2 Timothy 4 - Introduction
Apostolic Succession and Fellowship... [ Continue Reading ]
Apostolic Succession and Fellowship... [ Continue Reading ]
_I charge_thee _therefore_ Read I CHARGE THEE, omitting the pronoun and conjunction. The stress is on the verb itself, more marked and solemn because placed quite abruptly; almost therefore, -I adjure thee." For the meaning and use, see on 2 Timothy 2:14. _and the Lord Jesus Christ_ The best mss. h... [ Continue Reading ]
The last appeal. The same warning. The old example The three main thoughts (see 2 Timothy 3:1) recur, but with added intensity, in this last brief _appeal_, and _warning_, and _example_. Similarly in 1 Timothy 6:20 observe the -aculeus in fine." -Play the man thyself; beware the lives and tongues o... [ Continue Reading ]
_preach the word_ The _unconnected_aorist is emphatic; so is the _aorist_, to indicate the -verb thought" standing out with prominence; -I adjure thee, remember preaching, persisting, reproving, rebuking, rousing, to it, in God's name!" If the tenses had been present, the stress would have been diff... [ Continue Reading ]
_sound doctrine_ THE SOUND DOCTRINE as in 1 Timothy 1:10, where see note. _but after their own lusts_ Vulg. -ad sua desideria," in opposition to the healthful doctrine. Compare the same phrase in the singular, James 1:14, -Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed." R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_shall turn away_their _ears_ Better WILL. The word for -ears" here and above is literally -the hearing"; it is used in classical Greek for -ear" when there is reference to the act of hearing, not merely as a member of the body. See Alford on Hebrews 5:11, who quotes Philo i. 474, -they have ears bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_But watch thou_ Exactly and fully, BUT THOU, BE THOU WATCHFUL AND SOBER, combining A.V. and R.V., and emphasising the pronoun. The proper force of the verb is certainly -sobriety" literal and then metaphorical. See note on the adjective, 1 Timothy 3:2. The metaphorical sobriety is in effect -watchf... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I am now ready to be offered_ The present tense is still more vivid, and so the personal pronoun FOR AS TO ME I AM ALREADY BEING OFFERED; and the Greek word means -am being poured out as a drink-offering." St Paul recalls the thought and very phrase of his letter to Philippi in the first captiv... [ Continue Reading ]
-I have appealed to you by the _warning_of the evil times and teachers that will be: I appeal to you now by the _example_of the good times and the good teacher that have been. Let my mantle fall on you, my days are numbered.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a good fight_ THE GOOD FIGHT, see 1 Timothy 6:12, where the metaphor is discussed; the second clause here, -I have finished the course," certainly suggests that the foot-race is to be the chief thought in the -games contest," -the fair race "tis run; the course "tis finished; the faith "tis kept" m... [ Continue Reading ]
_henceforth_ Or, -it remains only that" as in Matthew 26:45, in the Garden of Gethsemane -it remains only for you to sleep on," -there is nothing else to be done." St Paul commonly uses the word (with and without the article) to introduce the closing words of exhortation in his Epistles, 2 Corinthia... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do thy diligence_ The same verb as in Titus 3:12 and below 2 Timothy 4:21. -Make an earnest effort," -do thy best." Compare the use in Galatians 2:10, -this was my own heartfelt desire." _shortly_ Further defined 2 Timothy 4:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
The scattering of friends. Entreaty for Timothy's presence. Assurance of the Lord's present help The connexion is: -Do your best to come to me to come with all speed to come before the winter stops you lest it be too late. But for Luke, I am all alone. One by one they of Asia have left me. Yet I am... [ Continue Reading ]
_Demas_ Very likely a shortened form of Demetrius; two persons of the name occur in N.T., Acts 19:24, the silversmith of Ephesus, and, 3 John 1:12, the bearer possibly of that letter, one to whose character all bore testimony, which St John himself ratified. The Demetrius or Demas here seems to occu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Only Luke_ Lucas is a contraction of Lucanus, which occurs frequently in inscriptions, and may indicate the position of a _libertus_or freedman: many such, we know, were the house physicians, the profession, as such, being in very little esteem. See Plaut. _Menæchm_. 2 Timothy 4:3-5, and cf. Bekker... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tychicus_ The accent of the word shews it to be formed from the noun for -chance"; as with us a common surname is Chance. Tychicus, a native of proconsular Asia (Acts 20:4), went with St Paul on the third missionary journey to Jerusalem, perhaps as a delegate from his own Church; was with him towa... [ Continue Reading ]
_The cloke_ Vulg. -penulam." The oldest use of the word is traced back beyond the Latins nearly to the time of Alexander the Great, in a fragment of a Doric poet, Rhinthon (Julius Pollux _Onomast_. vii. 60). Hence the Latin must have adopted it from the Greek, not _vice versa_. The Roman _paenula_wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_did me much evil_ The Greek word has a technical meaning, -impeached," -indicted," and so it is sometimes rendered here -laid many grievous things to my charge"; but it is in the simpler sense, - _shewed me_much mischief," that the verb is used nine times by St Paul. Cf. 1 Timothy 1:16; Titus 2:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
Dr Farrar's suggestion for the link of connexion is possible, that St Paul's second arrest took place at Troas, and that such an one as Alexander the coppersmith could easily have procured his arrest, and when suddenly seized by the lictors at Troas he could have had no time to take away his possess... [ Continue Reading ]
_hath greatly withstood_ The aorist should be read for the perfect, HE WITHSTOOD. There is apparently an antithesis intended between Alexander's -works" of mischief and the Apostle's -words." It does not seem to be false teaching that is referred to therefore, but (we may conjecture) evil _action_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_At my first answer_ This should not be referred to any preliminary trial at Ephesus or elsewhere, but to the -prima actio" of the main case at Rome before Nero or his representative; -if the matter was one of difficulty the hearing might be adjourned as often as was necessary: such respite was call... [ Continue Reading ]
-Then came my first trial at Rome; Alexander was as nothing compared to "the lion"; I was alone, yet "not alone"; the Lord delivered me; and He will deliver me, even through and out of death Safe home, safe home, in port.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Lord stood with me_ Again TOOK MY PART. _strengthened me_ -Infused strength into me." Cf. 1 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 4:13. _the preaching might be fully known_ Lit. - THE MESSAGE preached," as in Titus 1:3. The neuter form of the noun requires this. Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21 -through the foolish... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord shall deliver_ The -and" is omitted in the better mss. The Apostle for the last time -goes off abruptly" at the word -deliver," and breaks into a final song of -faith, hope and love." The preposition after the verb is changed to suit the noun it goes with. _every evil work_ Substantial... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salute Prisca and Aquila_ Prisca, or Priscilla, and her husband Aquila of Pontus had been driven from Rome with the Jews by the edict of the Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2); they were staying at Corinth with St Paul -because they were of the same trade" (Acts 18:3); they accompanied him 18 months late... [ Continue Reading ]
Last words of salutation, entreaty, benediction He takes up the thought of 2 Timothy 4:9, weaving in with it the new thought of his last greetings.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Erastus abode_ -Stayed at his post"; the verb suggests certainly that he had been commissioned by St Paul for some duty which he courageously fulfilled; if therefore it is unlikely that the Erastus who was chamberlain or treasurer (Oeconomus) of Corinth could be a fellow minister with Timothy to Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_before winter_ - _The motive_(rather _a motive_) of the letter is the desire for Timothy's presence, Haste! Come! 2 Timothy 4:9 "_Haste to come_quickly," 2 Timothy 4:21 "_Haste to come_before winter," 2 Timothy 4:13 "when thou comest," 2 Timothy 1:4 "_Yearning_to see thee," 2 Timothy 4:5 "my _death... [ Continue Reading ]
The closing benediction is peculiar being twofold, first -with thy spirit" and then -with you," i.e. -thee and thine." _The Lord Jesus Christ_ The ms. authority is in favour of -The Lord" alone. Observe how often this one brief name of his Saviour and Master has fallen from his pen in these closing... [ Continue Reading ]