As if our apostle had said, "Although the mystery of godliness, the doctrine of Christianity, be so clearly revealed, and fully confirmed, yet the spirit of prophecy has very plainly told us, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith once embraced by them, either in whole or in part;... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle assigns. reason why Christians are not forbidden under the gospel to abstain from particular meats, namely, because the distinction of meats (clean and unclean) is taken away, and every creature of God is good in itself, and clean to us, and nothing to be refused, as unlawful or unc... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle proceeds from this verse to the end of the chapter, to lay several directions before Timothy with reference to his ministerial office. The first of which is that he suggest unto, or PUT THE BRETHERN IN REMEMBRANCE OF, THOSE THINGS which the apostle had taught him, in order to their pres... [ Continue Reading ]
By BODILY EXERCISE he meaneth corporal austerities, abstinence from meats and marriage; all the external exercises of religion; these do profit. little, though but. little, in comparsion of the profit of godliness. Where note, That fastings, humiliations, and watchings, with other bodily exercises,... [ Continue Reading ]
Note, That this phrase of A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, used here, was used before, 1 Timothy 1:15. That Christ came into the world to save sinners. Learn thence, That this proposition, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and this, that such sinners as of ungo... [ Continue Reading ]
Still our apostle proceeds in farther direction and advice to Timothy, both as to his preaching and his practice, both as to his doctrine and conversation. 1. As to his preaching, he requires it to be done with due authority: THESE THINGS COMMAND AND TEACH, that is, these things teach commandingly,... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul, being uncertain when he should see this young labourer again, adds farther instructions to those already given him. And here, 1. He requires him TO GIVE ATTENDANCE TO READING, that is, be diligent in private reading the holy scriptures, to enable him to teach, instruct, and exhort others,... [ Continue Reading ]
He exhorted him to read the scriptures before, now to meditate upon what he read. Where note, That if those who were inspired, and divinely qualified, must yet read, meditate, study hard, and employ their whole time to fit themselves for the ministerial work, what shall we think of the ignorance an... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Have. special regard to the piety of thy life, and to the purity of thy doctrine, and this continually; so shalt thou do what lieth in thee, to save both thine own soul, and the souls of all thy people." 1. TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF. Our lives must be such as become minist... [ Continue Reading ]