2 Timothy 4:8

8. Henceforth Paul speaks as from the moment of his martyrdom. It is to be noted that he looks for his crown, not as bestowed in the intermediate and disembodied state, but as at the judgment. In the happiness of that intermediate state he fully believes, (Philippians 1:23,) but his thought glances to the advent as the time of his coronation.

Crown of righteousness So James 1:12, the crown of life. 1 Peter 5:4, the crown of glory; that crown so glorious as to be made of glory; a crown so living as to be made up of life; a crown so holy as to be made up of righteousness. In all these cases the blessedness bestowed upon the man is idealized into a crown.

Love his appearing For fearful as is that day to the wicked, so fearful that the righteous may well tremble, it is still to the latter the day of his vindication and his crown.

3. St. Paul’s personal relations to his fellows, 9-13.

Of the seven of his fellow labourers here noted, four had left him; one, Demas, voluntarily and blamably; two, Crescens and Titus, voluntarily, but unblamed; a fourth, Tychicus, sent away. One only, Luke, was with him, and two, Timothy and Mark, are requested to come to him.