Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The apostle now emphasizes the solid foundation of truth. He declares that in spite of the subversion, God’s “solid foundation stands firm.” This foundation is either Christ Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 3:11) and his apostles (Revelation 21:14) or, more widely, the church (see 1 Timothy 3:15), which stands firm in spite of the waywardness of some of its members. The foundation is “sealed” with two inscriptions, two mutually complementary aspects. The first is the objective fact of God’s knowledge of those whom he has chosen; the second is the recognition in the consciousness of each individual of the relationship that he or she has with the Lord, together with his call to holiness (cf. 1:9).