it, as having got the victory of it; and the keys of it are in his hand: ~John Gill 4] And hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Brought life and immortality to light.- Revealed them in the gospel. ~People's New Testament And hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel - This is one of the great and glorious achievements of the gospel, and one of the things by which it is distinguished from every other system. The word rendered “hath brought to light” - φωτίζω phōtizō - means to give light, to shine; then to give light to, to shine upon; and then to bring to light, to make known. Robinson, Lexicon. The sense is, that these things were before obscure or unknown, and that they have been disclosed to us by the gospel. It is, of course, not meant that there were no intimations of these truths before, or that nothing was known of them - for the Old Testament shed some light on them; but that they are fully disclosed to man in the gospel. It is there that all ambiguity and doubt are removed, and that the evidence is so clearly stated as to leave no doubt on the subject. The intimations of a future state, among the wisest of the pagan, were certainly very obscure, and their hopes very faint. Many suppose that the phrase “life and immortality,” here, is used by hendiadys (two things for one), as meaning immortal or incorruptible life. The gospel thus has truths not found in any other system, and contains what man never would have discovered of himself. As fair a trial had been made among the philosophers of Greece and Rome as could be made, to determine whether the unaided powers of the human mind could arrive at these great truths; and their most distinguished philosophers confessed that they could arrive at no certainty on the subject. In this state of things, the gospel comes and reveals truths worthy of all acceptation; sheds light where man had desired it; solves the great problems which had for ages perplexed the human mind, and discloses to man all that he could wish - that not only the soul will live for ever, but that the body will be raised from the grave, and that the entire man will become immortal. How strange it is that men will not embrace the gospel! Socrates and Cicero would have hailed its light, and welcomed its truths, as those which their whole nature panted to know. ~Barnes Notes Brought life and immortality to light - The literal translation of the original is, He hath illustrated life and incorruption by the Gospel. Life eternal, or the doctrine of life eternal, even implying the resurrection of the body, was not unknown among the Jews. They expected this, for they found it in their prophets. It abounded among them long before the incarnation: and they certainly never borrowed any notion in it from the Christians; therefore the Gospel could not be stated as bringing to light what certainly was in the light before that time. But this doctrine was never illustrated and demonstrated before; it existed in promise, but had never been practically exhibited. Jesus Christ died, and lay under the empire of death; he arose again from the dead, and thus illustrated the doctrine of the resurrection: he took the same human body up into heaven, in the sight of his disciples; and ever appears in the presence of God for us; and thus, has illustrated the doctrine of incorruption. In his death, resurrection, and ascension, the doctrine of eternal life, and the resurrection of the human body, and its final incorruptibility, are fully illustrated by example, and established by fact. ~Adam Clarke And hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.- Christ was the first that rose again from the dead to an immortal life; the path of life was first shown to him, and brought to light by him; and though the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was known by the Old Testament saints, yet not so clearly as it is now revealed in the Gospel. ~John Gill   back to the top     back to main page for this verse