This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Ver. 1. _Perilous times_] Gr. καιροι χαλεποι, hard times. Hard hearts make hard times. _Eiusmodi tempera descripsit_ (saith Casaubon of Tacitus, and the same may we say of St Paul) _quibus nulla unquam aut virtutum steriliora, aut vir... [ Continue Reading ]
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Ver. 2. _Lovers of their own selves_] This sinful self-love is the root of all the rest that follow in this black beadroll. _ Boasters_] Or, arrogant, as that Pyrgopolyn... [ Continue Reading ]
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Ver. 3. _Without natural affection, &c._] True Christians live soberly, as touching themselves, righteously toward men, and godly towards their God, Titus 2:12. But these antipodes _a_ a... [ Continue Reading ]
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Ver. 4. _Heady_] Head long and head strong, rash and inconsiderate, _Qui non vident_ προσσω και οπισσω, that look not well about them, but make desperate adventures. The Greek word προπετεις signifieth such as fly before they... [ Continue Reading ]
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Ver. 5. _Having a form of godliness_] Hollow professors are as hollow trees in an old wood; tall, but pithless, sapless, unsound. Their formality is fitly compared to a bulrush, whereof the colour is fresh, the skin smo... [ Continue Reading ]
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ver. 6. _Creep into houses_] Gr. ενδυνοντες, shoot themselves into the inner rooms of houses, _qui sese immergunt, _ by their pithanology and counterfeit humility, as the Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Ver. 7. _Ever learning, and never able_] Because resolved not to lose their lusts. _Intus existens prohibebat alienum; _ there was that within that kept out holy learning. It was therefore an excellent prayer of holy Zuinglius bef... [ Continue Reading ]
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. Ver. 8. _Now as Jannes and Jambres_] Numenius the Pythagorean calleth him Mambres. These were those Egyptian sorcerers: their names St Paul had either by tradition, or... [ Continue Reading ]
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all _men_, as theirs also was. Ver. 9. _As theirs also was_] Exodus 8:19. When they were set, and could not with all their skill make a louse, but by further resistance manifested their folly unto all men. So did that magicia... [ Continue Reading ]
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Ver. 10. _But thou hast fully known_] παρηκολουθηκας. Or, thou hast exactly trod in my track, followed my footsteps; as Irenaeus did Polycarp's, as Paraeus did Ursin's; whence Paulus Melissus,... [ Continue Reading ]
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of _them_ all the Lord delivered me. Ver. 11. _What persecutions I endured_] Gr. οιους, what manner of persecutions. A Christian may without sin be sensible of injuries and indignit... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Ver. 12. _Yea, and all that will live_] Carry they the matter never so discreetly, they must suffer. Many dream of a delicacy, they conceit a godly life without persecution. These would pull a rose without pricks. _Armat sp... [ Continue Reading ]
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Ver. 13. _Shall wax worse and worse_] _In deterius proficient, _ a sorry kind of profiting, _quando Andabatarum more res procedat._ Thus the Illuminates (as they called themselves), a pestilent sect in Arragon, prof... [ Continue Reading ]
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned _them_; Ver. 14. _But continue thou, &c._] Gr. μενε. Abide, keep thy station. Thou shalt surely be put to it, as that prophetic man in the ecclesiastical history went to the pillars a... [ Continue Reading ]
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Ver. 15. _And that from a child_] Gr. απο βρεφους, from a suckling. As all children, so those especially that are dedicated to the work of the ministry,... [ Continue Reading ]
All scripture _is_ given by inspiration of God, and _is_ profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Ver. 16. _All Scripture is given_] Gr. Θεοπνευστος, breathed by God, both for matter and words. What frontless heretics then are our upstart anti-scriptur... [ Continue Reading ]
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Ver. 17. _That the man of God_] The minister, and so consequently the people too, for whose use the minister hath all. This is observed of them, that still the scholar goes one step farther than the teacher. _ May be perf... [ Continue Reading ]