2 Timothy Chapter 4, Verse 16
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16: εν τη πρωτη μου απολογια ουδεις μοι συμπαρεγενετο αλλα παντες με εγκατελιπον μη αυτοις λογισθειη
16: At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook
me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
16: At my first answer, no man stood with me: but all forsook me. May
it not be laid to their charge!
At my first answer. Or, apology, apologia, plea, or defence. This evidently refers to some trial which he had had before the Roman emperor. He speaks of a first trial of this kind; but whether it was on some former occasion, and he had been released and permitted again to go abroad, or whether it was a trial which he had already had during his second imprisonment, it is not easy to determine. The former is the most natural supposition; for, if he had had a trial during his present imprisonment, it is difficult to see why he was still held as a prisoner. See this point examined in the Intro., & 1.
No man stood with me. Paul had many friends in Rome, 2 Tim 4:21; comp. Romans Chapter 16; but it seems that they did not wish to appear as such when he was put on trial for his life. They were, doubtless, afraid that they would be identified with him, and would endanger their own lives. It should be said that some of the friends of the apostle, mentioned in Romans Chapter 16, and who were there when that epistle was written, may have died before the apostle arrived there, or, in the trials and persecutions to which they were exposed, may have left the city. Still, it is remarkable that those who were there should have all left him on so trying an occasion. But to forsake a friend in the day of calamity is not uncommon, and Paul experienced what thousands before him and since have done. Thus Job was forsaken by friends and kindred in the day of his trials. See his pathetic description in Job 19:13ff.
Thus the Psalmist was forsaken by his friends in the time of calamity, Ps 3512ff, Ps 3811, Ps 419, Ps 5512.
And thus Jesus was forsaken in his trials, Mt 26:66. Comp., for illustration, Zech 13:6. The world is full of instances in which those who have been overtaken by overwhelming calamities, have been forsaken by professed friends, and have been left to suffer alone. This has arisen, partly, from the circumstance that many sincere friends are timid, and their courage fails them when their attachment for another would expose them to peril; but more commonly from the circumstance that there is much professed friendship in the world which is false, and that calamity becomes a test of it which it cannot abide. There is professed friendship which is caused by wealth, (Prov 14:20, Prov 19:4;) there is that which is cherished for those in elevated and fashionable circles; there is that which is formed for beauty of person, or graceful manners, rather than for the solid virtues of the heart; there is that which is created in the sunshine of life -- the affection of those "swallow friends, who retire in the winter, and return in the spring." Comp. the concluding remarks on the book of Job. Such friendship is always tested by calamity; and when affliction comes, they, who in the days of prosperity were surrounded by many flatterers and admirers, are surprised to find how few there were among them who truly loved them.
I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. That it may not be reckoned, or imputed to them -- logisyeih. On the meaning of this word, "Rom 4:3, "Pmon 1:18".
The prayer of the apostle here breathes the very spirit of Christ. "Lk 23:34". Comp. Acts 7:60.
