Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 1:9

"who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal," — 2 Timothy 1:9 (ASV)

Who has saved us.—St. Paul now specifies the manner in which the power of God has been displayed towards us. This is an inclusive word, and encompasses all God’s dealings with us regarding our redemption. (See Notes on Titus 3:5.) Again, as so frequently in these Pastoral Epistles, the First Person of the blessed Trinity is referred to as the Saviour.

Us.—Paul and Timothy, and all who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, are included under “us.”

And called us with a holy calling.—This explains the means by which God was pleased to save St. Paul and Timothy. He called them. He—God the Father, to whom the act of calling is regularly ascribed (Galatians 1:6); and the calling is said to be “holy,” because it is a summons to share in the blessed communion of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). There is an inner as well as an outer calling; the “outer” comes through the preaching of the word, the inner by means of the voice of the Holy Ghost in the heart.

Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.—We are told in the next clause that “the grace” was given before the world began; therefore “our works” could have had nothing to do with the divine purpose which God had resolved upon.

As Chrysostom observes, “No one counselling with Him, but from His own purpose, the purpose originating in His own goodness.”

Calvin pithily remarks, “If God chose us before the creation of the world, He could not have considered the question of our works, which could have had no existence at a time when we ourselves did not exist.”

“But according to” (in pursuance of) “His own purposes,” with emphasis on “own”—that purpose which was prompted by nothing external, but which arose solely from the divine goodwill, or goodness, or love. (See Ephesians 1:11.) The “grace” here is almost equivalent to the “mercy” of Titus 3:5, according to His mercy He saved us.

Which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.—This grace was “given,” not “destined,” to us. It was given to us, in the person of Jesus Christ, before time existed, and when our Redeemer, in the fullness of time, appeared, it was then made manifest. “Before the world began”—quite literally, “before eternal times;” the meaning here is “from all eternity,” before times marked by the passing of unnumbered ages.