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In II Tim. 2: 8 the Apostle appeals to Timothy himself to remember certain facts
concerning the great central theme of his message, and charges him to put his hearers in
remembrance of the self-same teaching (2: 14). Let us now consider more exactly what it
was that Paul was so anxious for Timothy to remember:
"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according
to my gospel" (II Tim. 2: 8).
While the A.V. reads, "Remember that Jesus Christ", thereby suggesting that Timothy
was to remember some fact about the Lord rather than the Lord Himself, the R.V. omits
the word "that", as does also the Companion Bible, in its margin. There is however good
reason for its retention. When Luke wrote "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17: 32), he
put the words "Lot's wife" in the genitive. Here, however, in II Tim. 2: 8, the words
"Jesus Christ" are put in the accusative. Timothy was called upon to remember, not so
much his Lord, but one or two particular facts about his Lord that were vital to his
ministry. In verse 18 of the same chapter the words that follow the verb "saying" are in
the accusative, and so the translation given in both the A.V. and the R.V is, "saying that
the resurrection is past already".
In the original text, these facts that Timothy was urged to remember, are in the
following order:
(1)
That He was raised from the dead.
(2)
That He was of the seed of David.
(3)
That these two facts must be kept together in their relation to that gospel which
Paul calls "My gospel".
From earliest times the literal, physical resurrection of our Lord from the dead, and the
reality of His human nature, were alike the subject of attack and denial. Docetism (from
dokein, "to seem") taught that the body of Christ was not real or material, but only an
appearance. But, intimately associated with the resurrection of Christ is the hope of His
people; so much so that to deny either is to destroy both. It matters not which way the
problem is stated, the result is the same.
"If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is
vain; ye are yet in your sins" (I Cor. 15: 16, 17).
That doubts concerning the literal fact of resurrection had already been entertained
and expressed in the Church is seen by reading verses 17 and 18 of this second chapter of
II Timothy.
"And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus; who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and
overthrow the faith of some" (II Tim. 2: 17, 18).
If he did not believe and maintain the glorious fact of the resurrection, it would have
been impossible for Timothy to have succeeded Paul, either as an evangelist or as a
minister of the Mystery. In II Tim. 1: the Apostle speaks of that gospel of which he had