2 Timothy 4:17

the Lord stood with me Again took my part.

strengthened me -Infused strength into me." Cf. 1 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 4:13.

the preaching might be fully known Lit. - the message preached," as in Titus 1:3. The neuter form of the noun requires this. Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21 -through the foolishness of the preaching," where R.V. has only altered -preaching" into -the preaching." Accordingly A.V. may stand here. -Fully known" is the same word as in 2 Timothy 4:5, -fully performed"; indeed thus was made the proclamation of the name of Christ -before the Gentiles and kings" (Acts 9:15) in the world's capital, before its highest magistrates, on a supreme trial of life and death.

out of the mouth of the lion R.V. rightly lion. The phrase comes from Psalms 22:21 and therefore has no defined limitof reference such as -the lion of the amphitheatre," or -Nero," or -Satan," though, it is true, the popular cry against the Christians later was -Christianos ad leonem," Tertull. Apol. c. 40; and the phrase used of the death of Tiberius earlier was -the lion is dead," Jos. Ant. xviii. 6. 10; and Satan going about to frighten the saint out of his -good confession" is called -a roaring lion, 1 Peter 5:8. -The lion's mouth" is each and all of these; the evil within and the evil without, -all adversities which may happen to the body, and all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul" (Collect 2nd S. in Lent).