_HE FORETELLETH THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES THERE SHALL BE A DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH. AND TO THE END THAT TIMOTHY MIGHT NOT FAIL IN DOING HIS DUTY, HE FURNISHETH HIM WITH DIVERS PRECEPTS BELONGING THERETO._ _Anno Domini 58._ BY calling the Christian church, in the end of the preceding chapter, _the... [ Continue Reading ]
_1 TIMOTHY 4:1_, _NOW THE SPIRIT,_ &C.— This passage, perhaps, would be better translated, _But the Spirit speaketh expressly._ He had before been speaking of the _mystery of godliness,_ ch. 1 Timothy 3:16 and now he proceeds to speak of the _mystery of iniquity_ in opposition to it: _But the Spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBIDDING TO MARRY, &C.— VI. This is a farther character of the promoters of this apostacy: the same hypocritical liars, who would promote the worship of demons, would also prohibit lawful marriage. The monks were the first who brought a single life into repute: they were the first also who revived... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BODILY EXERCISE PROFITETH LITTLE:— The apostle, 1 Timothy 4:7 had said, _Exercise thyself,_ as applied to a Christian life; and therefore he here uses the word _exercise,_ as applied to bodily labour; and by calling it _bodily exercise,_ he leads our thoughts either to the labours of the _Essene... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING,— St. Paul has used this expression four times; 1 Timothy 1:15. 2 Timothy 2:11. Titus 3:8 and here. They were all matters of certain truth and great importance; and the apostle used the expression to call up men's attention to them, as things of great consequence. Concernin... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN, &C.— As he is the Preserver of all men (see Job 7:20.), and as he offers salvation to all men: but he is especially the _Saviour_ of the faithful, as he extends to them the noblest and most important deliverance; reserving for them the most invaluable blessings of a fu... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMAND— Give in charge. See ch. 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH;— St. Paul here gives Timothy directions concerning his own conduct, especially as he was yet a young man, and had such difficulties upon his hands. He advises him to take a great deal of care how he behaved both in public and private, and particularly that he gave himse... [ Continue Reading ]
TO READING, TO EXHORTATION, &C.— It was the custom in the synagogue to _read_ a portion of the scriptures of the Old Testament; and, after that, to instruct the people in the meaning of it, and to give them some useful _exhortations._ Timothy was to do so in the school of Tyrannus, and to omit nothi... [ Continue Reading ]
NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT— "Of the Holy Spirit;"—Particularly in his miraculous efficacy. Benson would render and understand this verse, as parallel to ch. 1 Timothy 1:18. "Neglect not the gift of the Holy Spirit which is in you; which was conferred upon you after (or according to) some prophesy or proph... [ Continue Reading ]
MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS;— The word Μελετα is used to denote all the preparatory exercises of mind or body made use of by those who were desirous of excelling in any art or science. St. Paul therefore recommends it to Timothy, by proper previous exercises to qualify himself for excelling inthe dis... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF,— As Timothy's taking heed to _himself_ through divine grace, and to his teaching of others, and persevering therein, was necessary to his own salvation; so it was necessary in those who were instructed by him, that _they,_ through the same grace of God, should take heed to th... [ Continue Reading ]