2 Timothy 2:8-13

A yet higher illustration from God's own plan of salvation the Cross before the Crown

Just as in the first chapter St Paul appeals first to Timothy's sympathies and experiences of an earthly kind to brace him up his own strong feelings moved even to tears, his mother's and grandmother's faith and piety, the touch of the vanished hand in the solemn rite of ordination (2 Timothy 2:4), and then paints for him -the power of God," -the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus who abolished death," as the chief and strongest motive for keeping up heart and hope, since Hismust be the winning side, Hemust be able to keep that which is committed to Him (2 Timothy 2:8): so now, after the appeal to earthly analogies and common human experiences as to the necessity and the reward of pains and perseverance, he rises from the earthly to the heavenly, from the human to the Divine. -Remember, God's plan even the old, old promise to "the seed of the woman" came out complete in the fulness of time. Jesus Christ of the seed of David bruised the, old serpent's head when He rose "victor over the tomb." True, I, or any one of us His humble servants, may for a time seem trodden under, but "tis only for a time; the salvation, the eternal glory, is assured in His power; if we endure we shall also reign with Him. This is the motive of motives to play the man; this is indeed being strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."