2 Timothy 2:19

κυρίου. This is read by all the uncials and the versions; χριστοῦ of the rec. text has only scanty cursive authorities in its favour.

19. ὁ μέντοι στερεὸς θεμέλιος τοῦ θεοῦ ἕστηκεν. Howbeit, despite the subversion of some who are weak in the faith, the firm foundation of God standeth; not, as the A.V. has it, “the foundation of God standeth sure,” for στερεός is not the predicate here. This θεμέλιος τοῦ θεοῦ, ‘foundation laid by God,’ as the following words shew, is the Church, which remains firm (cp. 1 Timothy 3:15) despite the aberrations of individual members; cp. Hebrews 12:28. It is upon this foundation that the οἰκοδομνή or ‘building up’ of the faithful is based; cp. Ephesians 2:20, although the metaphor there is slightly different.

μέντοι is not found again in the Pauline Epistles, but is common in St John. στερεός also is used here only by St Paul (he has στερέωμα in Colossians 2:6), but occurs Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 5:14; 1 Peter 5:9.

ἔχων τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύην, having this seal. As the foundations of the New Jerusalem are said to have upon them the names of the Apostles (Revelation 21:14; cp. also Revelation 7:3), so this ‘foundation of God’ has a double inscription; cp. Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20.

Ἔγνω κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ. The Lord knoweth them that are His, a quotation from Numbers 16:5, words addressed by Moses in stern reproof to the rebellious Korah and his company, ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι of the Old Covenant. Cp. John 10:14; John 10:27; and, for γινώσκω as used in a sentence of judgement, Matthew 7:23.

καί· Ἀποστήτω�, and, Let everyone that nameth the Name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. This is not an exact quotation from any part of the O.T.; it resembles, however, several passages, e.g. Isaiah 52:11 and (in continuation of the parallel suggested in the previous quotation) Numbers 16:26; cp. also Isaiah 26:13. See crit. note.