Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, Ver. 1. _Paul, an apostle, &c._] The preface of this Epistle seems to be an abridgment of that of the Epistle to the Romans. _See Trapp on "_ Rom 1:1 _"_ Which is in Christ Jesus] All ou... [ Continue Reading ]
To Timothy, _my_ dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, _and_ peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Ver. 2. _Grace, mercy, and peace_] _See Trapp on "_ 1Ti 1:2 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
I thank God, whom I serve from _my_ forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Ver. 3. _Whom I serve from my forefathers_] Those twelve tribes, that served God instantly, day and night, Acts 26:7. That was a desperate resolution of... [ Continue Reading ]
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; Ver. 4. _Being mindful of thy tears_] Timothy was a man of many tears, so was David, Paul, Luther, Bradford, of whom it is said, that he did seldom eat but be bedewed his trencher with tears, and that few days... [ Continue Reading ]
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Ver. 5. _In thy grandmother Lois, and mother_] A sweet happiness to any child to have a good mother and grandmother. For these have... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Ver. 6. _Stir up the gift_] Blow up thy smaller spark into a flame. Grace in us is like a dull seacoal fire, saith one, which if not now and then blown and stirred up, though there... [ Continue Reading ]
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Ver. 7. _The spirit of fear_] δειλειας, called elsewhere the spirit of bondage, δουλειας, Romans 8:15. The law will convince the judgment; but it is the gospel that convinceth the lust and the affection.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Ver. 8. _Afflictions of the gospel_] Affliction is _Evangelii genius, _ a type of the gospel, saith Calvin; hence it is called "th... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath saved us, and called _us_ with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, Ver. 9. _With a holy calling_] All that follows (to those words in the end of 2 Timothy 1:10; "through the gosp... [ Continue Reading ]
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Ver. 10. _By the appearing_] By his coming in the flesh; of which also the Psalmist speaketh, Psalms 96:13 . _ Brought life and immort... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. Ver. 11. _A teacher of the Gentiles_] His writings therefore should be the more highly prized and studied by us Gentiles, as being properly ours; like as Psalms 127:1, was a song made (specially) for Solomon.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Ver. 12. _I know whom I have trusted_] Here was not a faint hope, or a conjectural confiden... [ Continue Reading ]
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Ver. 13. _Hold fast the form_] The catechistical principles, that method, system, short sum of divinity, that St Paul had compiled for Timothy's use; called here not only a form, τυπος υποτυπ... [ Continue Reading ]
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. Ver. 14. _The good thing that was, &c._] Thy crown of recompence, Revelation 3:11. Or thy converts, thy crown of rejoicing, 1 Thessalonians 2:19. Or the purity of thy doctrine, 1 Timothy 6:20. The gospel is C... [ Continue Reading ]
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. Ver. 15. _All they which are in Asia_] All the ministers there. These stars fell from heaven, Revelation 6:13, as fast as the fig tree makes abort, with any never so light and gentle a w... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: Ver. 16. _He oft refreshed me_] Gr. ανεψυξε, poured cold water upon me, as that angel did upon the racked limbs of Theodorus the martyr, mentioned by Socrates and Ruffinus in the days of Jul... [ Continue Reading ]
But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found _me_. Ver. 17. _He sought me out very diligently_] σπουδαιοτερον, with vehement desire and intention of affection, not as a coward seeks after his enemy, whom he hopes he shall never find, but as Saul sought David, or as the wise... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. Ver. 18. _The Lord_] That is, God the Father "grant he may find mercy of the Lord," that is, of God the Son, as "Jehovah from Jehovah," Genesis 19... [ Continue Reading ]