2 Timothy 2:19 - Exposition

Howbeit for nevertheless, A.V.; firm foundation of God standeth for foundation of God standeth sure, A.V.; this for the, A.V.; the Lord for Christ, A.V. and T.R.; unrighteousness for iniquity, A.V. The firm foundation of God standeth; i.e., though the faith of some is thrown down like a wall built with untempered mortar, the foundation which God has laid fast and firm stands unmoved and unmovable. This is equally true of individual souls (the at στερεαὶ ψυχαί of Chrysostom), and of the Church, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. Compare our Lord's saying, when the Pharisees were offended at him, "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up" ( Matthew 15:13 ); and those in John 10:28 , John 10:29 ; and 1 John 2:19 . θεμέλιος in classical Greek is always an adjective agreeing with λίθος expressed or understood. In the New Testament it is used only as a substantive ( Luke 6:48 ; 1 Corinthians 3:10 ; 1 Timothy 6:19 , etc.). Here the word seems to be employed, not so much to denote a foundation on which a house was to be built, as to denote strength and solidity. The elect of God are like foundationstones, which may not be moved. Having this seal. In Revelation 12:14 the twelve foundationstones of the new Jerusalem were each inscribed with the name of an apostle. In like manner there are inscriptions, of the nature of seals, on God's strong foundations, showing their immutable condition. One is, " THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS ," taken verbatim from the LXX . of Numbers 16:5 : the other is, " LET EVERY ONE THAT NAMETH THE NAME OF THE LORD DEPART FROM UNRIGHTEOUSNESS ," This is nowhere to be found in the Old Testament.

The first part of the verse is indeed equivalent to κύριε τὸ ὀνομά σου ὀνομάζομεν in Isaiah 26:13 , but there is nothing to answer to the second part. The passages quoted by commentators from Numbers 16:26 and Isaiah 52:11 are far too general to indicate any particular reference. Possibly the motto is one of those "faithful sayings" before referred to. The two inscriptions, taken together, show the two sides of the Christian standing—God's election, and man's holiness.