Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 2:19

"Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness." — 2 Timothy 2:19 (ASV)

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure.—It is better rendered, Nevertheless God’s firm foundation stands. Nevertheless, that is to say, though some may be shaken in faith by the distressing teaching referred to above, yet assuredly God’s firm foundation stands unshaken. “The firm foundation laid by God” is the Church of Christ, which is here termed a foundation laid by God, because it, the Church of Christ, is the ground floor of the glorious Temple of the future.

In other words, the Church of Christ is here considered as the foundation of a far grander building, which, in the fullness of time, will rest upon its massive work . This ground floor, the cornerstone of which is Christ, “standeth” age after age, despite any efforts that may be made to destroy or even to shake it. The term “foundation,” used here for the Church of God on earth, is remarkable and points to a great truth: that, after all, this life is but a beginning, and that “His Church” here is but a foundation—only the first and early story of that glorious Church the Divine Architect has planned and will complete in heaven.

Having this seal.—It was a custom, which dates back to the very earliest times, to inscribe upon a building or a monument an inscription that told of its origin and purpose. In some cases, as in the oldest monuments of Egypt, the engraved writing told the name of the royal or priestly builder. So, in Revelation 21:14, we read how in the wall of the City of God there were twelve foundations, and on them were engraved the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

On this “foundation story,” of which Saint Paul was speaking, was carved a legible inscription in two sentences: one told of comfort and hope, reminding men that God would always know “His own;” the other told of duty, reminding men that “God’s own” had no share in unrighteousness. It is called “a seal” here instead of an inscription, because a seal best conveys the idea of the solemn binding character of the writing.

Jews were especially accustomed to seeing the words and promises of their God written or engraved on their doorposts and on their gates (Deuteronomy 11:20). See also the words of Job 19:24, where Job wished to have his most solemn declaration of faith engraved or sealed on a rock forever.

The Lord knoweth them that are his.—This was the first sentence of the inscription engraved on the foundation story. The words were probably a reminiscence of Numbers 16:5, but the thought here goes far deeper. God’s own people, as they read the words engraved on the foundation “with an iron pen and with lead forever,” are always reminded of their deepest, highest, truest comfort: “The Lord knoweth them that are His.” These words may be paraphrased: “He knows His own because He loves them;” He will never cease to know them, but will keep them forever and ever. Compare also the words of the Good Shepherd (John 10:14; John 10:27–29).

And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.—The thought and the words are from the Old Testament. The thought is expressed in a wider and more general form in Isaiah 52:11: “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing . . . Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord;” and for the words “nameth the name of the Lord,” see Isaiah 26:13. “Naming the name of Jesus” must be understood in the sense of the last clause of 1 Corinthians 12:3. In other words, this sentence of the inscription signifies that no one confessing with the heart that Jesus is Lord can commit iniquity deliberately—the two things are utterly incompatible. “Iniquity” here includes the teaching of those false men alluded to above, as their teaching led away from the truth and resulted in a lax and evil way of life.