Observe here, 1. most solemn adjuration and charge given, I CHARGE THEE BEFORE GOD AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the judge of quick and dead. Lord! what opiate can stupify the conscience of minister, that he shall not feel the authority of such. charge, or not be awakened by such arden expressions! Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have the reason of our apostle's solemn adjuration in the foregoing verses, by which he stirs up Timothy to. careful discharge of his duty; namely, in regard of the apostasy of the times, in which many would grow weary of sound doctrine, and follow fables. Here note, 1. The ground of this a... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold here. fourfold duty pressed upon Timothy; 1. Watchfulness: WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS. As if he had said, "False teachers will beset you round on every side; therefore guard and watch every where." 2. Courage: ENDURE AFFLICTIONS: he that fears the frowns of men, can never discharge his duty f... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle being now come almost to the end of his Christian and ministerial race, he first looks downward into his grave with comfort, ver, 6. and sees his death. pleasing sacrifice to God, and. sweet departure to him; I AM READY TO BE OFFERED, AND THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE IS AT HAND. Next he loo... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle comes now, in this second part of the chapter, to treat of some private and personal affairs. And first he desires Timothy to come speedily to him, having. great desire to see him, and be comforted by him, before he died. The strongest of Christians may sometimes be helped by the weaker... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul having desired Timothy's company at Rome, requests him to bring with him such things as he wanted, and stood in present need of. 1. His CLOAK: probably. garment which in the winter season he might want the warmth and benefit of, especially being in. cold prison. So long as we are upon eart... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle, 1. Complains of the injuries and oppositions which he had met with from AEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH, who was before. great professor, but now become. grievous persecutor: He made shipwreck of the faith, 1 Timothy 1:19 which he did before profess; nay, 'tis thought this man, Acts 19:33... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here complains of the timorousness of weak Christians in their carriage towards him, at his first appearing before Nero the emperor of Rome, or some of his officers; they deserted him, they all deserted him, very few durst own him. But this was out of weakness and timorousness, not our o... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Though man forsook me, God stood by me; the Lord Jesus strengthened me, that by me, thus standing up in the defence of the gospel, the preaching of it might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear the defence of it; and thus, for that time,. was delivered out of Nero's hands,... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark, He doth not say, The Lord will deliver me from every evil worker, but FROM EVERY EVIL WORK; though he doth not save me from my temporal enemies, blessed be God my spiritual enemies shall never hurt me, neither sin not Satan. Lord! it is. far greater favour to be preserved from sin, than from... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, How mindful the apostle is of his absent friends; though he was now in prison, and they. great way from him, yet he sends pious salutations to them. This Prisca or Priscilla, and Aquilla, are often remembered by St. Paul, he lodged in their house at Corinth: The saints and servants of... [ Continue Reading ]
Erastus is mentioned, Romans 16:23 as chamberlain of the city of Corinth, one that shewed kindness to Paul; he was. great man, the treasurer of the city of Corinth; yet neither his riches, nor his great place, could keep him from loving the apostle and the afflicted church of God. Rarely are great m... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle being greatly desirous to see Timothy before his death, reneweth his request and suit to him to make haste and come before winter: the personal presence of good men is much, very much desired by them, in order to excite and quicken each other. To encourage Timothy to hasten to him, he n... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle concludes this, like his other epistles, with an apostolical benediction, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH THY SPIRIT; as if he had said, "Be not sad at my departure; for, though. must leave thee, yet the Lord will uphold thee by his grace, and be present with thee by the influence of the H... [ Continue Reading ]