2 Timothy 4:17 - Exposition

But for notwithstanding, A.V.; by for with, A.V.; through for by, A.V.; message for preaching, A.V.; proclaimed for known, A.V. Stood by me ( μαοὶ παρέστη ); as in Acts 27:23 ; Romans 16:2 (where see also the use of προστάτις , a helper). παρίσταμαι means simply to stand by the side of a person—to be present. But, like παραγίνομαι , it acquires the meaning of standing by for the purpose of helping. The contrast between the timid faithless friends who failed him like a deceitful brook ( Job 6:15 ), and the faithfulness of the Lord who was a very present Help in trouble, is very striking. Strengthened me ( ἐνεδυνάμωσέ με ); see 1 Timothy 1:12 , note, and Acts 6:8 . The message ( κήρυγμα ). The A.V. preaching is far better. St. Paul means that gospel which he was commissioned to preach, and which tie did preach openly in full court when he was on his trial (see Acts 6:15 , note). Might be fully proclaimed ( πληροφορήθη ); see 2 Timothy 4:5 , note; and comp. Romans 15:19 . All the Gentiles might hear (comp. Philippians 1:12-14 ). The brave, unselfish spirit of the apostle thinking more of the proclamation of the gospel than of his own life, is truly admirable. I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Surely there can be no doubt that, as Bengel says, this is a quotation from Psalms 22:20 , Psalms 22:21 . The verb ἐῤῥύσθην , "I was delivered," comes from the twentieth verse, "Deliver my soul from the sword," and the phrase, ἐκ στόματος λέοντος , is found verbatim in Psalms 22:21 . The apostle means his deliverance from the executioner's sword. In the next verse we find both the words ρύσεται and σώσει , and the whole tone of the psalm breathes the same spirit as the saying, "The Lord stood by me." Dean Alford's suggestion that the lion here is Satan, as in 1 Peter 5:8 , and the danger which the apostle escaped was not death, which he did not fear, but betraying the gospel under the fear of death, is ingenious, but rather far fetched, though not impossible. It may possibly have been part of what was in St. Paul's mind.