2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV)

Passage

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "henceforth", "laid", "crown", "righteousness", "lord", "judge", and "shall". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "henceforth" and "laid", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "I have fought a good fight I..." into verse 9's "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto...", so "henceforth" and "laid" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "henceforth" and "laid" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.