CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
2 Timothy 4:16. At my first answer.—R.V. “defence” (Gr. ἀπολογίᾳ). On his first appearance in the emperor’s court. No one stood with me.—R.V. “took my part,” i.e. as advocate. All men forsook me.—St. Paul was in the lion’s mouth (2 Timothy 4:17), and men fled from the stroke of the paw.
2 Timothy 4:17. The Lord stood with me.—In sharp contrast to those who fled, leaving the apostle in his evil hour. That all the Gentiles might hear.—“God gave us not the spirit of cowardice,” St. Paul had already written. He might say with Cæsar:—
“Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.”
It seems to have been of vastly more consequence to St. Paul that the story of the Crucified should be told in the court of Nero, than that it might cost him his head to tell it. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.—The lion was in all probability Nero. When Marsyas announced to Agrippa the death of Tiberius, he did so in the words, “The lion is dead.”
2 Timothy 4:18. And the Lord shall deliver me.—Not a poor mangled fragment of me, “As a shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear” (Amos 3:12).
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 2 Timothy 4:16-18
A Brave Defender of the Faith—
I. Is often deserted by those from whom he expected help.—“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Timothy 4:16). At his first public examination in the Roman court Paul had to defend himself alone. Those who might have spoken for him absented themselves. Their fears of being charged with complicity with the prisoner daunted their courage, and they fled. It is a bitter disappointment to be forsaken at a crucial moment; but the brave heart, sustained by the truth, will not flinch.
II. Charitably recognises the special difficulties of his timid friends.—“I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (2 Timothy 4:16). The emphasis is on their. “They were intimidated: their drawing back from me was not from bad disposition so much as from fear; it is sure to be laid to the charge of those who intimidated them.” Paul, like Stephen, would have offered the same prayer for his persecutors (Acts 7:60) (Fausset). Another side-light on the character of Paul; his large-heartedness excused the weakness of his friends, and he prays for their exculpation.
III. Is sustained at a critical moment by Divine power.—
1. He is strengthened by the conscious presence of the Lord. “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). That was sufficient: the enemies might do their worst; Paul—and the Lord—were more than a match against their most malignant cruelty. When friends forsake us, God draws nearer, and His almighty strength turns suffering into joyous triumph.
2. He is enabled fearlessly to declare the truth under circumstances that give it special publicity. “That by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Timothy 4:17). Rome was the capital of the empire, of the Gentile world, and was the centre to which all news and commerce came, and from it was again distributed to the remotest provinces. The trial of Paul, conducted in a public manner, became notorious. His defence was a sermon in which he was careful to put the leading truths of the gospel; and his well-known mission as the apostle of the Gentiles would give his teaching favour in the eyes of the Romans, and would be likely to be rehearsed throughout the empire. The earnest preacher seizes every opportunity of publishing the gospel.
3. He is delivered from immediate peril. “And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Timothy 4:17). He was acquitted from his first charge, or, what amounted to the same thing, there was an indefinite adjournment of the case. “The mouth of the lion” need not mean the lion of the amphitheatre, or Nero, or Satan. It is perfectly intelligible to regard it as describing a terrible danger, the peril of death. From this he was for the time being delivered.
4. He is assured of final deliverance and everlasting safety. “And the Lord shall deliver me … and preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). The impending danger is past; but all danger is not past. The enemies of Paul will still be busy, and may at last succeed—as they did succeed—in securing a sentence of condemnation. But all this did not alter the apostle’s faith in the Divine deliverance. The evil work of his enemies would turn out for his good. The Lord will make their work of death the means of translation into His heavenly kingdom. Richard Cameron, lying mortally wounded on the battle-field of Airdsmoss, said: “I am dying happy—happy; and if I had a thousand lives I would willingly lay them all down one after another for Christ. Oh! He is near me: I think I see Him. I am just coming, Lord Jesus.”
5. He ascribes unceasing praise to his Divine Deliverer. “To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18). “The very hope,” says Bengel, “produces a doxology. How much greater will be the doxology which the actual enjoyment shall produce!” With a heart full of thankfulness to the Master who has strengthened him in his sufferings and whose bliss he is about to share, the brave defender of the faith leaves us with a doxology of praise to Christ on his dying lips.
Lessons.—
1. The gospel makes the noblest heroes.
2. God never deserts His servants in extremity.
3. The truth we defend will be our salvation and glory.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
2 Timothy 4:16-17. A Gospel Hero—
I. Fighting for the truth single-handed.—“At my first answer no man stood with me” (2 Timothy 4:16).
II. Though deserted by friends, not vindictive.—“All men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (2 Timothy 4:16).
III. Divinely sustained.—“Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17).
IV. Using his defence as an opportunity for declaring the truth.—“That by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Timothy 4:17).
V. Rescued from threatened peril.—“I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Timothy 4:17).
2 Timothy 4:18. Divine Deliverance—
I. Often signally displayed.
II. Is a salvation from all evil.
III. Is the guarantee of future blessedness.
IV. Should call forth exalted praise.