"to all them also who love His appearing"
bwme...@toast.net
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day; and not to
me only, but to all them also who love his appearing." --- 2 Tim. 4:8.
Henceforth --- an event of the future: not now.
(1): A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS --- now, what is that? It's not that
which we already have (our salvation and justification through the
Blood of Christ), since (A) it was just stated to be future; and (B)
it is something that only few Christians will ever receive, by
implication of the context (cf 1 Cor. 9:24), and because (C) it is
connected with Paul's labor (cf 1 Cor. 15:58), and achievement, rather
than Grace alone.
And (D) although it sparks little interest to our worldly hearts right
now; it is something we are going to desperately want ("God shall wipe
away all tears"), since the example of it is what Esau lost (who
afterward sought it with tears): "set your affection on things above,
NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH:" (this is what Esau did not do! since "he
was a profane person") AND YOU WILL HAVE IT!
(2): THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE --- He is (A) Jesus Christ (John
5:22-23); and He is (B) a Righteous Judge (fully qualified by Romans
1:4, Eph. 4:7-8, etc; and cf Genesis 18:25, etc). And (C) He will
judge personally every last person on earth (Gen. 18:25), Believer or
denier, greatest to least, wise to fool, Saved and Damned. The
atheist, like the ostrich, finds comfort now in denying all reality
and evidence: but the problem is that God, who will judge him, does
not believe in atheism! Or any other denial of Himself. And He is
RIGHTEOUS in that demand. Good luck with the attempt, when you argue
your case.
(3): WILL GIVE ME --- "me" would never be the word used, if this meant
all Christians. IT DOES NOT! It means ONLY Paul, and "all them also
who love His appearing" (cp comments in (1) above). You will be one
also, if, and only if, you "set your affection on things above, and
not on the earth." (cp Hebrews 11, particularly vss. 13-16. Notice
that second word in this passage, "ALL." The kinds of people in vss
13-16 are the "as many as" those who obtained a good report, in vs.
2.)
(4): AND NOT TO ME ONLY --- re-iterating (3), with EMPHASIS! (and
emphasis stresses importance).
(5): BUT TO ALL THEM ALSO WHO LOVE HIS APPEARING --- Here is another
"as many as" [Endnote 1]. As many as those whose affections are on
things above, and not on the things on the earth --- as many as those
"whose world is not my home, I'm just a passin through" --- as many as
"those who confess that they are strangers and pilgrims in this
'country,'" and "were not mindful of the country which they came out
of" (this present world and age) --- these are the ones who will
receive that desirable "Crown of Righteousness" at the Judgment Seat
of Christ, at the Rapture.
Bob
Christ Died to Save You
[Endnote 1]
***************************************
I have never forgotten the remark made by our Algebra professor in our
freshman class at what is now Southwest Texas State University. "An
equation says it's equal; an identity says it's damn sure equal."
Demonstrating he was good at making cute remarks to impress the
num-nums, but didn't have much understanding of his subject,
elementary Algebra. He didn't know what an equation is, much less an
identity. But he had a master's degree in Mathematics, and was a
"qualified University professor."
I ended up making up my own definition of an equation for my teaching
career: "a statement that two or more numeral expressions (symbolic
expressions which represent numbers, such as "2," "pi," "x - y," etc)
represent the same number."
The Bible's frequent use of "as many as" is similar, but is Emphatic
of something further (and I don't mean the Mathematical idea of an
Identity). It DOES imply that the two things compared ARE
quantitatively the same number. But that is saying nothing, compared
to what it IS saying.
For example, I could construct a box of X tomatoes, and another box of
Y oranges. I could construct these two collections so that X = Y.
That would become a True Equation, in that case. Big deal!
The Biblical "as many as" says much more than anything like that. Eg,
Acts 13:48 --->
"As many as had been appointed to Eternal Life believed."
Or, "the number of those who believed " = "the number who had been
destined, previously, to eternal life"
THAT would be an equation. And it is, in fact, the literal meaning of
"as many as."
But God is clearly is saying something FAR more extensive; for at
least one reason: Scripture is not trite.
There is a CONNECTION between the two "expressions;" and it is not
just a numerical connection.
Clearly, for example, what God has destined (or "ordained") IS GOING
TO HAPPEN. That is why the numerical equation follows. (yes, I know
a time element is included in this verse, which is not always
necessarily the case, but what I'm trying to point out remains,
regardless). Every person whom God has ordained to Eternal Life IS
going to end up with Eternal Life; and every person who ends up with
Eternal Life was ordained to it before the worlds began (eg Romans
8:28-30).
The fascinating additional point, brought out by the time element in
this verse, is that, for example, "any one present there, who did not
Believe at that time, never would thereafter, either!" (this was the
last chance for any person in Paul's audience that evening to be saved
--- kinda awesome, isn't it? And it also points out the EXTREME
supernatural insight of Scripture; how would the mere human author,
Luke, know that? Which goes on to imply God is saying something here
that had better be listened to! Like, not only how could He know
this: but more, why would He mention it? Is it to say that Paul's
message was tremendously effectual [I don't think so, but could be];
is it to say that no one gets to hear the message twice [I don't think
that even as much as the first suggestion]; --- ?)
Therefore the number of one group is the same as the number of the
other group, and we have an Equation.
But clearly we have more than an equation: the CAUSE of the Equation
is the emphasis, when the Bible says "as many as."
I would suggest a BEAUTIFUL word study on "as many as."
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Bart Goddard
bwme...@toast.net wrote in news:2B7CC744-5D36-37C3-7E51-
9F5C32...@art.srcbs.org:
> "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
> the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day; and not to
> me only, but to all them also who love his appearing." --- 2 Tim. 4:8.
>
> Henceforth --- an event of the future: not now.
No, "hence" means "from here", so "henceforth" means
"from now on". Notice the word "now" in that.
Another failed attempt at theology added to your perfect
record.
B.
--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.
bwme...@toast.net
>> "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
>> the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day; and not to
>> me only, but to all them also who love his appearing." --- 2 Tim. 4:8.
>>=20
>> Henceforth --- an event of the future: not now.
>
>No, "hence" means "from here", so "henceforth" means
>"from now on". Notice the word "now" in that. =20
>
>Another failed attempt at theology added to your perfect
>record.
>
No; read the context. This blasphemy is utterly senseless, as usual.
"will give to me at that day."
ATRobertson: Shall give me (apodwsei moi). FUTURE ACTIVE of apodidwmi.
"Will give back" as in #Ro 2:6 and in full.=20
I focussed on the word "henceforth" BWO introduction, which wasn't the
best choice, because it afforded an entry for the usual blasphemers.=20
The whole passage focusses on a future event, regardless, as just
about every commentator agrees.
And the English word "hence" does NOT ONLY mean "from here;" in fact
the PRIMARY MEANING is "as a consequence; therefore; thus." Any
mathematician will understand this meaning; he uses it every day.
But as evey student of the Bible knows, the English word is not the
important word. The important word is the Grk word from which it is
translated. That word is loipon. It is translated 14 times, as
follows (in KJV):
finally 5, now 2, then 1, besides 1, moreover 1, it remains 1,
furthermore 1, henceforth 1, from henceforth 1; =20
Clearly the correct choice amongst all the above will depend on the
context; and the context in our passage is clearly "that day," a
future event.
Strong's gives the following definitions:
1) remaining, the rest=20
1a) hereafter, for the future, henceforth=20
1b) at last, already=20
1c) for the rest, besides, moreover=20
"The servant is not greater than his Lord . . . Iif they have kept My
saying, they will keep yours also. All these things will they do to
you for My name=92s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me." ---
John 15:20-21
Bob
Christ Died to Save You
Dr. Henry Morris:
******************************************************
2 Timothy 4:8
crown of righteousness.=20
This is one of the crowns symbolizing rewards for faithful service,
which Christ will award at His judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1
Corinthians 3:14). These include: =93an incorruptible [crown]=94 (1
Corinthians 9:25), the =93crown of rejoicing=94 (1 Thessalonians 2:19),
=93the crown of life=94 (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), and =93a crown of
glory=94 (1 Peter 5:4).
[I would suggest the additional "My joy and crown" of Php. 3:1 ---
bwm]
righteous judge.=20
The =93Judge of all the earth=94 will =93do right=94 (Genesis 18:25).
love his appearing. [The Rapture --- bwm]
Paul had =93loved His appearing=94 ever since his conversion.=20
[probably revealed to him in Arabia, along with much of The Mystery
--- bwm]
In his earlier ministry, he had thought he would be among those still
living when Christ returned (see on 1 Thessalonians 4:17). As time
went on, he realized he must die before that day, but he knew that,
for the believer, =93to die is gain=94 (Philippians 1:21). As he wrote
this last epistle, he knew that =93the time of my departure is at hand=94
(2 Timothy 4:6).
Bart Goddard
bwme...@toast.net wrote in
news:10DA01EE-4D65-64E0...@art.srcbs.org:
>
>
>>> "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
>>> the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day; and not
>>> to me only, but to all them also who love his appearing." --- 2 Tim.
>>> 4:8.
>>>=20
>>> Henceforth --- an event of the future: not now.
>>
>>No, "hence" means "from here", so "henceforth" means
>>"from now on". Notice the word "now" in that. =20
>>
>>Another failed attempt at theology added to your perfect
>>record.
>>
>
> No; read the context. This blasphemy is utterly senseless, as usual.
>
> "will give to me at that day."
_You_ read the context. It's clear that the crown is NOW here.
The giving comes later, but "henceforth" means "from now on",
not "later". You said that "henceforth" specifically means
"not now." It's the exact opposite of what you said. As usual.
B.
--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.