Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 176:704 (Oct 2019)
Article: The Believer’s Judgment In 2 Timothy, Part 2
Author: Gregory A. Couser

BSac 176:704 (October-December 2019) p. 444

The Believer’s Judgment In 2 Timothy, Part 2

Greg A. Couser

Greg A. Couser is senior professor of New Testament and Greek, Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio.

Abstract

The first part of this article noted that the final eschatological judgment plays a central role in Paul’s advice to Timothy in 2 Timothy and looked at what 2 Timothy 1 reveals about the stakes of this judgment. Part 2 examines the remainder of 2 Timothy and draws conclusions about the nature of the final assize.

2 Timothy 2:11–13

In this passage Paul works out what Christ’s resurrection means for the life of the believer.1 In particular this passage spells out the already/not yet implications of the resurrection. This whole poetic structure depicts the interwoven character of the present and the future. The posture established and maintained by a person toward Christ now determines the future posture of Christ toward the person. Though the final judgment is not mentioned explicitly, it lies under the surface since someone decides the relationship of the present to the future. The σύν- compounds, from their wider use in Paul (cf. esp. Rom 6:8; Col 2:12–13), fit alongside the mention of “that one” (ἐκεῖνος) in the final lines to clarify that it is Christ who will bear witness to the believer’s present relationship to him before God in the end and/or will judge the believer based on that present relationship.2 The language of denial points

BSac 176:704 (October-December 2019) p. 445

to Christ’s role as witness. Christ will determine the believer’s standing with God in the eschaton by being a witness for the prosecution or the defense (cf. 2 Tim 1:18). A sharing with Christ in death (συναπεθάνομεν, aorist; a reference to conversion) means a future sharing in Christ’s presence and thus the fullness of eschatological life.3 An ongoing endurance in the present (ὑπομένομεν, present tense) in service to Christ means a future sharing in his reign (cf. 2 Tim 4:18; Matt 10:22; 24:13;