PAUL AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS: Paulo apostolos Christou Iesou: (See Torrey's Topic "Apostle". Click Easton's Bible Dictionary for nice summary of "Apostle"; click ISBE for more detail discussion)

Spurgeon writes that...

The second epistle to Timothy is remarkable as being probably the last which the apostle wrote; it contains dying advice, written in the immediate prospect of martyrdom. Looking forward calmly to the grave, and with the executioner's axe in the foreground, Paul pens this letter to his favourite disciple, and solemnly charges him to abide faithful unto death. (The Interpreter)

Regarding Paul's introduction, D. Edmond Hiebert notes that...

In accordance with the accepted practice of that day, Paul begins with his own name. We moderns sign our name at the end of our letters, while the writer of a letter in that day, with greater logic, placed his name at the beginning of his letter. And the very sight of that name at the head of this communication to him must have thrilled the soul of Timothy. How eagerly he would peruse any word from his beloved friend and teacher! (Hiebert, D. E. 2 Timothy).

Apostle (652) (apostolos from apo = from + stello = send forth) (Click word study on apostolos) (Click another discussion of apostle) means one sent forth from by another, often with a special commission to represent another and to accomplish his work. It can be a delegate, commissioner, ambassador sent out on a mission or orders or commission and with the authority of the one who sent him.

Paul was a man with a mission having been commissioned by Christ Himself, Whose will was made known in (Acts 9:15, 22:14, 15, 21, 26:16, 17,18). Paul further explained that he was

"an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead" (Gal 1:1).

Paul was commissioned as Christ's "chosen instrument" (Acts 9:15) and ambassador to the Gentiles with a message of reconciliation (Ro 5:11-note, 2Co 5:18,19), a message that he "neither received...from man, nor was... taught, but ... through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal 1:12).

In his salutation to the Romans Paul added that

through (Jesus Christ our Lord) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake.  (Ro 1:5-note)

And so we see that Paul was endued with the "apostolic" authority and power to convey the gospel of his Lord. Paul belongs to Christ, has been commissioned and sent by Him, and acts as His authorized representative.

Easton's Bible Dictionary - Apostle

A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (He 3:1-note; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he entrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matthew 10:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by each of the synoptic evangelists (Matthew 10:2, 3, 4; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14), and one in the (Acts 1:13). No two of these lists, however, perfectly coincide.

Our Lord gave them the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of his church (John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; 16:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). To them, as representing his church, he gave the commission to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Matthew 28:18, 19, 20). After his ascension he communicated to them, according to his promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the discharge of their duties (Acts 2:4; 1Co 2:16; 2:7,10,13; 2Co 5:20; 1Corinthians 11:2). Judas Iscariot, one of "the twelve," fell by transgression, and Matthias was substituted in his place (Acts 1:21). Saul of Tarsus was afterwards added to their number (Acts 9:3-20; 20:4; 26:15, 16, 17, 18; 1Timothy 1:12; 2:7; 2Ti 1:11-note).

Luke has given some account of Peter, John, and the two Jameses (Acts 12:2,17; 15:13; 21:18), but beyond this we know nothing from authentic history of the rest of the original twelve. After the martyrdom of James the Greater (Acts 12:2), James the Less usually resided at Jerusalem, while Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," usually travelled as a missionary among the Gentiles (Gal 2:8). It was characteristic of the apostles and necessary (1) that they should have seen the Lord, and been able to testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge (Jn 15:27; Acts 1:21,22; 1Co 9:1; Acts 22:14,15).

They must have been immediately called to that office by Christ (Luke 6:13; Galatians 1:1).

It was essential that they should be infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word or by writing (John 14:26; 16:13; 1Th 2:13-note).

Another qualification was the power of working miracles (Mark 16:20; Acts 2:43; 1Co 12:8, 9, 10, 11). The apostles therefore could have had no successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle ceased with its first holders.

In 2Corinthians 8:23 and Phil 2:25-note the word "messenger" is the rendering of the same Greek word, elsewhere rendered "apostle."

BY THE WILL OF GOD: dia thelematos theou :

By the will of God - The preposition dia can also be translated "through", so that the instrumentality through which he became an apostle or sent one was through the will of God. Paul is not being arrogant here but is saying in essence that he is in the center of God's will as he proclaims the promise of life in Christ Jesus.

Will (2307) (thelema) means a desire which comes from one’s emotional nature as contrasted with the other Greek word for "desire" (boule) which describes a desire emanating from one’s rational processes. The upshot is that thelema indicates that this call of Paul as an apostle began in the heart of God...God started it and God completed it in Paul just as He desires to do in your life dearly beloved of God (cp Php 1:6-note, 1Th 5:24-note)!

Thelema - 62x in the NT - Matt. 6:10; 7:21; 12:50; 18:14; 21:31; 26:42; Mk. 3:35; Lk. 12:47; 22:42; 23:25; Jn. 1:13; 4:34; 5:30; 6:38ff; 7:17; 9:31; Acts 13:22; 21:14; 22:14; Rom. 1:10; 2:18; 12:2; 15:32; 1 Co. 1:1; 7:37; 16:12; 2 Co. 1:1; 8:5; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 1:1, 5, 9, 11; 2:3; 5:17; 6:6; Col. 1:1, 9; 4:12; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:18; 2 Tim. 1:1; 2:26; Heb. 10:7, 9f, 36; 13:21; 1 Pet. 2:15; 3:17; 4:2, 19; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Jn. 2:17; 5:14; Rev. 4:11.

The NAS renders thelema as desire(1), desires(1), will(56).

In four other epistles, as here in 2 Timothy, Paul relates his apostleship to the will of God: (Take a moment and study all the NT uses of the phrase will of God in NASB [note that  some of the uses have will of in italics indicating that this phrase has been added by the translators and is not in the original Greek] and make a list of what you learn about this important topic -- Mk. 3:35; Ro 1:10; 8:27; 12:2; 15:32; 1Co 1:1; 2Co 1:1; 7:9, 10; 8:5; Ep 1:1; 6:6; Col 1:1; 4:12; 1Th 4:3; 2Ti 1:1; He 10:36; 1Pe 2:15; 4:2, 6, 19; 5:2; 1Jn 2:17). As stated Paul repeatedly ascribes his apostleship not to his will (or his motivation or his drive or his ambition, etc), but to the will of God....

Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother  (1Corinthians 1:1)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia (2Corinthians 1:1)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1--note)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother (Col 1:1-note)

There is a very practical lesson in Paul's repeated emphasis on the fact that his ministry was not what he necessarily sought or desired to do but was clearly in the center of God's will. Let me ask you dear saint, one who God has created for good works (Eph 2:10-note , also gifted for good works - 1Pe 4:10, 11-note, 1Cor 12:4, 7, 11, 19, Ro 12:3, 4, 5-note, Ro 12:6-note, Ro 12:7,8-note) and desire to use in His kingdom growth for His glory, is there anything you are desiring in the field of Christian work that is more your desires, your will, then His will? Or are you envious or even overtly jealous of another saint who has a more "showy" gift and/or has been given a more public platform for display of their gift? If so, confess and repent of your envy, your jealousy, you sense of discontent and seek His kingdom and His righteousness in His Word, learning what it means to abide in Christ, to be controlled by His Spirit, and as you do you will begin to experience life in the glorious center of His will and the godly contentment and sense of fulfilled purpose that comes from such a God given assurance. This is surely life on the highest plane beloved.

As Augustine said...

Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen: he either permits it to happen, or he brings it about himself.

Jerry Bridges adds that...

Our duty is found in the revealed will of God in the Scriptures. Our trust must be in the sovereign will of God, as he works in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives for our good and for his glory.

Paul had come to understand that nothing was beyond the power of the one who obeys and orders their life within the will of God. But he has also come to the crisis of belief on the Damascus Road where he learned that the will of God means death to our own will (he was on his way to persecute believers). Paul came to understand that only in obeying God's word could he truly discover the great joy of living his life in the will of God.  As a practical application it should be the aim of every Christian to seek to know and then to have his or her life (will) directed by the will of God as it is revealed in Holy Scriptures. Doing the Father's will involves first believing on the Lord Jesus (Jn 5:24; 6:29), then studying and obeying His Word, for therein is revealed His will (Jn 7:17). In fact the study of God's Word for the purpose of discovering God's will is the greatest discipline which will form the most Christlike character.

This repeated emphasis by Paul expresses his continual consciousness that the divine will had chosen him as an apostle, despite that fact that he neither sought it nor merited it. Practically, his consciousness that this was God's purpose that was being worked out and not his own plan, held him firm throughout all the years of his strenuous and eventful life. And here in his last written words, it was this conviction that kept him calm in the face of impending martyrdom. As a prisoner, lonely and largely forsaken, he could fall back upon the consciousness that he was an apostle, not by his own appointment, but by the will of God.

As Horton writes,

"In the hour of our extremity, when earthly friends and securities fail, there is but one security, the Rock on which we stand, the will of God, and the assurance that we are standing upon it".

Are you doing what you're doing by the will of God? Or stated another way are you in the center of His will, beloved? Or are you "kicking against the goads" refusing to obey His clear call and command on your life? Remember, we only go around once, so what better place to be than in the center of the "will of God"! And as Bernard Edinger wisely said "Inside the will of God there is no failure (Ed: At least none that is not for our good and God's glory!). Outside the will of God there is no success (Ed: cp Jn 15:5)."

Remember that God's will is revealed to the one who is willing to obey God's Word for as Jesus said...

If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. (Jn 7:17)

I love what W. E. Vine says about being in God's will

"He who is assured that the work in which he engages is God’s will for him will find therein a means of steadfast continuance, no matter how great the trials and difficulties he experiences. When the will of God is the foundation of our activities, it acts as a counteractive power against all self-glorying and should render His glory the inspiring aim of our whole being and service. It will lead us to say with Paul, “Not I, but Christ.” (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

Paul was an apostle because God in His sovereignty had willed it. He was not an apostle by personal choice but was a divine decree and entrustment. His apostleship was not of human origin or ordination, but of heavenly decree directly from Christ as he stated in Galatians writing that he was

"an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)" (Galatians 1:1)

Paul had not sought for this position of apostle to the Gentiles who he had once sought to murder. On the other hand neither had Paul run from the responsibility of an apostle once he was called. It is notable that in the first letter to Timothy Paul had stated that he was

"an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus, our hope" (1Timothy 1:1)

Paul willingly, unhesitatingly obeyed God's command.

One of the problems that has always plagued the church is the reversal of this order. Too often it is the unqualified who seek positions of spiritual leadership while the qualified have run from these roles.

None are allowed to go for God but those who are sent by him. - Matthew Henry

The Christian worker must be sent; he must not elect to go. - Oswald Chambers

It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn't want our success, he wants us. He doesn't demand our achievements; he demands our obedience. - Charles Colson

God will not thank thee for doing that which he did not set thee about. - William Gurnall

Whatever is laudable in our works proceeds from the grace of God. - John Calvin

Our efficiency without God's sufficiency is only a deficiency. - Vance Havner

Whatever it is our Lord has called us to, our response should ever be that of Paul's,

"Lord what will You have me to do?" (Acts 22:10)

Service for the Lord will be eternally significant only to the degree that we can say with Paul that it is "by the will of God" and "in Christ Jesus". Stated another way, divine service must be divinely initiated. Richard Sibbes rightly said "Whom God calls he qualifies."

Guzik has an excellent application writing that...

Some of us could write, "pastor by the will of God" or "evangelist by the will of God" or "pray-er by the will of God" or "encourager by the will of God" or "supporter by the will of God." We all have our role to play, and God wants us to walk in it!

Torrey's Topic
Apostle

Christ pre-eminently called "The Apostle" -Hebrews 3:1
Ordained by Christ -Mark 3:14; John 15:16
Received their title from Christ -Luke 6:13

CALLED BY
God -1Co 1:1; 12:28; Ga 1:1,15,16
Christ -Mt 10:1; Mk 3:13; Ac 20:24; Ro 1:5
The Holy Spirit -Ac 20:24; Ro 1:5

Were unlearned men -Acts 4:13
Selected from obscure stations -Mt 4:18
Sent first to the house of Israel -Mt 10:5,6; Lk 24:47; Acts 13:46
Sent to preach the gospel to all nations -Mt 28:19,20; Mk 16:15; 2Ti 1:11
Christ always present with -Mt 28:20
Warned against a timid profession of Christ -Mt 10:27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33

The Holy Spirit given to -John 20:22; Acts 2:1, 2, 3,4; 9:17
Guided by the Spirit into all truth -Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13
Instructed by the Spirit to answer adversaries -Mt 10:19,20; Lk 12:11,12
Specially devoted to the office of the ministry -Acts 6:4; 20:27
Humility urged upon -Mt 20:26,27; Mk 9:33, 34, 35, 36, 37; Lk 22:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Self-denial urged upon -Matthew 10:37, 38, 39
Mutual love urged upon -John 15:17
Equal authority given to each of -Mt 16:19; 18:18; 2Co 11:5
Were not of the world -Jn 15:19; 17:16
Were hated by the world -Mt 10:22; 24:9; Jn 15:18
Persecutions and sufferings of -Mt 10:16,18; Lk 21:16; Jn 15:20; 16:2
Saw Christ in the flesh -Luke 1:2; Ac 1:22; 1Co 9:1; 1Jn 1:1
Witnesses of the resurrection and ascension of Christ -Lk 24:33-41,51; Ac 1:2-9; 10:40,41; 1Co 15:8
Empowered to work miracles -Matthew 10:1,8; Mark 16:20; Luke 9:1; Acts 2:43

ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE: kat epaggelian: (2Pe1:3,4-see notes-v1:3; 1:4) (Jn 5:24,39,40; 6:40,54; 10:28; 17:3; Ro 5:21; 6:23; 2Co 1:20; Ep 3:6; Titus 1:2; He 9:15; 2Pe 1:3,4; 1Jn 2:25; 5:11, 12, 13)

According to is "kata" which conveys the idea "With a view to the fulfillment of the promise."

The preposition kata defines the aim and purpose of Paul's apostleship which is to further

"the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus."

In the context of this book "the promise of life in Christ Jesus" is nothing less than the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that those who are "dead in their trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1-note) can find life in Christ Jesus.

Even though Paul is being poured out as a drink offering (death is imminent), it did not affect God’s “promise of life” (Jn 11:25, 26).

Paul expands on this "promise" in Titus writing that it is a promise of "eternal life" from God

"Who cannot lie promised long ages ago" (Titus 1:2-note) (Compare  "His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity" - 2Ti 1:9-note)

Promise (1860) (epaggelia from epaggello = to announce that one is about to do or furnish something from epi = upon, intensifies meaning + aggelos = messenger or aggello = to tell or declare) is a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified. It is also a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act. Epaggelia is used primarily of the promises of God. In secular Greek epaggelia was primarily a legal term denoting a summons and then coming to mean a promise to do or give something.

Epaggelia - 52x in the NT - Lk 24:49; Ac 1:4; 2:33, 39; 7:17; 13:23, 32; 23:21; 26:6; Ro 4:13, 14, 16, 20; 9:4, 8, 9; 15:8; 2Co. 1:20; 7:1; Ga 3:14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 29; 4:23, 28; Ep 1:13; 2:12; 3:6; 6:2; 1Ti 4:8; 2Ti 1:1; He 4:1; 6:12, 15, 17; 7:6; 8:6; 9:15; 10:36; 11:9, 13, 17, 33, 39; 2Pe 3:4, 9; 1Jn 2:25

God promises life in Christ Jesus and God's providence will fulfil this promise in your life. As John Blanchard said...

The carrying out of God's promises is as certain as if already in the past tense.

John Boys writes that...

The resurrection of Christ is the Amen of all his promises.

Peter would echoes this statement writing...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Comment: Here we see we have a living (lively) hope (absolute assurance that God will do good to me in the future) because we have a Living (resurrected) Lord. The resurrection as John Boys says is indeed the "Amen" to the "promise of life".

Guzik comments that...

The words according to the promise of life are unique in Paul's greetings; since Paul is imprisoned again in Rome, and facing execution (2 Timothy 4:6), this promise is all the more precious to him.

After Paul was released from the Roman imprisonment mentioned at the end of the book of Acts, he enjoyed a few more years of liberty until he was re-arrested, and imprisoned in Rome again. You can go to Rome today and see the place where they say Paul was imprisoned. It is really just a cold dungeon, a cave in the ground, with bare walls and a little hole in the ceiling where food was dropped down. No windows, just a cold, little cell that would have been especially uncomfortable in winter.

Paul writes this letter from his second Roman imprisonment, and he will be condemned and executed in Rome at the command of Nero shortly. Paul senses this ahead of time; therefore 2 Timothy is not only the last letter we have from Paul, there is a note of urgency and passion we might expect from a man who knows he is on death row!

Jamieson writes that...

Paul's apostleship is in order to carry into effect this promise. Compare "according to the faith . . . in hope of eternal life . . . promise," &c. (Titus 1:1, 2). This "promise of life in Christ" (compare 2Ti 1:10; 2Ti 2:8) was needed to nerve Timothy to fortitude amidst trials, and to boldness in undertaking the journey to Rome, which would be attended with much risk (2Ti 1:8).

Dwight Edwards adds

God desires all believers to see themselves in this light, as "set apart to the gospel of God." May we cultivate the spirit of David Brainerd, the earliest missionary to the American Indians of New England. He wrote in his journal, "I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I endured so that I could but gain souls for Christ. While I was asleep I dreamt of such things and when I woke the first thing I thought of was winning souls to Christ. The phrase "the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" is synonymous with the gospel. We ought to note a few things about this significant phrase. First, it is a promise from God to man. Therefore, it can be counted upon with absolute certainty. Promises from men to men are often broken, but not so with the living God" (Nu 23:19, Titus 1:2-note) Thus, we can present the gospel with absolute certainty and conviction, for it is the "good news" of God's unchanging love and faithfulness for mankind. This promise is one which contains "life." The term "life" in Scripture speaks not of mere existence but of the QUALITY of our existence. [Jn 1:4;10:10, Ro 8:6-note, etc.] God promises man a quality of life which is superior to anything this temporal world can offer. This life can only be found "in Christ Jesus" for He alone offers the living water which eternally quenches our spiritual thirst. John 4. John emphasizes this in the prologue of his gospel, "In Him was life and the life was the light of men." (Jn 1:4).So we have seen in this first verse the intense single-mindedness of Paul. He was consumed with a holy fire which brought the light and warmth of the gospel to all he came in contact with. And it is this same fire which he desires to see blazing brightly in the life of Timothy, his disciple. And it is this same fire God desires to ignite within our lives so that we too bring the light and warmth of the gospel to all God brings our way.

Spurgeon has the following illustration on the promise of life (and abundant life) in Christ Jesus ...

I met with a story which seemed to me rather a pretty one. There was a young woman, fair to look upon, who was seen by a very wealthy gentleman, who determined to make her his wife. She had been brought up to habits of rigid economy, for the family was straitened in circumstances. Her father was not one of the poorest, but still, poor enough; and on her marriage day he gave her all he could, namely, put five pounds to her banking account; on the same day, her husband also put a sum, namely, for ,£1,000, into the same bank, and handed her a check book that she might draw what she liked. Well, having been properly brought up, she spent her money very, very carefully. She soon found it gone, however, because of the new circle into which she had been taken. Then she went and drew £10, in great fear lest they would not give her the ten sovereigns all at once, and when she had received them, she was surprised and overjoyed ; she soon ran through this, and drew again till she had drawn £50. One day her husband said, "You little goose, I thought you did not know how to manage a check book." She said, "Why, have I been too extravagant?" "No," he said, "most women would have drawn and spent a thousand pounds. But instead of that, you have only spent fifty pounds, and you cannot behave yourself as my wife on such a pittance. Remember, you may be a poor man's daughter, but you are a rich man's wife; so just begin to spend according to my riches, and not your father's economy." This is our case in reference to our Lord Jesus. We know we are a poor man's children. Our original father "broke" long ago. There was nothing left of all the family estate. When father Adam was in business, he became a bankrupt, and left us nothing but a sea of debt. But then we are married to King Jesus, Who is Heir of all things, and He puts the check book of promises into our hands, that we may draw from the riches of divine grace.

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A promise is like a check. If I have a check what do I do with it? Suppose I carried it about in my pocket, and said, "I do not see the use of this bit of paper, I cannot buy anything with it," a person would say, "Have you been to the bank with it?" "No, I did not think of that." "But it is payable to your order. Have you written your name on the back of it?" "No, I have not done that." "And yet you are blaming the person who gave you the check? The whole blame lies with yourself. Put your name at the back of the check, go with it to the bank, and you will get what is promised to you." A prayer should be the presentation of God's promise endorsed by your personal faith. I hear of people praying for an hour together. I am very pleased that they can; but it is seldom that I can do so, and I see no need for it. It is like a person going into a bank with a check, and stopping an hour. The clerks would wonder. The common-sense way is to go to the counter and show your check, and take your money, and go about your business. There is a style of prayer which is of this fine, practical character. You so believe in God that you present the promise, obtain the blessing, and go about your Master's business.

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If you had in your house a number of checks which you believed to be good, I do not suppose that you would long be unaware of their nature and value. No merchant here would say "I have a number of bills, and drafts, and checks at home somewhere: I have no doubt that they are all good, and that they are my lawful property; but I do not know much about them. Their value is quite unknown to me." Such ignorance would argue insanity. Will you know your earthly wealth, and never consider your heavenly riches? (Ed: the promise of life in Christ Jesus). In the Bible there are "exceeding great and precious promises"; shall it be said that some of God's children do not know what those promises contain? They have read them, perhaps, but they have never really searched into their meaning to see what God has promised.

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When a man sees a garment. left at his door which fits him exactly, and is evidently cut to suit certain peculiarities of his form, he concludes that the garment was meant for him Even so, in many a promise, I see certain private marks which are the exact counterparts of the secrets of my soul, and these show that God meant me when thus and thus He spoke.

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If you go into the market and are likely to do a ready money business, you always take a check book with you; so carry precious promises with you, that may plead the word which suits your case. I have turned to promises for the sick, when I have been of that number, or to promises for the poor, the despondent, the weary, and such like, according to my own condition, and I have always found a Scripture fitted to my own case. I do not want a promise made to the sick when I am perfectly well; I do not want balm for a broken heart when my soul is rejoicing in the Lord; but it is very handy to know where to lay your hand upon suitable words of cheer when necessity arises. Thus the eternal comfort of the Christian is the Word of God.

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Dost thou think God makes shams like some who have made belts for swimming, which were good to exhibit in a shop, but of no use in the sea? We have all heard of swords which were useless in war; and even of shoes which were made to sell, but were never made to walk in. God's shoes are of iron and brass, and you can walk to heaven in them without their ever wearing out: and His life belts, you may swim a thousand Atlantics upon them, and there will be no fear of your sinking. His word of promise is meant to be tried and proved.

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The other day a poor woman had a little help sent to her, by a friend, in a letter. She was in great distress, and she went to that very friend begging for a few shillings. "Why," said the other, "I sent you money yesterday, by an order in a letter!" "Dear, dear!" said the poor woman, "that must be the letter which I put behind the looking glass!" Just so; and there are lots of people who put God's letters behind the looking-glass, and fail to make use of the promise which is meant for them.

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I fear that many of God's promises are seldom used. They are like the whitesmith's bunch of keys. Why are they so rusty? Because they are not in constant use They have not been turned in the lock, day by day, or they would be bright enough. — Barbed Arrows from the Quiver of C. H. Spurgeon

Torrey's Topic
The Promises of God

Contained in the Scriptures -Romans 1:2
Made in Christ -Ephesians 3:6; 2 Timothy 1:1

MADE TO -
Christ -Galatians 3:16,19
Abraham -Genesis 12:3,7; Galatians 3:16
Isaac -Genesis 26:3,4
Jacob -Genesis 28:14
David -2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 89:3,4,35,36
The Israelites -Romans 9:4
The Fathers -Acts 13:32; 26:6,7
All who are called of God -Acts 2:39
Those who love him -James 1:12; 2:5

Confirmed by an oath -Psalms 89:3,4; Hebrews 8:6
Covenant established upon -Hebrews 8:6
God is faithful to -Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:23
God remembers -Psalms 105:42; Luke 1:54,55

ARE
Good -1 Kings 8:56
Holy -Psalms 105:42
Exceeding great and precious -2 Peter 1:4
Confirmed in Christ -Romans 15:8
Yea and amen in Christ -2 Corinthians 1:20
Fulfilled in Christ -Acts 13:23; Luke 1:69-73
Through the righteousness of faith -Romans 4:13,16
Obtained through faith -Hebrews 11:33
Given to those who believe -Galatians 3:22
Inherited through faith and patience -Hebrews 6:12,15; 10:36
Performed in due season -Jeremiah 33:14; Acts 7:17; Galatians 4:4

Not one shall fail -Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56
The law not against -Galatians 3:21
The law could not disannul -Galatians 3:17

SUBJECTS OF
Christ -2 Samuel 7:12,13; Acts 13:22,23
The Holy Spirit -Acts 2:33; Ephesians 1:13
The gospel -Romans 1:1,2
Life in Christ -2 Timothy 1:1
A crown of life -James 1:12
Eternal life -Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25
The life that now is -1 Timothy 4:8
Adoption -2 Corinthians 6:18; 7:1
Preservation in affliction -Isaiah 43:2
Blessing -Deuteronomy 1:11
Forgiveness of sins -Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 8:12
Putting the law into the heart -Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10
Second coming of Christ -2 Peter 3:4
New heavens and earth -2 Peter 3:13
Entering into rest -Joshua 22:4; Hebrews 4:1

Should lead to perfecting holiness -2 Corinthians 7:1
The inheritance of the saints is of
Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:18

SAINTS
Children of -Romans 9:8; Galatians 4:28
Heirs of -Galatians 3:29; Hebrews 6:17; 11:9
Stagger not at -Romans 4:20
Have implicit confidence in -Hebrews 11:11
Expect the performance of -Luke 1:38,45; 2 Peter 3:13
Sometimes, through infirmity, tempted to doubt -Psalms 77:8,10
Plead in prayer -Genesis 32:9,12; 1 Chronicles 17:23,26; Isaiah 43:26

Should wait for the performance of -Acts 1:4
Gentiles shall be partakers of -Ephesians 3:6
Man, by nature, has no interest in -Ephesians 2:12
Scoffers despise -2 Peter 3:3,4
Fear, lest ye come short of -Hebrews 4:1

OF (THE) LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS: zoes tes en Christo Iesou: (See Torrey's Topic "Eternal Life") (Jn 5:24,39,40; 6:40,54; 10:28; 17:3; Ro 5:21; 6:23; 2Cor 1:20; Ep 3:6; Titus 1:2; Heb 9:15; 1Jn 2:25; 5:11, 12, 13) (Watch the Youtube Video "I Can Only Imagine")

Regarding the promise of life Dwight Moody said that God never made a promise that was too good to be true. And He never made a promise that He has not kept.

Click and enjoy a fruitful study of the 23 uses of the two words "life" and "Christ" which should shed some light on the meaning Paul intends to convey in the phrase "promise of life in Christ Jesus".

Life (2222) (zoe) in Scripture is used (1) to refer to physical life (Ro 8:38-note, 1Co 3:22, Php 1:20-note, James 4:14, etc) but more often to (2) to supernatural life in contrast to a life subject to eternal death (Jn 3:36, see all 43 uses of "eternal life" below). This quality of life speaks of fullness of life which alone belongs to God the Giver of life and is available to His children now (Ro 6:4-note, Ep 4:18-note) as well as in eternity future (Mk 10:30, Titus 1:2-note on Eternal Life).

Richards writes that..

Zoe in classical Greek refers to natural life--the principle that enables living things to move and to grow. In the NT, zoe focuses on the theological meaning rather than on the biological. From the perspective of the NT, in every respect life is the counterpart of death. Each book of the NT speaks of zoe. In each, the principle of life lifts our vision beyond our earthly existence to reveal a unique quality of life that spans time and eternity and that has its roots in God. It is the biblical use and meaning of zoe that most concerns us as we examine what the NT says about life. (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency)

Wuest (in comments on 2Pe 1:3-note) writes that zoe...

speaks of life in the sense of one who is possessed of vitality and animation. It is used of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. It is used to designate the life which God gives to the believing sinner, a vital, animating, spiritual, ethical dynamic which transforms his inner being and as a result, his behavior.

(In comments on 1Jn 1:2 Wuest adds) here used as Thayer indicates, as “the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God.” Thus, this life that God is, is not to be defined as merely animation, but as definitely ethical in its content. God is not the mere reason for the universe, as the Greeks thought, but a Person with the characteristics and qualities of a divine Person. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life which God is, are communicated to the sinner when the latter places his faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and this becomes the new, animating, energizing, motivating principle which transforms the experience of that individual, and the saint thus lives a Christian life. The message of John is that since the believer is a partaker of this life, it is an absolute necessity that he show the ethical and spiritual qualities that are part of the essential nature of God, in his own life. If these are entirely absent, John says, that person is devoid of the life of God, and is unsaved. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life were exhibited to the human race in the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. His life thus becomes the pattern of what our lives should be in holiness, self-sacrifice, humility, and love. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)

As Paul reminded the saints at Colossae,

Christ...is our life (Col 3:4-note)

Comment:  Wuest writes that in Col 3:4 "the resurrection life which the saint enjoys. It is the eternal life given him as the motivating energy and directive agent of the new kind of life he lives, together with that life lived out. It is hidden with Christ in the sense that as Vincent says; “Your new spiritual life is no longer in the sphere of the earthly and sensual, but is with the life of the risen Christ, who is unseen with God.” Expositors says: “In God asserts Christ’s own union with God, and emphasizes our union with God in Him.”

Truly meaningful life, life on the "highest plane", life that really is worthwhile is found only in "the promise of life in Christ Jesus" (2 Ti 1:1, cp 1Jn 5:11, 26, Jn 1:4, 6:35, Acts 3:15) Who came so that we might have life and might have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). This life is in Christ Jesus and therefore is a supernatural life that is eternal, for Christ is eternal and our union with Him conveys eternality (right now...in this present evil age!). 

There are 126 uses of zoe in the NT - Mt 7:14; 18:8, 9; 19:16, 17, 29; 25:46; Mk. 9:43, 45; 10:17, 30; Lk. 10:25; 12:15; 16:25; 18:18, 30; Jn. 1:4; 3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 26, 29, 39,40; 6:27, 33, 35, 40, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 63, 68; 8:12; 10:10, 28; 11:25; 12:25, 50; 14:6; 17:2, 3; 20:31; Acts 2:28; 3:15; 5:20; 8:33; 11:18; 13:46, 48; 17:25; Ro 2:7; 5:10, 17, 18, 21; 6:4, 22, 23; 7:10; 8:2, 6, 10, 38; 11:15; 1Co. 3:22; 15:19; 2Co. 2:16; 4:10, 11, 12; 5:4; Gal. 6:8; Eph. 4:18; Phil. 1:20; 2:16; 4:3; Col. 3:3, 4; 1Ti 1:16; 4:8; 6:12, 19; 2Ti 1:1, 10; Titus 1:2; 3:7; Heb. 7:3, 16; Jas. 1:12; 4:14; 1Pe 3:7, 10; 2Pe 1:3; 1 Jn. 1:1, 2; 2:25; 3:14, 15; 5:11, 12, 13, 16, 20; Jude 1:21; Rev. 2:7, 10; 3:5; 7:17; 11:11; 13:8; 16:3; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:6, 27; 22:1, 2, 14, 17, 19.

Here are the 43 uses of the phrase eternal life in the ESV - Mt. 19:16, 29; 25:46; Mk. 10:17, 30; Lk. 10:25; 18:18, 30; Jn. 3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68; 10:28; 12:25, 50; 17:2, 3; Acts 13:46, 48; Ro 2:7; 5:21; 6:22, 23; Gal. 6:8; 1Ti 1:16; 6:12; Titus 1:2; 3:7; 1Jn 1:2; 2:25; 3:15; 5:11, 13, 20; Jude 1:21

There are uses of zoe in the Septuagint (LXX) - Ge 1:30; 2:7, 9; 3:14, 17, 20, 22, 24; 6:17; 7:11, 15, 22; 8:13; 23:1; 25:7, 17; 27:46; 45:5; 47:8f, 28; Exod. 1:14; 6:16, 18, 20; Dt 4:9; 6:2; 16:3; 17:19; 28:66; 30:15, 19f; 32:47; Jos. 1:5; 10:40; Jdg. 6:4; 16:30; 17:10; 1Sa 7:15; 25:29; 2Sa 1:23; 15:21; 19:34; 1 Ki. 4:20; 11:34; 15:5; 2 Ki. 8:10, 14; 25:29f; Ezra 6:10; Job 3:20; 7:1, 7; 9:21; 10:12, 22; 11:17; 24:22; 33:22, 28, 30; 36:14; Ps. 7:5; 16:11; 17:14; 21:4; 23:6; 26:9; 27:1, 4; 30:5; 31:10; 34:12; 36:9; 42:8; 49:18; 56:8; 63:3f; 66:9; 88:3; 103:4; 104:33; 128:5; 133:3; 143:3; 146:2; Pr 2:19; 3:2, 16, 18; 4:10, 13, 22f; 5:6, 9; 6:23; 8:35; 9:11, 18; 10:3, 11, 16f; 11:19, 30; 12:28; 13:12, 14; 14:27; 15:4, 24; 16:15, 17, 22; 18:4, 21; 19:23; 21:21; 22:4; 23:3; 27:27; Eccl. 2:3, 17; 3:12; 5:18, 20; 6:8, 12; 8:15; 9:3, 9; Isa. 4:3; 26:14; 38:12, 20; 53:8; 57:15; 65:22; Jer. 2:13; 8:3; 17:13; 21:8; La 3:53, 58; Ezek. 1:20f; 3:21; 7:13; 10:17; 16:6; 18:9, 13, 17, 19, 21, 28; 26:20; 31:17; 32:23f, 26f, 32; 33:15; 37:5; Da 7:12; 12:2; Ho 10:12; Jonah 2:6; Mal 2:5

Bultmann begins his treatment of zoe by saying

Zoe denotes in Greek the physical vitality of organic beings, animals, men, and also plants. Life is understood, not as a thing, but as vitality, as the nature or manner which charac­terizes all living creatures as such" (TDNT, 2:832).

In classical Greek bios had ethical connotations and zoe did not (see Vincent's note below). But when we come to the NT we find the case exactly the reverse. Here we find bios used in a material and chronological sense. But zoe is the word used, especially by John (36 times in his Gospel and 13 times in his First Epistle), mostly for spiritual life that we have from God in Christ. It is not mere existence, but a new "life." Zoe was used by the NT writers to refer to the life principle in contradistinction to bios which refers to that which sustains life.

R. C. Trench puts it well when he writes:

In revealed religion, which thus makes death to have come into the world through sin, and only through sin, life is the correlative of holiness. Whatever truly lives, does so because sin has never found place in it, or, having found place for a time, has since been overcome and expelled. So soon as ever this is felt and understood, zoe at once assumes the profoundest moral significance; it becomes the fittest expression for the very highest blessedness (p.95).

As W H Griffith Thomas notes in the Gospel of John zoe is a key word, writing that

Another characteristic word of John’s Gospel is life. It expresses the ultimate element of his purpose in writing. As the result of believing, the readers of this Gospel are intended to have life. The word (zoe) always refers in this Gospel to the principle of spiritual life as distinct from the earthly manifestation or principle of natural life (bios). This latter word is not found in the fourth Gospel and only twice in all of John’s writings (1 John 2:16; 1 John 3:16), where the meaning is quite clear. The word zoe occurs thirty-six times in the Gospel of John as compared with seven in Matthew, four in Mark, and six in Luke. This again shows the prominence given to it and the important place it occupies in the teaching of this Gospel. The idea is found as early as John 1:4, and then almost chapter by chapter various aspects of the life are seen and various relationships to it are borne by our Lord. The meaning of this life is perhaps best given in the words of our Lord’s prayer: “This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). It consists, therefore, not in any mere existence whether here or hereafter. Its essence lies in the experience of fellowship with God. Quality, not duration, is the predominant thought of life in this Gospel.

Vincent in his comments on the phrase in Him was life in John 1:4 writes that Jesus...

was the fountain of life — physical, moral, and eternal — its principle and source. Two words for life are employed in the New Testament: bios and zoe. The primary distinction is that zoe means existence as contrasted with death, and bios, the period, means, or manner of existence. Hence bios is originally the higher word, being used of men, while zoe is used of animals. We speak therefore of the discussion of the life and habits of animals as zoology; and of accounts of men’s lives as biography. Animals have the vital principle in common with men, but men lead lives controlled by intellect and will, and directed to moral and intellectual ends.

In the New Testament, bios means either living, i.e., means of subsistence (Mark 12:44; Luke 8:43), or course of life, life regarded as an economy (Luke 8:14; 1Ti 2:2; 2Ti 2:4). Zoe occurs in the lower sense of life, considered principally or wholly as existence (1Pe 3:10; Acts 8:33; 17:25; Heb. 7:3). There seems to be a significance in the use of the word in Lk 16:25: “Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things;” the intimation being that the rich man’s life had been little better than mere existence, and not life at all in the true sense.

But throughout the New Testament zoe is the nobler word, seeming to have changed places with bios. It expresses the sum of mortal and eternal blessedness (Matt. 25:46; Luke 18:30; John 11:25; Acts 2:28; Ro. 5:17; 4:4), and that not only in respect of men, but also of God and Christ. So here. Compare John 5:26; 14:6; 1 John 1:2. This change is due to the gospel revelation of the essential connection of sin with death, and consequently, of life with holiness. “Whatever truly lives, does so because sin has never found place in it, or, having found place for a time, has since been overcome and expelled” (Trench).

In Christ Jesus - Acts 24:24; Rom. 3:24; 6:11, 23; 8:1f, 39; 15:17; 16:3; 1 Co. 1:2, 4, 30; 4:15; 15:31; 16:24; Gal. 2:4, 16; 3:14, 26, 28; 5:6; Eph. 1:1; 2:6f, 10, 13; 3:6, 11, 21; Phil. 1:1, 26; 2:5; 3:3, 14; 4:7, 19, 21; Col. 1:4; 1 Thess. 2:14; 5:18; 1 Tim. 1:14; 3:13; 2 Tim. 1:1, 9, 13; 2:1, 10; 3:12, 15; Philemon 1:23

In Christ Jesus is clearly one of one of Paul's favorite phrases "in Christ Jesus" - make a SIMPLE LIST of the truths YOU DISCOVER about your new  life in Christ Jesus and you will be wonderfully encouraged as you thank Him for so great a salvation, one truth at a time) (See related topics - in Christ and in Christ Jesus) (Watch the Youtube video of the beautiful new song - In Christ Alone;  In Christ Alone - another version)

The life that God promises in Christ is a life that is capable of enjoying the things of God down here, and a life that will be equally suitable to our heavenly home.

Jesus said

this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. (Jn 17:3)

This new quality of life then is the present possession of the believer because of his or her relationship with the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world and it is also our future hope when we will receive our glorified bodies, have every tear wiped away and be forever free from sin, sickness, sorrow, suffering, and death (Php 3:20, 21- see notes v20; v21).

 Vine adds

The special point here is not the promise of life, as proclaimed in the gospel, but life as ministered and enjoyed in the experience of the believer. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

This is life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God and includes the present as well as the future. 

In regard to the order Christ Jesus (this is the order 12 times in 11 verses [2Ti 1:1, 2, 9, 10, 13; 2:1, 3, 10; 3:12, 15; 4:1] in 2 Timothy with the reverse order Jesus Christ only once (2Ti 2:8-note)

Christ (5547) is a transliteration of the Greek word Christos (from chrio = to anoint, rub with oil, consecrate to an office) which is equivalent to the Hebrew word which is translated "Messiah", the Anointed One.

D. Edmond Hiebert notes that...

The average English reader uses either order merely to designate the Person to whom reference is being made without a clear sense of any difference in meaning. But to Paul and his Greek readers each order had a significance over and above that of a mere identification of the Person. In either case the first member of the compound name indicated whether the theological or the historical idea was uppermost in the writer's mind." (Hiebert, D E: 2 Timothy).

Vine adds the following interesting thoughts on the order of "Christ" before or after "Jesus" writing that

"The order “Christ Jesus,” points to Him as the One Who had been in the glory with the Father, but Who emptied Himself taking the form of a servant, and endured the sufferings and death of the Cross. This order testifies to His preexistence (Php 2:5-note)."  (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

D. Edmond Hiebert comments that in this short salutation we find

"God the Father is mentioned twice, while the name of Christ Jesus is mentioned three times. How Paul loved and gloried in that adorable name! The very thought of Him runs through all of his thinking and writ­ing. He cannot move, think, or live without Him. Truly for Paul "to live is Christ" (see note Philippians 1:21)." (Hiebert, D. E. 2 Timothy).

It is not simply life but that God-promised life "in union with Christ Jesus." It is only in a believer's union with the resurrected Christ , that this quality of life is available. (Click for the 23 uses of  "life" in the same verse as "Christ").

John clearly declares...

"He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." (1John 5:12).

Paul echoes this truth testifying that...

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.  (see note Galatians 2:20 )

Patrick Fairbairn adds that in this supernatural union with Christ lies

"life in the higher sense, comprehensive of all the blessings and glory, both in this world and the next, which flow from an interest in the redemption of Christ."

How ironic to encounter Paul deserted by those who formerly were with him, imprisoned as a criminal, poured out as a drink offering, facing imminent death (2Ti 4:6-note), and yet choosing to remind Timothy first of our life in Christ Jesus, a life which no physical death is able to harm for Paul knows that to be "absent from the body" is "to be at home with the Lord." (2Cor 5:6, 5:8).  This would surely have been an encouragement to Timothy.

Even in this first chapter Paul explains that "life in Christ Jesus" is our present possession because our "Savior Christ Jesus" has

"abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (see note 2 Timothy 1:10).

Surely Paul's knowledge of and focus on this wonderful truth of "life in Christ Jesus" protected him from growing weary and losing heart (Gal 6:9) in what from a human viewpoint appeared to be a hopeless state. Paul didn't have the typical "human viewpoint" but viewed his circumstances from God's perspective, convinced (and firmly held by the truth) that Christ was able to guard what Paul had entrusted to Him.

O that the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of our hearts to really