II Timothy 4:8

a crown--rather as Greek, "the crown." The "henceforth" marks the decisive moment; he looks to his state in a threefold aspect: (1) The past "I have fought"; (2) The immediate present; "there is laid up for me." (3) The future "the Lord will give in that day" [BENGEL]. crown--a crown, or garland, used to be bestowed at the Greek national games on the successful competitor in wrestling, running, &c. (compare Pe1 5:4; Rev 2:10). of righteousness--The reward is in recognition of righteousness wrought in Paul by God's Spirit; the crown is prepared for the righteous; but it is a crown which consists in righteousness. Righteousness will be its own reward (Rev 22:11). Compare Exo 39:30. A man is justified gratuitously by the merits of Christ through faith; and when he is so justified God accepts his works and honors them with a reward which is not their due, but is given of grace. "So great is God's goodness to men that He wills that their works should be merits, though they are merely His own gifts" [POPE CELESTINE I., Epistles, 12]. give--Greek, "shall award" in righteous requital as "Judge" (Act 17:31; Co2 5:10; Th2 1:6-7). in that day--not until His appearing (Ti2 1:12). The partakers of the first resurrection may receive a crown also at the last day, and obtain in that general assembly of all men, a new award of praise. The favorable sentence passed on the "brethren" of the Judge, who sit with Him on His throne, is in Mat 25:40, taken for granted as already awarded, when that affecting those who benefited them is being passed [BENGEL]. The former, the elect Church who reign with Christ in the millennium, are fewer than the latter. The righteous heavenly Judge stands in contrast to the unrighteous earthly judges who condemned Paul. me--individual appropriation. Greek, "not…

4:8 Only one thing remained for Paul: the victor’s crown (see also Jas 1:12; 1 Pet 5:4; Rev 2:10; 3:11). • If we live expecting that Christ is indeed coming again, we can eagerly look forward to his appearing (see 1 Tim 6:14) to set up his kingdom (2 Tim 4:1). If we don’t follow Christ’s commands, we cannot look forward to his coming as Judge and King.