CHAPTER II Ver. 1. _Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus._ This is the practical result which the preceding statements were intended to produce in the mind of Timothy. The _therefore_, which indicates the connection, points back mainly to the apostle himself... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 2. A direction is now given how best to secure the transmission of the testimony he was called to bear for Christ, and its faithful maintenance in the church: _and the things which thou hast heard from me with many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, such as shall be able to teach others a... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 3. _Suffer hardship with me_ (συγκακοπάθησον, the reading of א, A, C, D, F at first hand, is undoubtedly the correct text, not σὺ οὔν κακοπάθησον of the received text), or “take thy share in suffering” (Conybeare), intimating that the disciple in this must not expect to be above his master:... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 4. _No one serving as a soldier_ (Scholfield, _Hints_) _entangles himself_ (taking the verb ἐμπλέκεται as in the middle) _in the businesses of life_ that is, in the ordinary affairs and occupations of a worldly calling, such as of the forum or the market-place _in order that he may please him w... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 5. _But_ (δὲ, introducing a fresh illustration Winer, _Gr_. § 53, 7, _b_; not only so, but there is this further case) _if any one also strive in the games_ another good rendering of Scholfield's, and decidedly preferable to that of the Authorized Version, “if a man strive for the masteries,” w... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 6. _The toiling;_ (κοπιῶντα, hard-working) _husbandman must first partake of the fruits,_ or, must be first in partaking of them; his very character as a man of hard labour gives him in this respect a precedence and superiority over others: he _first_ partakes, partakes even while he works, som... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 7. _Understand what I say_ so the verb (νόει) properly means, Lat. _intellige_ not simply consider, or observe; and it was said with reference to the figurative language employed in the immediately preceding verses. “For since it was a parabolical mode of speech, it was necessary that he (Timot... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 8. _Remember Jesus Christ as having been raised from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel._ This I take to be the exact rendering of the original not “remember that Jesus Christ has been raised” with the Vulg. (_ Jesum Christum resurrexisse_). Authorized Version, and, among ot... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 9. The truths respecting Christ, which Timothy in the preceding verse was exhorted to bear in mind, were spoken of in connection with St. Paul's gospel the gospel which had been committed to him (1 Timothy 1:11); he now adds, _in which_ (that is, the gospel, as his appointed sphere of action) _... [ Continue Reading ]
Vers. 9, 10. _Likewise also, that women adorn themselves in orderly apparel, with shamefastness and discretion._ The passage is obviously elliptical; and the connection with what precedes, indicated by ὡσαύτως (likewise), cannot be very close. Looking to the apostle's use of it elsewhere (for exampl... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 10. _For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, in order that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory._ The connection between this and the preceding cannot be taken so close, as with Bengel, “Because through my chains the gospel runs, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Vers. 11-13. _Faithful is the saying, For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him._ Does the saying point to what precedes, or to what follows? Commentators are divided on the question; and as nothing very decisive can be urged for the determination either way, they are still likely to be s... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 14. There follow now a series of exhortations to Timothy, founded upon the important statements contained in the preceding verses, and bearing directly on the manner in which he should ply the work of the ministry, and withstand the errors which were already beginning to prevail in the church.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 15. _Give diligence to present thyself to God approved:_ δόκιμον, one who can stand, or has actually stood, the test appointed by God, and come forth stamped with His approval. The object of the exhortation was to lead Timothy, in contrast to the frivolous disputes mentioned before, to realize... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 16. Here, again, the apostle returns to the things to be avoided the corrupt practices of false teachers: _But profane babblings shun_ περιΐστασο, stand aloof from, as one naturally does in respect to any object of dislike or terror. It was used at Titus 3:9, much in the same way, with referenc... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 17. _And their word will eat as a gangrene._ A gangrene is described by Galen as “an eating sore,” or a tumour in the state between inflammation and entire mortification, and tending to the latter. Though not strictly synonymous with our word _cancer_, it might not improperly be represented in... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 18. The apostle now points to specific examples of what he meant: _Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who_ (οἵτινες) _concerning the truth swerved_ (or went astray, see at 1 Timothy 1:6), _saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and overthrow the faith of some._ One of the nam... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 19. _Nevertheless_ (μέντοι, here only in Paul's writings, but frequently in John's, _certe quidem,_ expressive of opposition to the preceding, and preparing for an announcement of a contrary nature) _the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knoweth them that are His.”_ The... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 20. Here the apostle passes to another and apparently somewhat contradictory aspect of the church from the church viewed as God's firm foundation, all solid and compact, to the church as a house composed of various and, to a certain extent, heterogeneous materials. The distinction is simply tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 21. There follows, therefore, a virtual exhortation to separate oneself from this class, and make sure of reaching the state and destination of the other. Without explaining what corresponded to the two kinds of vessels, taking for granted that this was understood, the apostle says, _If any one... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 22. _But flee, youthful lusts_ Vulg. _juvenilia desideria_ primarily, no doubt, sensual indulgence, yet not this alone, levity of spirit also, love of pleasure, vainglory, and things of a similar kind (Theodoret). Such an advice was still suitable to Timothy, who, though now in ripe manhood, wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 23. _But foolish and ignorant questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes._ The same advice substantially was given to Titus (Titus 3:9); and the tendency of discussions about questions of the kind here indicated to give rise to fruitless contention, is distinctly stated at 1 Timothy 6... [ Continue Reading ]
Vers. 24-26. _But the servant of the Lord,_ it is added, _must not strive, but be gentle toward all:_ not a person of contentious and combative disposition, but of mild and conciliatory bearing. Every one who is a true believer in Christ, and in any sphere of life is called to do service to Him, oug... [ Continue Reading ]