2 Timothy 1

10. But . . . now . . . manifest--in contrast to its concealment heretofore in the eternal purpose of God "before the world began" ( 2 Timothy 1:9 , Colossians 1:16 , Titus 1:2 Titus 1:3 ).
appearing--the visible manifestation in the flesh.
abolished death--Greek, "taken away the power from death" [TITTMANN]. The Greek article before "death" implies that Christ abolished death, not only in some particular instance, but in its very essence, being, and idea, as well as in all its aspects and consequences ( John 11:26 , Romans 8:2 Romans 8:38 , 1 Corinthians 15:26 1 Corinthians 15:55 , Hebrews 2:14 ). The carrying out of the abolition of death into full effect is to be at the resurrection ( Revelation 20:14 ). The death of the body meanwhile is but temporary, and is made no account of by Christ and the apostles.
brought . . . to light--making visible by the Gospel what was before hidden in God's purpose.
life--of the Spirit, acting first on the soul here, about to act on the body also at the resurrection.
immortality--Greek, "incorruptibility" of the new life, not merely of the risen body [ALFORD], ( Romans 8:11 ).
through--by means of the Gospel, which brings to light the life and immortality purposed by God from eternity, but manifested now first to man by Christ, who in His own resurrection has given the pledge of His people's final triumph over death through Him. Before the Gospel revelation from God, man, by the light of nature, under the most favorable circumstances, had but a glimmering idea of the possibility of a future being of the soul, but not the faintest idea of the resurrection of the body ( Acts 17:18 Acts 17:32 ). If Christ were not "the life," the dead could never live; if He were not the resurrection, they could never rise; had He not the keys of hell and death ( Revelation 1:18 ), we could never break through the bars of death or gates of hell [BISHOP PEARSON].

11. Whereunto--For the publication of which Gospel.
I am appointed--Greek, "I was appointed."
preacher--Greek, "herald."
teacher of the Gentiles--( 1 Timothy 2:7 ). He brings forward his own example in this verse and 2 Timothy 1:12 , as a pattern for Timothy, as a public "preacher," an "apostle," or missionary from place to place, and a "teacher" in private instructing His flock with patient perseverance.

12. For the which cause--For the Gospel cause of which I was appointed a preacher ( 2 Timothy 1:10 2 Timothy 1:11 ).
I also suffer--besides my active work as a missionary. ELLICOTT translates, "I suffer even these things"; the sufferings attendant on my being a prisoner ( 2 Timothy 1:8 2 Timothy 1:15 ).
I am not ashamed--neither be thou ( 2 Timothy 1:8 ).
for--Confidence as to the future drives away shame [BENGEL].
I know--though the world knows Him not ( John 10:14 , 17:25 ).
whom--I know what a faithful, promise-keeping God He is ( 2 Timothy 2:13 ). It is not, I know how I have believed, but, I know WHOM I have believed; a feeble faith may clasp a strong Saviour.
believed--rather, "trusted"; carrying out the metaphor of a depositor depositing his pledge with one whom he trusts.
am persuaded--( Romans 8:38 ).
he is able--in spite of so many foes around me.
that which I have committed unto him--Greek, "my deposit"; the body, soul, and spirit, which I have deposited in God's safe keeping ( 1 Thessalonians 5:23 , 1 Peter 4:19 ). So Christ Himself in dying ( Luke 23:46 ). "God deposits with us His word; we deposit with God our spirit" [GROTIUS]. There is one deposit (His revelation) committed by God to us, which we ought to keep ( 2 Timothy 1:13 2 Timothy 1:14 ) and transmit to others ( 2 Timothy 2:2 ); there is another committed by God to us, which we should commit to His keeping, namely, ourselves and our heavenly portion.
that day--the day of His appearing ( 2 Timothy 1:18 , 2 Timothy 4:8 ).

13. Hold fast the form--rather as Greek, "Have (that is, keep) a pattern of sound (Greek, 'healthy') words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love." "Keep" suits the reference to a deposit in the context. The secondary position of the verb in the Greek forbids our taking it so strongly as English Version, "Hold fast." The Greek for "form" is translated "pattern" in 1 Timothy 1:16 , the only other passage where it occurs. Have such a pattern drawn from my sound words, in opposition to the unsound doctrines so current at Ephesus, vividly impressed (WAHL translates it "delineation"; the verb implies "to make a lively and lasting impress") on thy mind.
in faith and love--the element IN which my sound words had place, and in which thou art to have the vivid impression of them as thy inwardly delineated pattern, moulding conformably thy outward profession. So nearly BENGEL explains, 1 Timothy 3:9 .

14. Translate as Greek, "That goodly deposit keep through the Holy Ghost," namely, "the sound words which I have committed to thee" ( 2 Timothy 1:13 , 2 Timothy 2:2 ).
in us--in all believers, not merely in you and me. The indwelling Spirit enables us to keep from the robbers of the soul the deposit of His word committed to us by God.

15. all they which are in Asia--Proconsular Asia; "all who are there now, when they were in Rome (not 'be' or 'are,' but) turned from me" then; were "ashamed of my chain," in contrast to ONESIPHORUS; did not stand with me but forsook me ( 2 Timothy 4:16 ). It is possible that the occasion of their turning from him was at his apprehension in Nicopolis, whither they had escorted him on his way to Rome, but from which they turned back to Asia. A hint to Timothy, now in Asia, not to be like them, but to imitate rather ONESIPHORUS, and to come to him ( 2 Timothy 4:21 ).
Phygellus and Hermogenes--specified perhaps, as being persons from whom such pusillanimous conduct could least be expected; or, as being well known to Timothy, and spoken of before in conversations between him and Paul, when the latter was in Asia Minor.

16. The Lord give mercy--even as ONESIPHORUS had abounded in works of mercy.
the house of Onesiphorus--He himself was then absent from Ephesus, which accounts for the form of expression ( 2 Timothy 4:19 ). His household would hardly retain his name after the master was dead, as BENGEL supposes him to have been. Nowhere has Paul prayers for the dead, which is fatal to the theory, favored by ALFORD also, that he was dead. God blesses not only the righteous man himself, but all his household.
my chain--Paul in the second, as in his first imprisonment, was bound by a chain to the soldier who guarded him.

17. found me--in the crowded metropolis. So in turn "may he find mercy of the Lord in that day" when the whole universe shall be assembled.

18. grant unto him--as well as "unto his house" ( 2 Timothy 1:16 ).
the Lord--who rewards a kindness done to His disciples as if done to Himself ( Matthew 25:45 ).
of--from the Lord; "the Lord" is emphatically put instead of "from Himself," for solemnity and emphasis ( 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ).
in how many things--"how many acts of ministry he rendered."
unto me--omitted in the oldest manuscripts, so that the "ministered" may include services rendered to others as well as to Paul.
very well--rather as Greek, "Thou knowest better" (than I can tell thee, seeing that thou art more of a regular resident at Ephesus).