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He urges Timothy to increased zeal on account of his own approaching departure.

I. THE IMMINENCE OF HIS DEATH. "For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is at hand."

1. Mark the calmness with which the apostle contemplates a violent death. There is no tremor, or hurry, or impatience in his last days. The language is singularly composed. He knew that Nero would soon put an end to his life, for that monster of cruelty and crime was even then striking out wildly against the Christians. Nothing but an assured hope and a living faith could maintain the spirit in such trying circumstances.

2. The apostle is not too preoccupied with his own approaching sufferings to forget the cause for which he is now about to surrender his life. He is now more urgent than ever in his instructions to Timothy.

II. THE HAPPY RETROSPECT OF A USEFUL LIFE. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

1. The good fight ended.

(1) Every Christian is a soldier.

(2) He has to fight against the threefold enmity of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

(3) He overcomes through faith as his sole weapon (1 John 5:4, 5).

(4) There is a limit to the duration of the fight. Death ends it.

2. The race ended.

(1) It is a long race;

(2) a wearying race;

(3) yet a glorious race, because it has a happy ending.

3. The faith preserved.

(1) It is a precious deposit placed in our hands (2 Timothy 1:14).

(2) Errorists of all sorts are continually striving to wrest it out of our hands by their specious sophistries.

(3) Believers keep it safest who treasure it in their hearts as well as their minds.

III. THE BLESSED PROSPECTS IN STORE FOR HIM. "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day: and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved his appearing."

1. The reward. "The crown of righteousness."

(1) It was the symbol of excellence and glory.

(2) It was a recognition of the righteousness of the wearer.

It was not a crown of ambition. It was not won by inflicting miseries on the human race.

2. The certainty and manner of its bestowal.

(1) It is laid up in reserve securely for its wearers.

(2) It is conferred

(a) as matter of grace, for the Judge "awards" it of grace; and

(b) as matter of righteousness, for, as righteous Judge, he will not allow the works of believers to go unrewarded (Revelation 14:13).

3. The character of those receiving the reward. "Them that have loved his appearing."

(1) Believers do not dread Christ's appearance in judgment.

(2) They look forward with hope, satisfaction, and joy, to the day of final account.

(3) All who love him now will love him at his appearing, when they shall see him in his glory.

(4) The day of reward; the day of judgment. - T.C.

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KJV: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

WEB: For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.