2 Timothy 4:17

4:14-18 There is as much danger from false brethren, as from open enemies. It is dangerous having to do with those who would be enemies to such a man as Paul. The Christians at Rome were forward to meet him, Ac 28, but when there seemed to be a danger of suffering with him, then all forsook him. God might justly be angry with them, but he prays God to forgive them. The apostle was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, that is, of Nero, or some of his judges. If the Lord stands by us, he will strengthen us in difficulties and dangers, and his presence will more than supply every one's absence.

2 Timothy 4:17-18 . Notwithstanding — I was not left entirely destitute; for, though men forsook me, the Lord stood with me — According to his promise, Luke 21:15 ; and strengthened me — With that inward fortitude of mind which no human support could have inspired; that by me the preaching — The gospel which we preach; might be fully known — Πληροφορηθη , literally, might be carried with a full sail; that is, fully and boldly declared. That the apostle could thus courageously bear witness to the gospel when all his friends forsook him, and his enemies were so fiercely raging against him, was a glorious testimony to the honour of Christianity. And that all the Gentiles might hear — This implies that he made his defence in a manner which he was persuaded would be taken notice of and reported abroad, much to the honour of that sacred cause which was dearer to him than his life. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion — By the lion Nero is generally thought to be meant, or rather his prefect, Helius Cesarianus, to whom Nero committed the government of the city in his absence, with power to put whomsoever he pleased to death. But the expression may be understood proverbially, as denoting an escape from the greatest danger; in which sense it is used Psalm 22:21 .

And the Lord — Whose power and faithfulness are always the same; shall deliver me from every evil work — From all sin, and especially from doing any thing inconsistent with the honour of the gospel, and the salvation of my own soul; which is of far greater consequence than delivering me from death. And preserve me to his heavenly kingdom — An infinitely better kingdom than that of Nero.

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me ; that is, did not leave me. It is opened by the next word, and strengthened me ; he gave me courage and inward ability, so as I was able to plead, and to defend my cause. That by me the preaching might be fully known ; that all men that heard me might fully know by God’s presence with me, seen in my courage, that my preaching was not from myself, or from men, but from God, the message of God by one to the sons of men. And that all the Gentiles might hear ; and that all the heathen present in the court of Rome might hear and believe. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion ; and I was for the present delivered out of my great danger: or possibly he calls Nero (the Roman emperor at that time) a lion for his barbarous cruelties.

2 Timothy 4:17 . Ὁ δὲ Κύριος , but the Lord ) the more on this account.— παρέστη , stood by me ) This is more than παραγίνεσθαι , to be present .— ἐνεδυνάμωσε , strengthened me ) The opposite is, forsook .— ἵνα διʼ ἑμοῦ , that by me ) One single occasion is often of the greatest moment.— πάντα τὰ ἔθνη all the Gentiles ) of whom Rome was the capital.— ἐῤῥύσθην ἐκ στόματος λέοντος , I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion ) Psalm 22:22 , σῶσόν με ἐκ στόματος λέοντος . We may suppose that Paul had seen a vision under the form of a lion. The lion signifies either Nero, or some one who threatened danger. It is at all events a figurative expression; for he would have said, from the mouth of the lions , if he intended beasts without a figure. I was delivered , he says, not He delivered me , because, that the Lord had done it , was not outwardly apparent.

Strengthened (ἐνεδυνάμωσεν) See on 1 Timothy 1:12. The preaching (τὸ κήρυγμα) Better, the message (par excellence), the gospel message. Usually with a defining word, as of Jonah; of Jesus Christ; my preaching; our preaching. Absolutely, as here, 1 Corinthians 1:21; Titus 1:3. Might be fully known (πληροφορηθῇ) See on 2 Timothy 4:5. Lit. might be fulfilled; fully carried out by being proclaimed before rulers in the capital of the world. Comp. Romans 15:19; Acts 23:11; Acts 28:31; Philippians 1:12-14. Out of the mouth of the lion (ἐκ στόματος λέοντος) Figurative expression for danger of death. Comp. 1 Corinthians 15:32. As usual, all manner of special references have been imagined: the lions of the amphitheatre; Nero; the chief accuser; the Jews; the Devil.

17. the Lord—the more because men deserted me. stood with me—stronger than "came forward with me" (Greek, 2Ti 4:16). strengthened—Greek, "put strength in me." by me—"through me"; through my means. One single occasion is often of the greatest moment. the preaching—"the Gospel proclamation." might be fully known—might be fully made (see on [2511]2Ti 4:5). that all the Gentiles—present at my trial, "might hear" the Gospel proclaimed then. Rome was the capital of the Gentile world, so that a proclamation of the truth to the Romans was likely to go forth to the rest of the Gentile world. I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion—namely, Satan, the roaring, devouring lion (Lu 22:31; 1Pe 5:8). I was prevented falling into his snare (2Ti 2:26; Ps 22:21; 2Pe 2:9); 2Ti 4:18 agrees with this interpretation, "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work," namely, both from evil and the evil one, as the Greek of the Lord's Prayer expresses it. It was not deliverance from Nero (who was called the lion) which he rejoiced in, for he did not fear death (2Ti 4:6-8), but deliverance from the temptation, through fear, to deny His Lord: so Alford.

2 Timothy 4:17 . παρέστη : The Lord was my “patronus,” cf. Romans 16:2 . But the word is used in a purely local sense of the felt presence of a Divine Being in reff. in Acts. ἐνεδυνάμωσεν : See note on 1 Timothy 1:12 . πληροφορηθῇ : impleatur (Vulg.). As long as there had been no public proclamation of the gospel by Paul himself in Rome, the function of κῆρυξ had not been completely fulfilled by him. ἐρύσθην ἐκ στόματος λέοντος : This is most naturally understood as an echo of Psalms 21 (22):22, σῶσόν με ἐκ στόματος λέοντος λέοντος . ῥῦσαι occurs in the verse preceding. And what follows in the LXX seems to point to the most satisfactory explanation of the apostle’s meaning, καὶ ἀπὸ κεράτων μονοκερώτων τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου . διηγήσομαι τὸ ὄνομα σον τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου , κ . τ . λ . If St. Paul had not been strengthened to complete his κήρυγμα , his failure would have been his ταπείνωσις . As it was, he was delivered from that calamity, and enabled to declare God’s name to the Gentiles. It is impossible, in view of ἤδη σπένδομαι ( 2 Timothy 4:6 ), to suppose that delivery from death is implied. πρώτῃ ( 2 Timothy 4:16 ) proves that the apostle was aware that a second trial was awaiting him, the issue of which he knew would be his execution. It is still more impossible to suppose that literal wild beasts are meant. Paul’s Roman citizenship secured him from that degradation. The Greek commentators take “the lion” to mean Nero, “from his ferocity” (Chrys.). Cf.

Esth. 14:13, of Ahasuerus; Joseph. Antiq . xviii. 6, 10, of Tiberius. It is no objection to this exegesis that the article is omitted before λέοντος , since, as we have seen, there is none in the Psalm. But deliverance from that lion’s mouth would be equivalent to acquittal by the Roman government; and it is evident that St. Paul was well aware that his sentence had been only deferred.

Verse 17. - 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 he did preach openly in full court when he was on his trial (see ver. 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 Psalm 22:20, 21 .

The verb ἐῥῤύσθην , "I was delivered," comes from the twentieth verse, "Deliver my soul from the sword," and the phrase, ἐκ στόματος λέοντος , is found verbatim in ver. 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. 2 Timothy 4:17