Remember Jesus Christ
This phrase serves as a powerful reminder to Timothy and to all believers to keep Jesus at the forefront of their faith and ministry. The Greek word for "remember" (μνημονεύω) implies a continuous, active recollection. It is not merely a passive memory but an active, deliberate focus on Christ. In the historical context, Paul is writing from prison, facing the end of his life, and he emphasizes the centrality of Jesus in the Christian faith. This call to remember is a call to prioritize Jesus in all aspects of life and ministry, ensuring that He remains the foundation and focus.

raised from the dead
The resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming Jesus' victory over sin and death. The Greek term for "raised" (ἐγείρω) signifies not just a return to life but a divine act of power. Historically, the resurrection was a well-attested event, with numerous witnesses and accounts, forming the basis for the apostles' preaching. This phrase underscores the hope and assurance believers have in eternal life, as Jesus' resurrection is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20).

descended from David
This phrase highlights Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, affirming His messianic lineage. The Greek word for "descended" (ἐκ σπέρματος) literally means "from the seed," indicating a direct, physical lineage. This connection to David fulfills the prophecies of a Messiah who would come from David's line (2 Samuel 7:12-16). It situates Jesus within the historical and covenantal promises of God to Israel, affirming His rightful place as the promised King and Savior.

according to my gospel
Paul refers to "my gospel" to emphasize the message he has been entrusted to preach. The Greek word for "gospel" (εὐαγγέλιον) means "good news," and it is the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. By saying "my gospel," Paul personalizes the message, indicating his deep commitment and the unique revelation he received from Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Historically, this gospel was spreading throughout the Roman Empire, transforming lives and communities. It is a call to hold fast to the true gospel amidst false teachings and to proclaim it boldly.

(8) Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead.--More accurately rendered, Remember Jesus Christ . . . as raised (or, as one raised). The words of the Greek original, "of the seed of David," come after, not before, "was raised from the dead." The translation should run thus: Remember Jesus Christ as one raised from the dead, born of the seed of David. Timothy was to remember, was ever to bear in mind, two great facts. They were to be the foundation stones of his whole life's work. Remembering these in the hour of his greatest trouble, he was never to be cast down, but ever to take fresh courage. And the two facts he was to remember were: that Jesus Christ, for whose sake he suffered--like him, Timothy, or like St. Paul--was born of flesh and blood, and yet He had risen from the dead. Surely, in the hour of his weakness, such a thought would be sufficient to inspire him with comfort and courage. Two facts, then, are to be ever in Timothy's mind: the Resurrection and the Incarnation of his Lord. The thought of the first mentioned, "the Resurrection," would always be reminding him of his Master's victory over death and of His present glory. The thought of the second mentioned, "born of the seed of David," "the Incarnation," would ever be whispering to him, "Yes, and the risen and glorified One sprang, too, like himself, from mortal flesh and blood." The reason of the "Incarnation" being expressed in this special manner, "born of the seed of David," was to include another truth. The "risen One "was not only born of flesh and blood, but belonged to the very race specified in those prophets so revered by Timothy and the chosen people as the race from which should spring the Messiah: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth . . . and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:5-6). To raise the fainting heart of his much-tried disciple in this hour of discouragement, to supply a ground of confidence to yet unborn Christians, who in their day would be tried as Timothy was then, was the Apostle's first purpose when he pressed these thoughts on his son in the faith; but in the background, no doubt, there lay another purpose. These great comforting truths were to be maintained and taught in the presence of those false teachers who were ever ready to explain away or even to deny, then as now, the beginning and the end of the Son of God's life and ministry on earth--His Incarnation and His Resurrection.

According to my gospel.--This formula, for so it may be considered, occurs frequently in St. Paul's Epistles (Romans 2:16, and again Romans 16:25, and in other places), and, with very slight variations, in 1Timothy 1:11 and 1Corinthians 15:1. Jerome's remark, "As often as St. Paul in his Epistles writes 'according to my Gospel,' he refers to the volume of Luke," although received with reserve by many expositors, considering the weighty traditional evidence we possess of St. Luke's Gospel being in reality written by St. Paul, appears on the whole substantially correct. . . .

Verse 8. - Jesus Christ, risen from the dead for that Jesus Christ...was raised from the dead, A.V.; of the seed of David for Jesus Christ of the seed of David, A.V. Remember Jesus Christ. The A.V. seems to give the sense more correctly than the R.V. The point of the exhortation is to remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and by that remembrance to be encouraged to face even death courageously. The verb μνημονεύω, in the New Testament, usually governs the genitive case as e.g. Acts 20:35; Galatians 2:10. But in 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 16:9; Revelation 18:5, it has an accusative, as here, and commonly in classical Greek. There seems to be hardly sufficient ground for the distinction mentioned by Bishop Ellicott, that with a genitive it means simply "remember," with the accusative "keep in remembrance." It is more difficult to determine the exact force and intent of the clause, "of the seed of David." It seems, however, to point to Christ's human nature, so as to make the example of Christ's resurrection apposite as an encouragement to Timothy. And this view is much strengthened by Romans 1:3, where the addition, "according to the flesh," as contrasted with "the Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness," marks the clause, "of the seed of David," as specially pointing to the human nature of Christ. The particular form which the reference takes probably arises from the form to which the apostle refers us as "my gospel." In that creed, which was the epitome of the gospel as preached by St. Paul, there was no doubt mention made of Christ's Davidic descent. Others, as Huther, think the clause points to the Messianic dignity of David. Others that it is inserted in refutation of the Docetae, and to show the reality of the death and resurrection of Christ; or that it is meant to mark especially the fulfilment of prophecy. But the first explanation is quite satisfactory, and the general purpose of the reference to our Lord as intended to encourage Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, is fully borne out by the "faithful saying" in vers. 11 and 12, "If we died with him, we shall also live with him: if we endure, we shall also reign with him."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Remember
Μνημόνευε (Mnēmoneue)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3421: From a derivative of mneme; to exercise memory, i.e. Recollect; by implication, to punish; also to rehearse.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

Christ,
Χριστὸν (Christon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

raised
ἐγηγερμένον (egēgermenon)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1453: (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[the] dead,
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.

descended
σπέρματος (spermatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4690: From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.

from David,
Δαυίδ (Dauid)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.

as proclaimed by
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

gospel,
εὐαγγέλιόν (euangelion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2098: From the same as euaggelizo; a good message, i.e. The gospel.


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NT Letters: 2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)