2 Timothy 4:22

ὁ κύριος. The rec. text adds Ἰησοῦς Χριστός with אcD2EKLP, the Latin, Syriac and Bohairic versions. א*G 17, which we have seen to be a strong combination in this Ep., omit these words as in text.

The rec. text adds at end ἀμήν with אcD2EKLP and most versions; it is omitted by א*ACG 17 f g.

The subscription printed in the received text is: πρὸς Τιμόθεον δευτέρα, τῆς Ἐφεσίων ἐκκλησίας πρῶτον ἐπίσκοπον χειροτονηθέντα, ἐγράφη�, ὅτε ἐκ δευτέρου παρέστη Παῦλος τῷ Καίσαρι Νέρωνι. This is found substantially in KL and many other MSS. אC 17 have simply πρὸς Τιμόθεον, D2E have πρ. Τιμοθ. βʹ ἐπληρώθη, G has ἐτελέσθη πρ. Τιμ. βʹ, P has πρ. Τιμ. βʼ ἐγράφει�. A has πρ. Τ. βʹ ἐγράφη�. See Introd. p. xxxii.

22. BENEDICTION

22. ὁ κύριος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματός σου. This is a personal benediction addressed to Timothy, as the Apostle’s last word, and it is followed by the σημεῖον ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιστολῇ, viz. ἡ χάρις μεθʼ ὑμῶν,, on which see the note on 1 Timothy 6:21. The form of this personal blessing, however, is not quite like anything elsewhere found at the end of St Paul’s Epistles (cp. Romans 15:33). The nearest parallel to it is perhaps the conclusion of the so-called Epistle of Barnabas, ὁ κύριος τῆς δόξης. καὶ πάσης χάριτος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν. It is worth while to compare the words with Galatians 6:18 and Philemon 1:25; there the presence of ‘the grace of the Lord,’ here the presence of ‘the Lord of grace,’ is invoked.