But you know from watching me (TLB)

But as for you, you were attracted as a disciple to me because of my teaching (Wuest)

you have observed and diligently followed (Amp)

you carefully followed (NKJV)

you have intimately known (WNT)

But thou hast been thoroughly acquainted with (Darby)

GO
MAKE DISCIPLES
Mt 28:19

But you - Timothy a disciple presents a dramatic contrast with the deceivers of "but they" (2Ti 3:9)

Followed (3877) (parakoloutheo from para = near +  akolouthéo  to follow) means literally to follow closely or to accompany side by side. Parakoloutheo combines the idea of understanding with that of practicing perseveringly.

Parakoloutheo is found 4 times in the NAS: Mk 16:17; Lk 1:3; 1Ti 4:6; 2Ti 3:10

Luke uses parakoloutheo to mean to follow closely in mind and so to investigate so as to attain knowledge. It indicates the mental tracing whereby one arrives at a knowledge of the matter. The perfect tense is used by Luke to emphasize the state reached after the investigation.

it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning (Lk 1:3)

In a sense Timothy was investigating Paul's teaching to see whether Paul's life matched his lips and to watch how he endured persecutions and sufferings. The verb pictures Timothy always at Paul's side, attending Paul wherever he went. Thayer adds that the verb means to "conform one's self to" so that ultimately a disciple is to become like his mentor.

Parakoloutheo was actually a technical term used by philosophers to describe the relationship of a disciple to his teacher (studying with him in close quarters, carefully noting his life with a view to reproducing, etc). It includes the idea of following a teaching with concentrated attention so as to make the teaching part of one's being. Timothy conformed to Paul's belief and practice by paying special attention to his mentor. Paul is reminding Timothy "You were right by my side from the beginning."

Barclay (critique) adds that parakoloutheo

"means to follow a person physically, to stick by him through thick and thin, to be by his side in fair weather and in foul. It means to follow a person mentally, to attend diligently to his teaching, and fully to understand the meaning and the significance of what he says. It means to follow a person spiritually, not only to understand what he says, but also to carry out his ideas, and to be the kind of person that he wishes us to be."

The question for each of us to ask is who are we following closely?  All of us tend to emulate those we admire, so the charge is for us to be very careful about who we choose to follow. We need to make sure by their teaching and their conduct that they are on the "the ancient paths, where the good way is" (Jer 6:16).

Hall adds that

"since we are more easily led by precedents than by precepts, the apostle propounds his own example for our imitation, wherein we have the lively pattern and portraiture of a faithful pastor, whose office it is not only to preach sound doctrine, but also to practice what he preacheth in his own life, that so he may be able to speak from the heart to the hearts of his people, and may not bring his food as birds do to their young ones — in their beaks, not in their breasts...Great is the power of the example of superiors......God hath set them before us as our copy to write by, and our pattern to live by, and we must answer not only for sinning against the light of the word, but against the light of good example also. It will be one day said, "You had such and such to go before you in paths of piety, and yet you would not follow. The faithful are called witnesses (Heb12:1-note ). Now if we walk contrary to their light they will witness against us, as Noah and Lot did against the sinners of their age; but if we walk answerable to their light they will witness for us. Their practice may comfort and confirm us in God’s way; they declare the possibility of obtaining such a grace, and make it thereby the more easy, when we have seen it done before us. If a man have a torch to light him in a dark and dangerous path, how glad is he: the godly shine like lights in the midst of a crooked generation (Php 2:15-note, Php 2:16-note), their life is a commentary on the Scripture" Now since the nature of man is apter to be guided by example then precept, therefore God hath prepared abundance of glorious examples for our imitation, and thus the saints that are now at rest and triumphant in glory, their lives are to be our looking-glasses to dress ourselves by, our compass to sail by, and our pillar of a cloud to walk" (The Biblical Illustrator)

This comment begs at least two questions:

"What commentary did I write with my conduct this past week?"

"What saint am I following that I might imitate their godly example?"

A parallel idea is that the great truths of Scripture are as much "caught" as they are "taught", and this happens most readily as one follows a "man of God who is equipped for every good work"  (2Ti 3:17-note)

Parenthetically I might add that an often untapped resource of "godly mentors" to emulate can be readily found in the many excellent Christian biographies both in print and on the web (eg be challenged by the life of men like Adoniram Judson) (Click "Christian Biography")

"A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity...the same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever...each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny....How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked." (Adoniram Judson)

MacArthur notes that

"In the Greek text, the definite article (Greek TE = English "THE") precedes each of the descriptive nouns in  verses 10  and  11 , grammatically connecting each to the possessive pronoun my and thereby giving it repeated emphasis. The idea is, "But you followed my teaching, [my] conduct, [my] purpose, and so on."

Ray Pritchard discussing following godly leaders points out that...

This principle is based on the truth that we become like the people we associate with. If we follow the ungodly, we will become like the ungodly. If we follow the arrogant, we are likely to become arrogant. If we follow those who follow Jesus, we are more likely to become like Jesus ourselves. In this case, Paul uses himself as an example, and says in effect, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

These are the marks of the godly people we should follow:

1. They have nothing to hide. “You know my way of life.”
2. They teach the truth. “You know my doctrine.”
3. They practice what they preach. “You know my faith, my love and my patience.”
4. They aren’t afraid of persecution. “You know my sufferings and my persecution.” (2 Timothy 3: Perilous Times)

MY TEACHING: mou te didaskalia: (Lk 1:3; Php 2:22; 1Ti 4:6; 2Ti3:16,17; 4:3; Ac 2:42; Ro 16:17; Ep 4:14; 1Ti 1:3; 4:12; 13 Titus 2:7; He13:9; 2Jn 1:9, 10)

The last part of this chapter suggests three very practical survival strategies for the perilous, difficult, dangerous days in which we live:

Follow Godly Leaders 2Ti 3:10, 11,12, 13
Continue in What You Have Learned  2Ti 3:14, 15
Let the Word of God Make You Complete 2 Ti 3:16, 17

Teaching (1319) (didaskalia [word study] from didasko = teach to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught) and as noted in the first 2 chapters would include "the standard of sound words which you have heard from me" (2Ti 1:13-note) as well as "the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses" (2Timothy 2:2-note).  Here we see Paul practicing his preaching to "entrust to faithful men" (2Ti 2:2).

The Pauline school of doctrine and practice was not a building but a life, and the curriculum included real-time, "hands on" training in character and content, practice and precept!

MY...CONDUCT: te agoge: (Acts 20:18; 26:4; 1Th1:5;  2Pe3:11)

my way of life (ISV)

behaviour (BBE)

how I live (NLT, CEV)

you know from watching me that I am not that kind of person (TLB)

My conduct - Is someone is discipling you in the Word (there is no other fruitful resource by which we can disciple), you need to observe their life to make sure it matches their lips. When you see a "one to one" correlation, you can rest assured that God will use them to grow you in Christ likeness.

Conduct (agoge) means literally leading or guidance then refers to the method in which one is led, his manner of life or the way they lead their life. Timothy was so closely associated with Paul that he could not fail to know all aspects of his behavior and he knew that Paul was a man who practiced what he preached. Someone has written a poem that brings out the importance of this association:

Hall reminds us that

"Moral virtues may be found with a false faith; let not those apples of Sodom deceive you, for as there may be good doctrine where the life is bad, so there may be false doctrine where the life is seemingly good. Look, therefore, in the first place to the doctrine, and in the second place to the virtues which seem to commend it." (The Biblical Illustrator)

Matthew Henry adds that Paul

"did not pull down by his living what he built up by his preaching. Those ministers are likely to do good, and leave lasting fruits of their labors, whose manner of life agrees with their doctrine; as, on the contrary, those cannot expect to profit the people at all that preach well and live ill."

MY...PURPOSE: te prothesei: (Da 1:8; Acts 11:23; 2Co 1:17)

my aims (NJB)

my aim in life (ESV) 

Purpose (4286) (prothesis [word study] from protíthemi = set before oneself; purpose or plan) is literally placing before or setting before and so means the setting forth of a thing or placing of it in view, a putting forward openly -- a presentation, setting forth, plan, design, purpose, resolve, will.

In the present context prothesis refers to the plans or designs of Paul's life, the guiding motive of his life and work, the driving passion of his heart.  Having clear purpose in line with the Father's will is an indispensable requirement in Christ's school of discipleship for "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." 

Prothesis - 12x in 12v - Matt 12:4; Mark 2:26; Luke 6:4; Acts 11:23; 27:13; Rom 8:28; 9:11; Eph 1:11; 3:11; 2 Tim 1:9; 3:10; Heb 9:2. NAS = consecrated(3), purpose(7), resolute(1), sacred(1).

As we have seen though God

has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose (prothesis) and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity" (2Ti 1:9, cf Ro 8:28 Eph 1:11,1Th 4:7, 1Ti 4:7)

Paul was consumed with a passion to fulfill God's "purpose" for saving him to proclaim Christ writing

“I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” (1Cor 9:16).

In a more detailed parting statement to the Ephesian elders

"You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ...I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God." (Acts 20:18, 19, 20, 21, 27)

Peter adds that believers

have been called for this purpose, (when you do what is right and suffer for it) since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" (1Pe 2:21)

Matthew Henry comments that Paul is saying to Timothy

"Thou hast known my purpose, what I drive at, how far it is from any worldly, carnal, secular design, and how sincerely I aim at the glory of God and the good of the souls of men.”

MY...FAITH: te pistei: (2Ti 2:22; 2Co 6:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; 1Ti 4:12; 6:11; 2Pe 1:5, 6, 7)

Here Paul is not referring to saving faith but to the faithfulness and trustworthiness of those who are already saved. Paul uses faith similarly writing to the Thessalonians "that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love..." (1Th 3:6-note). The idea is to faithfully live the truth that one professes.

Faith (4102) (pistis) is synonymous with trust or belief and is the conviction of the truth of anything, but in Scripture usually speaks of belief  respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it.

Maclaren writes that

MY...PATIENCE: te makrothumia:

Patience (makrothumia [word study] from makro = long + thumos = emotion) literally means having a "long fuse" and thus describes an individual who is opposed to haste, to passionate expressions and thoughts or to irritability. As pistis relates to God, it is the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things well as the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. As faith relates to Christ it represents a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ and no other way.

Makrothumia - 14x in 14v - Rom 2:4; 9:22; 2 Cor 6:6; Gal 5:22; Eph 4:2; Col 1:11; 3:12; 1 Tim 1:16; 2 Tim 3:10; 4:2; Heb 6:12; Jas 5:10; 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 3:15. NAS - Always rendered "patience".

Makrothumia denotes the state of mind which can bear long when oppressed, provoked, falsely and maliciously accused or when one seeks to injure us. The man of God must have a long fuse lest he explode when he cannot afford to. Chrysostom defined "makrothumia" as that "spirit which could take revenge if it liked but utterly refuses to do so." 

J Vernon McGee writes that makrothumia...

Hall adds that patience

"is ornament of great worth, not only in the sight of man, but also of God. Without it we are unfit for duty, as the troubled sea unfit for voyage. Without it we double and increase our burdens; like a wild bull in a net, or the untamed heifer, we may gall our necks, but never break the yoke....By our patience we please God, displease the devil, rejoice the angels, and many times melt and convert our enemies. By this means we heap coals of conversion or coals of confusion upon their heads (Ro12:20). This will keep us good in a bad condition, so that a man enjoys himself when he hath nothing else; and though he have nothing, yet is as one that possesses all things."  (The Biblical Illustrator)

MY...LOVE: te agape:

Love (26) (agape) is unconditional, sacrificial love and a love that God is (1Jn4:8, 16), that God shows (Jn 3:16, 1Jn 4:9) and that God is so as noted above it is not surprising that Greek literature throws little light on its distinctive NT meaning. Agape is God's selfless, sacrificial, supernatural love providing for the recipient's highest good and doing so whether appreciated or not.

Agape in the Greek classics spoke of a love called out of one’s heart by the preciousness of the object loved. This is the idea inherent in the Father's proclamation "This is My beloved Son..." Agape is the love that was shown at Calvary. Thus agape is God’s love, and is the love that God is. It is not human affection but is a divine love, commanded by God, produced as fruit in the heart of a surrendered saint by the Holy Spirit (God Who is at work in us to will and to work to His good pleasure) (Ro 5:5-note, Gal 5:22-note), self-sacrificial in nature seeking the benefit of the one who is loved, a love which means death to self and defeat for sin since the essence of sin is self-will and self-gratification, a love activated by personal choice of our will (working out our salvation in fear and trembling) not based on our feelings toward the object of our love and manifested by specific actions (1Co13:4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (see notes 1Corinthians 13:4     1Cor 13:5     1Cor 13:6    1Cor 13:7   1Cor 13:8) is an excellent source definition of "love in action") not just to fellow believers but to all men everywhere.

Love is so crucial to the Christian life that “the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1Jn4:8).

On the other hand,

“the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1Jn4:16).

Jesus’ final petition to the Father on our behalf was

“that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them” (Jn17:26).

As Edwards has said love

"is the badge of discipleship, the landmark of heaven." Jesus said that "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love (agape) one for another." (Jn13:35)

Tertullian wrote,

"It is our care for the helpless, our practice of lovingkindness, that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents. 'Look!' they say, 'How they love one another!' Look how they are prepared to die for one another."'

People do not care how much we know until they know how much we care.

PERSEVERANCE: te hupomone:

My...Perseverance - "my steadfastness" (ESV), "my endurance" (GWT), "my quiet undergoing of trouble" (BBE), "resignation" (WNT). 

Perseverance (hupomone [word study] from hupo = under + meno = abide) (Click for in depth study of hupomone) means to abide under a trial or difficult circumstance in a way that honors God. Perseverance describes the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper and is endurance without murmuring or fretfulness and springs from Christian submission to God's perfect will. The one so submitted to God's will exhibits a calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent. It is a God-honoring endurance which undergoes life's fiery trials because of the glory that lies ahead.

C H Spurgeon quipped that "By perseverance the snail reached the ark."

Samuel Johnson claimed: "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance."

William Wilberforce, a 19th-century parliamentarian, was moved by the Lord to oppose the slave trade. In 1807 he brought about the banning of the slave trade in England. But not until 1833 was slavery as an institution abolished, and the news reached Wilberforce on his deathbed.

Eternity will reveal the reward of the redeemed who persevere under persecution ("If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints" Rev 13:10; "Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." Rev14:12). So there is no doubt that perseverance is a high priority in the plan of God for Christians, both individually and collectively.

Puritan Thomas Watson wrote that...

"God's decree is the very pillar and basis on which the saints' perseverance depends. That decree ties the knot of adoption so fast that neither sin, death, nor hell can break it asunder."

Perseverance is graphically described by William Barclay (critique) as a

"lithe spirit which can bear thing, not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope; it is not the spirit which sits statically enduring in the one place, but the spirit which bears things because it knows that these things are leading to a goal of glory; it is not the patience which grimly waits for the end, but the patience which radiantly hopes for the dawn. It is the quality which keeps a man on his feet with his face to the wind. It is the virtue which can transmute the hardest trial into glory because beyond the pain it sees the goal." It is this character quality which will determine whether we finish our course or not for as the writer of Hebrews exhorted "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb12:1) and that all believers "have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." (Heb10:36)

Wayne A Detzler writes that...

PERSECUTIONS SUFFERINGS: tois diogmois, tois pathemasin (Ac 9:16; 20:19;20:23 20:24 Ro 8:35; 36, 37 1Co4:9, 10, 11; 2Co1:8, 9, 10; 4:8, 9, 10, 11; 2Co11:23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28; He10:33, 34)

Persecutions (1375) (diogmos from dioko = to pursue) means to put to flight or to pursue with repeated acts of enmity. Because of their refusal to compromise or cease proclaiming the gospel, both Paul and Timothy often had been put to flight as fugitives from the persecutions of both Jews and pagans as when "the Jews...instigated a persecution (diogmos) against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district." (Acts 13:50) It is interesting to note that Paul does not point out his successes, but his scars, for these are sure proof that Christ has had full sway in his life. Truly Paul could say

"From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus." (Gal6:17).

Diogmos - 10x in 9v - Matt 13:21; Mark 4:17; 10:30; Acts 8:1; 13:50; Rom 8:35; 2 Cor 12:10; 2 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 3:11.

The Gospels teach that "persecution (diogmos) arises because of the word" (Mk4:17, cf Mk10:30). Paul is reminding Timothy and all of us that persecutions and sufferings (note that both are plural!) are not electives (2Cor1:6), but are part of the required curriculum in Christ's school of discipleship, for He Himself warned His disciples that

"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (Jn 15:19, 20,15:20) "and you will be hated by all on account of My name." (Lk 21:17) and in this school even "A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD." (Mt 10:36).

Paul met his "old friends" persecutions and sufferings everywhere as described in (Ac20:23) where "the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me."

SUCH AS HAPPENED TO ME AT ANTIOCH AT ICONIUM AT LYSTRA: oia moi egeneto (3SAMI) en Antiocheia, en Ikonio, en Lustrois (Acts 13:45; 50, 51,14:2, 5, 6, 19, 20, 21, 22)

Antioch  (in modern day Turkey) and nearby Iconium and Lystra were in Timothy’s home province of Galatia and were the first places during Paul’s missionary journeys where hostility broke out against him (Acts 13:45;50). Lystra in fact was Timothy’s hometown and it seems quiet likely that he saw or heard about Paul's healing a lame man crippled from birth and Paul's stoning by the hostile crowd. (Ac 14:8, 9, 10, 19).

WHAT PERSECUTIONS I ENDURED: oious diogmous hupenegka (1SAAI):

Endured (5297) (hupophero from hupo = under + phero = bear) is literally to bear up from underneath or carry or be under a heavy load placed on one's shoulders. The principle is that we are able to get under a heavy load and carry it. It is used figuratively of one who continues to bear up under and endure temptations, unjust suffering or persecutions for the sake of righteousness. It is undergoing hardship without giving in but instead continuing firm or resolute through the trials and difficulties.

This verb is used only 3x in the NT. Paul from his person experience was able to writing confidently that

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." (1Cor10:13-note)

Peter encouraged the his readers being tried as by fire that

"this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly." (1Pet2:19)

The Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew OT) uses hupophero in Job's reply to his wife's advice to "curse God and die"(Job2:9) to which Job answered

"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept (Sept = shall we not endure - hupophero) adversity?" (Job2:10)

Paul concludes this verse by pointing out two balancing truths concerning the proper response to persecution: (1) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - ". . . which persecutions I endured." The word for "endured" (hupophero) speaks of "bearing up under," especially in regards to a heavy load. The man of God is willing to shoulder the weight of the cross in order to follow in Christ's footsteps. (2) DIVINE PROTECTION - "And out of them all the Lord delivered me." The servant of God is indestructible until his work is done. as indicated by (Re 11:5, Re 11:7)

"And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them." God sovereignly protected Paul from physical death until he had "completely fulfilled" his ministry. "'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD." (Isa 54:17)

Thus we have seen the curriculum of Timothy's training program. It is interesting to note that only I out of 9 courses involved doctrine alone. The training did not take place inside the walls of an isolated classroom, but on the battlefield for men's souls. The training was not costly in regards to paid tuition, but it cost a man everything in regards to his priorities and pursuits in life. And the proof of his success was not found in the paper and ink of a man-made certificate, but in the "marks of the Lord Jesus" found on his body. Needless to say, we have often veered from this original curriculum in our day of man-pleasing religion.

AND OUT OF THEM ALL THE LORD DELIVERED ME: kai ek panton me errhusato (3SAMI) o kurios: (2Ti 4:7;17, 18 Ge 48:16; 2Sa 22:1;22:49 Job5:19-20 Ps34:19; 37:40; 91:2-6;91:14 Is41:10;41:14 43:2; Jer1:19; Da6:27; Ac9:23-24 9:25 21:32;21:33 23:10;23:12-24 25:3;25:4 26:17;26:22 2Co1:10; 2Pe2:9)

Out of them all the Lord - What a great truth. What a great Deliverer!

Sometimes He delivers us out, but other times He delivers us in and through the fiery trial.

Lord (master, owner)(2962) (kurios [word study]) from kuros = might or power) has a variety of meanings/uses in the NT and therefore one must carefully examine the context in order to discern which sense is intended by the NT author. For example, some passages use kurios only as a common form of polite address with no religious/spiritual meaning. The reader should also be aware that in view of the fact that kurios is used over 9000 times in the Septuagint (LXX) and over 700 times in the NT, this discussion of kurios at best only "skims the surface" of this prodigious, precious word.

Kurios is used of the one to whom a person or thing belonged (Paul belonged to Jesus as does every believer and He is responsible to attend to His possessions), about which he has the power of deciding, the one who is the master or disposer of a thing (Mk 7:28)

Delivered (4506) (rhuomai [word study] is derived from rhúo = to draw, drag along the ground) means to draw or snatch to oneself and invariably from great peril, danger, evil or an enemy.

Rhuomai - 17x in 15v - Matt 6:13; 27:43; Luke 1:74; Rom 7:24; 11:26; 15:31; 2 Cor 1:10; Col 1:13; 1 Thess 1:10; 2 Thess 3:2; 2 Tim 3:11; 4:17f; 2 Pet 2:7, 9. NAS = deliver(3), delivered(1), Deliverer(1), rescue(3), rescued(7), rescues(1), set...free(1).

Rhuomai means to draw or snatch to oneself and invariably refers to a snatching from danger, evil or an enemy. This basic idea of rescuing from danger is pictured by the use describing a soldier’s going to a wounded comrade on the battlefield and carrying him to safety (he runs to the cry of his comrade to rescue him from the hands of the enemy).

Comment: Since rhuomai means to draw to oneself, here we see the great picture that God drew us out of Satan’s kingdom to Himself. That event was the new birth. We are not gradually, progressively delivered from Satan’s power. When we placed our faith in Christ, we were instantly delivered.
 

Rhuomai emphasizes the greatness of the peril from which deliverance is given by a mighty act of power.

Paul described the saints at Thessalonica as those who were willing to expectantly

"wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, Who rescues (rhuomai) us from the wrath to come." (1Thes1:10-note)

In this verse in Timothy, rhuomai is in the middle voice which gives a beautiful picture of the personal involvement of the Lord as the One Who initiates the deliverance and then participates in the rescue operation. Having been delivered in the past, Paul could confidently say in chapter 4 that

"the Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom..." (2Ti 4:18-note)

Paul could proclaim as David did

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Ps34:19-note).

Paul used this verb rhuomai three times in one verse writing to the Corinthians that God

"Who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us." (2Cor 1:10)

He could say with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us...” (Da3:17, 18).

Timothy knew God had delivered Paul, and that knowledge should have reinforced his own courage to stand against the apostate teachers and persecutors.

IVP Commentary adds that

"Suffering for the faith is normal, but so is the Lord’s “rescue.” Paul, writing from prison, cannot have meant rescue from persecution, but rather rescue in the form of the power to endure, to carry on in spite of such pressures, and perhaps rescue from death. But, as 4:18 shows, death may be the result of suffering for the faith, and the promise of God’s rescue (to his eternal kingdom) is still good." 

God does not promise us deliverance from persecution but deliverance through it.

Hendricksen notes:

“The Lord ever rescues his people, frequently from death, sometimes by means of death. Either way, nothing ever separates them from his love (Ro8:38–39).”

Matthew Henry adds that

"When we know the afflictions of good people but in part, they are a temptation to us to decline that cause which they suffer for; when we know only the hardships they undergo for Christ, we may be ready to say, “We will renounce that cause that is likely to cost us so dear in the owning of it;” but when we fully know the afflictions, not only how they suffer, but how they are supported and comforted under their sufferings, then, instead of being discouraged, we shall be animated by them"

G Campbell Morgan comments that...