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The second section of Chapter 4 consists of
three
verses:
2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of
my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing.
Let us begin with the Barclay:
PAUL COMES TO THE END
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2 Timothy 4:6-8
…paraphrased
For my life has reached the point when it
must be sacrificed, and the time of my
departure has come. I have fought the good
fight: I have completed the course: I have
kept the faith. As for what remains, there
is laid up for me the crown of righteousness
which on that day the Lord, the righteous
judge, will give to me – and not only to me,
but also to all who have loved his
appearing. |
For Paul, the end is very near, and he knows
it. When the Dutch reformer Erasmus was growing old,
he said: ‘I am a veteran, and have earned my
discharge, and must leave the fighting to younger
men.’ Paul, the veteran warrior, is laying down his
arms in order that Timothy may take them up.
No passage in the New Testament [has
more] vivid pictures than this.
‘My life’, says Paul, ‘has reached the point
where it must be sacrificed.’ The word he uses for
sacrifice is the verb spendesthai, which literally
means to pour out as a libation, a drink offering,
to the gods. Every Roman meal ended with a kind of
sacrifice. A cup of wine was taken and was poured
out (spendesthai)
to the gods. It is as if Paul were saying: ‘The day
is ended; it is time to rise and go; and my life
must be poured out as a sacrifice to God.’ He did
not think of himself as going to be executed; he
thought of himself as going to offer his life to
God. Ever since his conversion, he had offered
everything to God – his money, his scholarship, his
time, his physical strength, the acuteness of his
mind and the devotion of his heart. Only life itself
was left to offer, and gladly he was going to lay it
down.
He goes on to say: ‘The time of my departure
has come.’ The word (analusis)
he uses for departure is a vivid one. It contains
many pictures, and each one tells us something about
leaving this life.
(1) It is the word for unyoking an animal
from the shafts of the cart or the plough. Death to
Paul was rest from labour. As Edmund Spenser had it
in The Faerie Queene, sleep after toil, port after
stormy seas, ease after war, death after life, are
lovely things.
(2) It is the word for loosening bonds or
fetters. Death for Paul was a release. He was to
exchange the confines of a Roman prison for the
glorious liberty of the courts of heaven [meaning
the Kingdom of God].
(3) It is the word for loosening the ropes of
a tent. For Paul, it was time to strike camp again.
He had made many journeys across the roads of Asia
Minor and of Europe. Now he was setting out on his
last and greatest journey: he was taking the road
that led to God.
(4) It is the word for loosening the mooring
ropes of a ship. On many occasions, Paul had felt
his ship leave the harbor for the deep waters. Now
he is to launch out into the greatest deep of all,
setting sail to cross the waters of death to arrive
in the haven of eternity.
So, for Christians, death is laying down the burden
in order to rest; it is laying aside the shackles in
order to be free; it is dismantling a temporary
campsite in order to take up residence in the
[Kingdom of God]; it is casting off the ropes which
bind us to this world in order to set sail on the
voyage which ends in the presence of God. Who then
shall fear it? ~Barclay
commentary
Now to the rest of the commentaries.
We will begin with the general and move to the
specific commentaries. First the Matthew Henry and
we break into the long commentary where it begins
speaking to verse 8:
[3.] With what pleasure he looks forward to the life
he was to live hereafter (2 Timothy 4:8): Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
etc. He had lost for Christ, but he was sure he
should not lose by him, Philippians 3:8. Let this
encourage Timothy to endure hardness as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ that there is a crown of
life before us, the glory and joy of which will
abundantly recompense [repay; make restitution]
all the hardships and toils of our present warfare.
Quoted verse:
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ.
Observe, It is called a crown of righteousness,
because it will be the recompence of our services,
which God is not unrighteous to forget; and because
our holiness and righteousness will there be
perfected, and will be our crown. God will give it
as a righteous Judge, who will let none love by him.
And yet this crown of righteousness was not peculiar
to Paul, as if it belonged only to apostles and
eminent ministers and martyrs, but to all those also
that love his appearing.
Observe, It is the character of all the saints that
they love the appearing of Jesus Christ: they loved
his first appearing, when he appeared to take away
sin by the sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:26); they
love to think of it; they love his second appearing
at the great day; love it, and long for it: and,
with respect to those who love the appearing of
Jesus Christ, he shall appear to their joy; there is
a crown of righteousness reserved for them, which
shall then be given them, Hebrews 9:28.
Quoted verses:
Hebrews 9:26
For then must he often have suffered since the
foundation of the world: but now once in the end of
the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the
second time without sin unto salvation.
We learn hence:
First, The Lord is the righteous Judge, for his
judgment is according to truth.
Secondly, The crown of believers is a crown of
righteousness, purchased by the righteousness of
Christ, and bestowed as the reward of the saints'
righteousness.
Thirdly, This crown, which believers shall wear, is
laid up for them; they have it not at present, for
here they are but heirs; they have it not in
possession, and yet it is sure, for it is laid up
for them.
Fourthly, The righteous Judge will give it to all
who love, prepare, and long for his appearing.
Surely I come quickly. Amen, even so come, Lord
Jesus. ~Matthew Henry Main
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise which covers verses
6-8:
The blood of the martyrs, though not a sacrifice of
atonement, yet was a sacrifice of acknowledgment to
the grace of God and his truth. Death to a good man,
is his release from the imprisonment of this world,
and his departure to the enjoyments of another
world. As a Christian, and a minister, Paul had kept
the faith, kept the doctrines of the gospel. What
comfort will it afford, to be able to speak in this
manner toward the end of our days! The crown of
believers is a crown of righteousness, purchased by
the righteousness of Christ. Believers have it not
at present, yet it is sure, for it is laid up for
them. The believer, amidst poverty, pain, sickness,
and the agonies of death, may rejoice; but if the
duties of a man's place and station are neglected,
his evidence of interest in Christ will be darkened,
and uncertainty and distress may be expected to
cloud and harass his last hours.
~Matthew Henry Concise
The crown of righteousness
I. Let us consider the prize the apostle had in
view, “a crown of righteousness.” Royalty is the
highest pitch of human grandeur. Those that wear
earthly crowns have got to the very summit of
earthly honour, and are in that station in which
centers all worldly glory and happiness. What an
idea is this similitude designed to give us then of
that glorious world, where every saint wears an
unfading, incorruptible and immortal crown?
1. This crown consists of perfect and everlasting
righteousness. The sparks of this crown are perfect
holiness and a conformity to God.
2. This crown was purchased by the righteousness of
Jesus Christ. It cost a valuable price, and
therefore is of inestimable worth.
3. We come to the possession of this crown in a way
of righteousness. Its being purchased for us does
not lay a foundation for our slothfulness, sin and
security.
II. Consider the person by whom this crown is
bestowed, and his character as a righteous judge.
This illustrious person is everywhere represented to
be our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, Acts 17:31. Christ
is the appointed person, and He is every way fitted
for the great and important work, He being God as
well as man: He is absolutely incapable of
committing the least mistake or error. And He is a
righteous judge. He will display His righteousness
in the last sentence that He will pass upon every
creature.
Quoted verse:
Acts 17:31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world in righteousness by that man
whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him
from the dead.
III. Consider when this crown shall be completely
possessed and be fully given. It is here said to be
given “at that day,” viz.: The day of Christ’s
appearance to judge the world.
IV. Consider the persons to whom this crown shall be
given. “To all those who love His appearing.” The
apostle was one of that happy number. They love His
appearing, for then every enemy will be vanquished.
~Biblical IllustratorAn assured
hope
I. An assured hope is a true and scriptural thing.
It cannot be wrong to feel confidently in a matter
where God speaks unconditionally—to believe
decidedly when God promises decidedly—to have a sure
persuasion of pardon and peace when we rest on the
word and oath of Him that never changes. It is an
utter mistake to suppose that the believer who feels
assurance is resting on anything he sees in himself.
II. A believer may never arrive at this assured
hope, which Paul expresses, and yet be saved. “A
letter,” says an old writer, “may be written, which
is not sealed; so grace may be written in the heart,
yet the Spirit may not set the seal of assurance to
it.” A child may be born heir to a great fortune,
and yet never be aware of his riches; may live
childish, die childish, and never know the greatness
of his possessions.
III. Why an assured hope is exceedingly to be
desired.
1. Because of the present comfort and peace it
affords.
2. Because it tends to make a Christian an active
working Christian.
3. Because it tends to make a Christian a decided
Christian.
4. Be cause it tends to make the holiest Christians.
IV. Some probable causes why an assured hope is so
seldom attained.
1. A defective view of the doctrine of
justification.
2. Slothfulness about growth in grace.
3. An inconsistent walk in life. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries. The commentaries
break the verse into 5 to 7 parts. We will use the
six in the Barnes Notes.
1] Henceforth there is laid up for me.
2] A crown of righteousness.
3] Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give
me.
4] At that day.
5] And not to me only.
6] But unto all them also that love his appearing.
1] Henceforth there is laid up for
me.
Henceforth there is laid up for me - At the end of
my race, as there was a crown in reserve for those
who had successfully striven in the Grecian games;
compare the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:25. The word
“henceforth” - λοιπὸν loipon - means “what remains,
or as to the rest;” and the idea is, that that was
what remained of the whole career. The race had been
run; the conflict had been waged; and all which was
now necessary to complete the whole transaction, was
merely that the crown be bestowed. ~Barnes Notes
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness - The happiness of the future state of
the saints is signified by a crown, on account of
the glory and excellency of it; and in perfect
agreement with the character of the saints, as
kings; and who are raised to sit among princes, and
to inherit the throne of glory, and have a kingdom
prepared for them; and this is called a crown "of
righteousness", because it comes through the
righteousness of Christ. ~John Gill
For me - and thee; for particular persons, for all
the vessels of mercy, for all that are chosen in
Christ Jesus, and redeemed by his blood, and
sanctified by his Spirit. ~John Gill
2] A crown of righteousness.
A crown of righteousness - That is, a crown won in
the cause of righteousness, and conferred as the
reward of his conflicts and efforts in the cause of
holiness. It was not the crown of ambition; it was
not a garland won in struggles for earthly
distinction; it was that which was the appropriate
reward of his efforts to be personally holy, and to
spread the principles of holiness as far as possible
through the world. ~Barnes Notes
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness - This I can claim as my due; but the
crown I expect is not one of fading leaves, but a
crown of righteousness; the reward which God, in his
kindness, has promised to them who are faithful to
the grace he has bestowed upon them. ~Adam Clarke
3] Which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, shall give me.
Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me -
The Lord Jesus, appointed to judge the world, and to
dispense the rewards of eternity. It will be seen in
the last day that the rewards of heaven are not
conferred in an arbitrary manner, but that they are
bestowed because they ought to be, or that God is
righteous and just in doing it. No man will be
admitted to [the Kingdom] who ought not,
under all the circumstances of the case, to be
admitted there; no one will be excluded who ought to
have been saved. ~Barnes Notes
The Lord, the righteous Judge [shall give me]
- He alludes here to the brabeus, or umpire in the
Grecian games, whose office it was to declare the
victor, and to give the crown. ~Adam Clarke
4] At that day.
At that day - That is, the time when he will come to
judge the world; Matthew 25. ~Barnes Notes
At that day - The day of judgment; the morning of
the resurrection from the dead. ~Adam Clarke
At that day - either at the day of death, the time
of his dissolution, which was at hand; or at the day
of the resurrection [which are virtually the same
thing from the view point of the person who has died].
~John Gill
5] And not to me only.
And not to me only - “Though my life has been spent
in laboriously endeavoring to spread his religion;
though I have suffered much, and labored long;
though I have struggled hard to win the prize, and
now have it full in view, yet I do not suppose that
it is to be conferred on me alone. It is not like
the wreath of olive, laurel, pine, or parsley (See
the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:25), which could be
conferred only on one victor (See the notes at 1
Corinthians 9:24); but here every one may obtain
the crown who strives for it. The struggle is not
between me and a competitor in such a sense that, if
‘I’ obtain the crown, ‘he’ must be excluded; but it
is a crown which ‘he” can obtain as well as ‘I.’ As
many as run - as many as fight the good fight - as
many as keep the faith - as many as love his
appearing, may win the crown as well as I.” Such is
religion, and such is the manner in which its
rewards differ from all others.
Quoted verse
1 Corinthians 9:25
And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
At the Grecian games, but one could obtain the
prize; 1 Corinthians 9:24. All the rest who
contended in those games, no matter how numerous
they were, or how skillfully they contended, or how
much effort they made, were of course subjected to
the mortification of a failure, and to all the
ill-feeling and envy to which such a failure might
give rise. So it is in respect to all the prizes
which this world can bestow. In a lottery, but one
can obtain the highest prize; in a class in college,
but one can secure the highest honor; in the
scramble for office, no matter how numerous the
competitors may be, or what may be their merits, but
one can obtain it. All the rest are liable to the
disappointments and mortifications of defeat. Not so
in religion. No matter how numerous the competitors,
or how worthy any one of them may be, or how
pre-eminent above his brethren, yet all may obtain
the prize; all may be crowned with a diadem of life,
of equal brilliancy. No one is excluded because
another is successful; no one fails of the reward
because another obtains it. Who, then, would not
make an effort to win the immortal crown? ~Barnes
Notes
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 9:24
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may
obtain.
6] But unto all them also that love
his appearing.
Unto all them also that love his appearing - That
is, unto all who desire his second coming. To
believe in the second advent of the Lord Jesus to
judge the world, and to desire his return, became a
kind of a criterion by which Christians were known.
No others but true Christians were supposed to
believe in that, and no others truly desired it;
compare Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:20. It is so
now. It is one of the characteristics of a true
Christian that he sincerely desires the return of
his Saviour, and would welcome his appearing in the
clouds of heaven. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall
see him, and they also which pierced him: and all
kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so, Amen.
Revelation 22:20
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I
come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Unto all them also that love his appearing - All who
live in expectation of the coming of Christ, who
anticipate it with joyfulness, having buried the
world and laid up all their hopes above. Here is a
reward, but it is a reward not of debt but of grace;
for it is by the grace of God that even an apostle
is fitted for glory. And this reward is common to
the faithful; it is given, not only to apostles, but
to all them that love his appearing. This crown is
laid up - it is in view, but not in possession. We
must die first. ~Adam Clarke
Recap to this Lesson:
1] For good soldiers of Christ, there is a crown of
righteousness laid up for us.
2] That crown is our encouragement to endure the
hardships of this life.
3] Nothing in this life is of any value compared to
winning Christ
4] The character we build is that thing in us that
loves the return of Christ.
5] Jesus is a righteous Judge.
6] Our crown of righteousness was purchased by the
righteousness of Christ.
7] We do not have the crown yet but it is a sure
thing for those remaining in the salvation process.
8] The crown is perfect holiness and a conformity to
God.
9] The crown of righteousness is our assured hope.
10] This assured hope promotes our being an active
working Christian
11] Not all called will understand or attain this
hope due to not understanding it, being slothful
and/or inconsistent in following Christ.
12] Firstfruits have buried the world and laid up
all their hopes on things above.
These are the lessons of verse 8. |