_HE ADVERTISETH HIM OF THE TIMES TO COME, DESCRIBETH THE ENEMIES OF THE TRUTH, PROPOUNDETH UNTO HIM HIS OWN EXAMPLE, AND COMMENDETH THE HOLY SCRIPTURES._ _Anno Domini 67._ THE apostle having, in the end of the preceding chapter, informed Timothy, that for wise reasons false teachers were suffered... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS KNOW ALSO,— What follows is thought by some to contain part of the prophesy concerning the grand apostacy which was to happen in the latter times. If we keep our eye too closely upon the place, and consider what is here said alone, and without comparing it with what St. Paul had said and writte... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION— The word Στοργη, signifies that natural affection which even the brute creatures, as well as men, manifest, in cherishing, feeding, and taking care of their young ones; and the word αστοργοι signifies persons divested of that natural tenderness. The apostle does not mean t... [ Continue Reading ]
TRAITORS— Betrayers of civil and sacred trusts, and delivering up even their nearer relations to miseries and death.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OF THIS SORT ARE THEY, &C.— Some begin this verse with the last clause of the preceding. The word rendered _creep,_ ενδυνοντες, signifies to _insinuate,_ or _slide in,_ like snakes. Some read _who dive into families._ This and the next verse contain a lively description of the practices of the m... [ Continue Reading ]
AS JANNES AND JAMBRES— Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned Exodus 7 nor any where else in the Old Testament; but their names are said to be mentioned, though with some variety as to the spelling, in both the Talmuds, and in the Targum of Jonathan on Exodus 7:11. It is remarkable, that the former of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SHALL PROCEED NO FURTHER, &C.— "But I foresee, that they shall not proceed much farther in these artifices, for their folly shall be manifested to all; as theirs also was, when God sent upon the Egyptians plagues; which, far from being able to remove, or mitigate, they could not, as in form... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU HAST FULLY KNOWN— Having in the preceding verses described the apostates of the last days, and shewn how much the wicked Judaizers made way for that apostacy, the apostle here, by way of opposition, proposes his own example and doctrine, that Timothy might observe and follow them: to incite... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, AND ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY, &C.— This may import something peculiar to the godliness to be exercised by Christians, as being agreeable to the revelation of Christ, animated by his example, and dependant on his Spirit for assistance, and his atonement for acceptance with God:—important topics,... [ Continue Reading ]
SEDUCERS.— The word Γοητες properly signifies _sorcerers, magicians,_ jugglers, witches, or enchanters. Jannes and Jambres were evidently such; impostors, who endeavoured to vend a false religion for a true one, and to support it by their incantations.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING OF WHOM THOU HAST LEARNED,— Meaning himself, but modestly declining to say so. Timothy was to continue in these things, because he knew of whom he had learned them,—namely, of a true apostle; and that they were agreeable to the scripture of the Old Testament, with which he had been acquainte... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD,— The scriptures with which Timothy had been acquainted from his infancy were evidently those of the Old Testament; for none of the books of the New Testament were then committed to writing. The same thing seems plainly to be intended here by_all scriptur... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT,— "That the furniture of the man of God may be complete, and that he may be thoroughly fitted for every good work which his holy calling may require." _INFERENCES.—_Must we not, on the survey of this chapter, in comparison with what we every day behold in life, cry... [ Continue Reading ]