Second Timothy 4:17f
‘The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me!… I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion!… The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly Kingdom!’ Second Timothy 4:17-18.
Calvin comments that Paul said “‘But the Lord stood by me!’ He adds this, to remove the scandal which he saw could arise from so many having basely deserted him and his cause…. He says that the Gospel suffered no loss because of it — since he himself alone, depending on heavenly power, was able to bear the whole burden….
“Far from being discouraged by the fear that possessed everyone else, he saw only more clearly that God’s grace stands in no need of any support…. He is not boasting of his own fortitude, but giving thanks to the Lord that when he was brought to his extremity — he did not give way or lose heart at such a dangerous trial.
“He acknowledges that God’s hand had supported him…. It was enough for him that the inward grace of the Spirit, was like a shield to him to defend him against the attacks made upon him.
“He adds the reason — (so) that the proclamation might be confirmed. By ‘proclamation’ he means the office of publishing the Gospel among the Gentiles that had been entrusted especially to him…. It was no ordinary confirmation of his ministry that at the very time when the whole world was furiously raging against him and all human help was deserting…, he yet remained unshaken!…
“He now adds the manner of the confirmation — (so) that all the Gentiles might hear that the Lord had so wonderfully helped him. For from this, they could infer that both Paul’s calling and their own — were from the Lord!
“‘I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion!’…. He uses the expression for danger in general — as if he had said ‘out of a blazing fire’ or ‘from the jaws of death.’ He means that he escaped only by God’s marvellous help, since the danger was so great that otherwise it would at once have swallowed him up.
“He declares that he was hoping for the same help in the future. Not to avoid death, but to avoid…deviating from the right course…. We should rise superior over every trial, so that we may be ready to die a hundred times over — rather than think of soiling ourselves by one evil work…. The only true salvation is when either by life or by death, the Lord leads us into His Kingdom!…. Paul, in ascribing to God the work of leading us into His Kingdom, openly asserts that we are ruled by God’s hand during the whole course of our life — until with all our warfare completed, we obtain the victory!”
Calvin also says in his Institutes III:9:5: “In the school of Christ, who does not look forward with joy to the day of death, and final resurrection? (Second Timothy 4:18).” Delivered from danger, and preserved for Heaven!
