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I desire to speak to you on the importance of connecting the fact of the Saviour's resurrection with two other facts, namely, first, that Christ was of the seed of David, and secondly, that the resurrection of Christ is so essential a part of the gospel of Christ that the one may be described as according with the other. There can be no dispute that it could not be needful for St. Paul to characterise Jesus as of the seed of David, in order to distinguish Him from any other being whom the name might recall to the mind of Timothy. I deny, therefore, altogether, that there is anything whatsoever of the fanciful or the far-fetched in our ascribing any particular emphasis to this casual introduction of the human lineage of Messiah. I look on the name of Jesus, and its every syllable seems to burn and blaze with divinity. I may explain and interpret it; I may expound it as promising salvation, as eloquent of deliverance to our fallen race; but in exact proportion as I magnify the wonder, I remove, as it were, the being unto whom it belongs from all kindred and companionship with the sinful tenantry of a ruined creation. The title of anointed Saviour, full though it be of magnificent mercy, consisting of attributes and principles bearing the impress of a superhuman greatness; and, however stupendous the truth, that Deity has interposed on behalf of the helpless, still the Saviour of man must be one who could hold communion and fellowship with man; He must not be separated from him by the appalling attributes which mark a Divine Creator. If there must be a celestial nature to afford the succour, there must also be a terrestrial nature to ensure the sympathy. Hence, I think it just to imagine that when the apostle sent to a beloved disciple this short compendium of Christian consolation, which he desired might be carefully borne in mind, he would not fail to interweave into such compendium a distinct reference to the complex nature of the Redeemer's person; and, not content himself with referring him to Jesus Christ, he would add some such description as this — "of the seed of David," in order to mark His real humanity. There is, however, a distinct allusion to other truths, as well as to the Redeemer's humanity, in this accurate specification. It is a wonderful thing to cast one's eye over the prophetic pages and behold how years past and years that are to come do alike burn with the deeds and triumphs of David's Son, under the name and title of a descendant from the man after God's own heart. It concerns not my argument to examine into the reasons which might induce the frequent introduction of the name of David whenever the triumphs of Messiah are the subject of discourse. I appeal simply to the fact, and demand of every student of Holy Writ whether there be any title under which prophecy tenders so vast revenue of honour as it does to the seed, or heir, or antitype of David. Truly, the more the mind ponders over the combination of ideas which are gathered into this apparently brief and superfluous message of Paul to Timothy, the more will it be struck with the beauty and consolation it conveys. Now, I have dealt at sufficient length on the first head of discourse; and much that I have advanced in illustration of the importance of the clause, "of the seed of David," applies equally to the other, "according to my gospel," which I would, in the second place, exhibit to you, as giving strength and emphasis to St. Paul's commemoration of the death and resurrection of our Saviour. You remember the strong terms in which St. Paul, when writing to the Corinthians, states the importance of the resurrection as an article of the Christian faith. He may be said to resolve the whole of our religion, all its truth, all its value, all its beauty, into the one fact that Christ Jesus had been raised from the dead. "If Christ be not raised" — thus it is he speaks — "your faith is in vain; you are yet in your sins: then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." By stating the fact that life and immortality have been brought to light by the gospel, to which I suppose St. Paul to allude when he speaks of Christ Jesus as "raised from the dead according to my gospel," I suppose him designing to remind his son Timothy, not so much of the simple truth of the Saviour's resurrection as of the colouring and character which this event gave to the whole system of Christianity.

(H. Melvill, B. D.)

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KJV: Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

WEB: Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Good News,