2 Timothy 4 17

2 Timothy 4:17 kjv

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

2 Timothy 4:17 nkjv

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

2 Timothy 4:17 niv

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.

2 Timothy 4:17 esv

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

2 Timothy 4:17 nlt

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.

2 Timothy 4 verses

2 Timothy 4 17 Meaning

In 2 Timothy 4:17, the Apostle Paul declares that despite being abandoned by others during his first defense, the Lord Jesus Christ personally stood with him and provided the necessary strength. This divine intervention served a specific purpose: to enable Paul to fully proclaim the Gospel message, ensuring it was heard by all the Gentiles. As a direct result of this steadfast divine support, Paul was preserved from immediate deadly peril, symbolized as being "rescued from the lion's mouth." It signifies God's faithfulness in upholding His servant to fulfill His universal mission of grace.

2 Timothy 4 17 Context

This verse is situated in Paul's final epistle, written shortly before his death. In Chapter 4, Paul imparts solemn final instructions and charges to Timothy, urging him to continue faithfully in ministry and to guard the truth amidst widespread apostasy. Paul describes his own journey as nearing its end, like a finished race (v. 6-8). The immediate preceding verse (4:16) provides crucial contrast: "At my first defense, no one came to stand with me, but all deserted me." In this grave hour of human abandonment and extreme vulnerability, Paul vividly recounts the singular and profound faithfulness of the Lord. The historical context likely refers to Paul's initial trial before Roman authorities (possibly Nero's court) where, according to Roman legal custom, a defendant required supporters, yet Paul had none from among men. His ultimate concern, even in potential death, remains the progress and widespread hearing of the Gospel, particularly among Gentiles.

2 Timothy 4 17 Word analysis

• But (Greek: Alla): This conjunctive emphatically contrasts with the previous verse (2 Tim 4:16), where human abandonment is highlighted. It signifies a radical shift from human failure to divine faithfulness, underscoring God's singular loyalty.
• the Lord (Greek: Ho Kyrios): Refers directly to Jesus Christ, Paul's ultimate authority and source of life. In Pauline theology, Christ's lordship is absolute, embodying divine power and presence.
• stood with me (Greek: paresmenos moi): From paristēmi, meaning "to stand beside," "to present," or "to assist." It implies active, supportive presence, not just observation. It denotes unwavering solidarity, especially crucial in a courtroom setting where legal support was vital. This highlights Christ's intimate involvement.
• and strengthened me (Greek: kai enedynamōsen me): From enedynamoō, meaning "to empower," "to enable," or "to make strong within." This is a past tense, indicative verb, signifying a definite act of imparting divine strength. This strengthening enabled Paul to perform the arduous task of proclaiming the gospel despite fear, weakness, or opposition.
• so that (Greek: hina): A purpose clause. This is key, as it explains the why behind the Lord's intervention. God's support was not just for Paul's personal comfort but for a greater, specific mission.
• through me (Greek: di' emou): Paul was merely the instrument, the channel. The power and initiative belonged to the Lord. It maintains Paul's humility and emphasizes the divine agency in evangelism.
• the message (Greek: to kerygma): Refers to the preached content of the Gospel, the proclamation of salvation through Christ. It's the core truth of Christianity that Paul was commissioned to declare.
• might be fully proclaimed (Greek: plerophorethe): From plerophoreō, meaning "to be fully assured," "to carry to the full," or "to be fully accomplished/realized." In this context, it suggests the message being fully, powerfully, and clearly delivered, completing its appointed course or reaching its maximum impact.
• and all the Gentiles (Greek: kai panta ta ethnē): Emphasizes the universal scope of the Gospel and Paul's specific apostolic calling. "Gentiles" (nations) highlights the inclusion of non-Jewish peoples into God's salvation plan.
• might hear it (Greek: akousōsin): To hear, often implying to understand and heed, not merely to perceive sound. It speaks to the reception of the message by its intended audience.
• So (Greek: kai): As a consequence or result. It links God's purpose for proclamation with Paul's deliverance.
• I was rescued (Greek: erysthēn): From rhyomai, meaning "to rescue," "to deliver," or "to snatch from danger." A definite act of salvation from a specific peril.
• from the lion's mouth (Greek: ek stomatos leontos): This is a vivid metaphor. While some ancient interpretations considered a literal lion in the arena (e.g., during persecution), it's far more commonly understood as symbolic for extreme, life-threatening danger. Potential interpretations include:
  • Nero: The Emperor of Rome, who was like a ravenous beast persecuting Christians.
  • Satan: The devil, who "prowls around like a roaring lion" (1 Pet 5:8).
  • Grave Peril/Death: Any severe, life-threatening situation or imminent execution.
  • The Power of Darkness: The forces of opposition arrayed against the Gospel.It encapsulates a formidable and imminent threat from which God provided specific deliverance.

2 Timothy 4 17 Bonus section

• God's Sovereignty in Deliverance: Paul's deliverance here was conditional – not to escape suffering entirely (as he was eventually martyred), but specifically for the continuation and completion of his vital mission of gospel proclamation. This demonstrates God's sovereign hand in allowing or delaying physical death based on His broader purposes.
• Paul's unshaken purpose: Even in the shadow of death and deep betrayal, Paul's central focus remains the furtherance of the Gospel to the Gentiles. His personal suffering is secondary to the divine commission.
• Divine Contrast to Human Frailty: This verse starkly contrasts human abandonment (v.16) with divine loyalty. When human support vanishes, the Lord's presence is unwavering, highlighting the foundational reliability of Christ.
• Martyrdom vs. Mission: The "lion's mouth" experience served as a reprieve. Paul was delivered from that particular immediate peril, not from his eventual martyrdom, showing that God sometimes delivers through circumstances and other times from them, all according to His perfect will for the mission.

2 Timothy 4 17 Commentary

2 Timothy 4:17 stands as a powerful testament to divine faithfulness amidst human abandonment and peril. Paul, in the face of imminent execution and having been forsaken by all earthly companions at his first Roman defense, does not wallow in self-pity but immediately turns his focus to the unwavering presence of the Lord. The Lord's active presence, described as "standing with me," is a direct counter to the "all deserted me" of the preceding verse, highlighting Christ's ultimate loyalty. This divine companionship was not merely for Paul's comfort, but specifically for the empowerment of his calling: to ensure the full proclamation of the Gospel to all Gentiles. God's strengthening was purpose-driven; it allowed Paul to carry out his ministry even under duress. His rescue from the "lion's mouth" (a vivid metaphor for extreme danger, perhaps from imperial decree, Satan, or imminent death) was not an end in itself but a means by which the Gospel could continue its vital advance. This verse reminds believers that God's preservation and intervention are fundamentally linked to His redemptive purposes, and He sustains His servants until their appointed task is fulfilled.