note. — ryv wiffnv, the faith) The real thing, twice expressed by metaphor, is now in this the third instance expressed without a figure. — rerjjpTjxa, I have kept) to the end, Rev. ii. 10.
8. AO/-TOV, Henceforth) How delightful is this particle ! — the decisive moment. Paul, in accordance with the actual moment of his departure, looks to his three states: 1. the past, 1 have fought; 2. the immediately present, there is laid up ; 3. the future, the Lord shall give. — a-roxs/ra/, there is laid up) after all hard ship and danger have been for ever overcome. — dwaioavvqc) of righteousness, for which I have contended. The righteous refers to this. — tfT-gpai/oj, a crown) The crown used to be bestowed after wrestling, running, fighting. — anoduxfu, will award) The word righteous accords with this, 2 Thess. i. 6, 7. — o Kvp,o$, the Lord) Christ. Of whom also, ver. 1, 14, 17, 18, 22, speak. — sv exeivp ry wipa,, in that day) Whether or not Paul knew of the first re surrection, and claimed any such thing for himself, I do not know. That day is the last — the day of the universal judgment. A great part of the glory will then, and not till then, be added to the elect, 2 Cor. v. 10 ; a passage which ought to be understood universally. There is nothing to prevent the partakers of the first resurrection from receiving a crown also at the last day, and from obtaining in that general assembly of all men an entirely new award of praise. The number of the brethren, Matt. xxv. 40, will be far less than that of the others who conferred benefits upon them. Therefore the favourable sentence passed upon those < brethren' is taken for granted as already awarded.1 — g/xo/, to me) Individual application. — T«<r/, to all) This is a great additional source of joy to Paul ; it is calculated to sharpen Timothy. Paul had gained many of these. — ^/a^xoV/, who love and have loved) This has a higher signification in the preterite, than aya-r^ffac, ver. 10 ; where see a mournful antithesis. This desire of the appearing of the Lord presupposes in the individuals the whole state of sincere Christianity, especially faith. A Metonymy of the consequent for the antecedent. — J^r/paw/ai*, His appearance) viz. the first and the second.
9. 2-rou3a<rov, do thy diligence] This word is repeated, ver. 21. —eXQsTv wpog pe, to come to me) That which Paul handled hitherto
1 The ' brethren ' are supposed as already having had glory awarded to them, and as sitting beside the Judge as His assessors in judgment.— ED.