2 Timothy 4:17 (DRB)

Passage

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching may be accomplished and that all the Gentiles may hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 4:15 Whom do thou also avoid: for he hath greatly withstood our words.

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer, no man stood with me: but all forsook me. May it not be laid to their charge!

2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching may be accomplished and that all the Gentiles may hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord hath delivered me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:19 Salute Prisca, and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "stood", "strengthened", "preaching", "accomplished", "gentiles", "hear", and "delivered". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "stood", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "At my first answer no man stood..." into verse 18's "The Lord hath delivered me from every...", so "lord" and "stood" 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 "lord" and "stood" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.