2 Timothy 2:10

αἰωνίου. The Vulgate Latin, with f, arm, aeth, and the margin of the Harclean Syriac, seem to bear witness to a reading οὐρανίου.

10. διὰ τοῦτο, wherefore, sc. because the work is going on, although the worker is bound in chains.

πάντα ὑπομένω, I endure all things; in the spirit of that charity of which he had himself said, πάντα ὑπομένει (1 Corinthians 13:7).

διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, for the elect’s sake, sc. for the sake of all those whom it is God’s purpose to bring to a knowledge of the Truth; cp. Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1. The uncertainty implied in the words which follow ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ σωτηρίας τύχωσιν shews that it is not in reference to an election to final salvation that St Paul uses the word ἐκλεκτοί; in his Epistles and also in 1 and 2 Peter, the words κλητοί and ἐκλεκτοί are continually used of the whole body of believers, ‘chosen’ and ‘Called’ by God to the privileges of the Gospel. See esp. Lightfoot on Colossians 3:12 and Hort on 1 Peter 1:1.

ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ σωτηρίας τύχωσιν κ.τ.λ., in order that they too, sc. as well as I, may obtain the salvation &c. The Apostle’s personal confidence is worthy of careful notice; cp. 2 Timothy 4:8.

τῆς ἐν Χρ. Ἰη. μετὰ δόξης αἰωνίου. The consummation of this salvation which is in Christ Jesus is eternal glory. In 2 Corinthians 4:17 he speaks of αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης as the issue of ‘our light affliction which is for the moment.’