2 Timothy 1:10

‘But has now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who has abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,’

The idea here is magnificent. First the preparation and purpose in eternity past in the mind of God, and now its glorious manifestation by the first ‘appearing’ of our Saviour Christ Jesus (John 1:14), resulting in the nullifying of the power of death, and the bringing to men of life and immortality as revealed in the Gospel. This is God’s Good Tidings to men (Luke 2:10-11).

‘Has now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus.’ In the coming of ‘our Saviour, the Messiah Jesus’ into the world God has opened up and revealed His eternal purposes (compare Matthew 1:21; John 3:17; Romans 8:3-4; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:1-18; 1 John 1:1-4).

And thus, for all who are His, death has been nullified, its power has been broken, it has been rendered ineffective (Hebrews 2:15). And in its place is life from the very Source of life Himself (John 5:21), and immortality from the One Who alone has immortality (1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:16). ‘Life and immortality’ from God. It is the very best that can be. You are not ‘worth it’ but it is freely given in Him. For ‘he who has the Son has life’ (1 John 5:12). So there is no need to climb into the Heavens to bring Christ down. There is no need for flights into fantasies of esoteric ‘knowledge’. This life was now here on earth in Him and through Him. All that was necessary was to ‘know Him’, first through His life and teaching, and then as the risen Saviour, and to respond to Him (2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 3:10; compare John 14:7; 1 John 2:3-4).

‘Abolished death.’ The verb in the metaphorical sense used here is a favourite of Paul’s and rare outside Paul. The thought is of the nullifying of the power of death. In 1 Corinthians 15:26 Paul tells us that the last enemy which will be nullified is death. The thought is not that death will not touch the Christian, but that it will not swallow him up. Instead of being the tyrant it will have become rather the gateway to life, and one day it will be no more. For the connection of light with life and immortality compare John 1:4; John 8:12; 1 John 1:1-5