John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 1:10

"but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel," — 2 Timothy 1:10 (ASV)

But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. Observe how appropriately he connects the faith which we have from the gospel with God’s secret election, and assigns to each of them its own place. God has now called us by the gospel, not because he has suddenly taken counsel about our salvation, but because he had so determined from all eternity. Christ has now “appeared” for our salvation, not because the power of saving has been recently bestowed on him, but because this grace was laid up in him for us before the creation of the world. The knowledge of these things is revealed to us by faith; and so the Apostle judiciously connects the gospel with the most ancient promises of God, so that novelty may not make it contemptible.

But it is asked: “Were the fathers under the Law ignorant of this grace?” For if it was revealed only by the coming of Christ, it follows that, before that time, it was concealed. I reply, Paul speaks of the full exhibition of the thing itself on which the faith of the fathers also depended, so that this takes nothing from them.

The reason why Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and all believers obtained the same faith as us was that they placed their confidence in this “appearance.” Thus, when he says that “grace has been revealed to us by the appearing of Christ,” he does not exclude from communion with that grace the fathers who are made partakers with us of this appearing by the same faith.

Christ (Hebrews 13:8) was yesterday as he is today; but he did not manifest himself to us by his death and resurrection before the time appointed by the Father. To this, as the only pledge and accomplishment of our salvation, both our faith and that of the fathers look with one accord.

Who has indeed destroyed death. When he ascribes to the gospel the manifestation of life, he does not mean that we must begin with the word, leaving out of view the death and resurrection of Christ (for the word, on the contrary, rests on the subject matter), but he only means that the fruit of this grace comes to men in no other way than by the gospel, in accordance with what is said: God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).

And has brought to light life and immortality by the gospel. It is a high and remarkable commendation of the gospel that it “brings life to light.” To life he adds immortality; as if he had said, “a true and immortal life.”

But, perhaps, it may be thought better that by life we understand regeneration, that is followed by a blessed immortality which is also the object of hope. And, indeed, this is our “life,” not that which we have in common with brute beasts, but that which consists in partaking of the image of God.

But because in this world “it doth not appear” (1 John 3:2) what is the nature, or what is the value of that “life,” for the sake of more full expression he has most properly added “immortality,” which is the revelation of that life which is now concealed.