PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE WILL OF GOD. — As in the Epistles to the Corinthians, the Ephesians, and Colossians, he ascribes his apostleship to the sovereign will and election of God. Apart from any merit or work of his own, God chose him for the office. He neither aspired to it nor wish... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TIMOTHY, MY DEARLY BELOVED SON. — More accurately, (_my_) _beloved son._ The words used in the address of the First Epistle were “my own son” (γνησίω̩ τέκνω_̩_). The change in the words was probably owing to St. Paul’s feeling that, in spite of his earnest request for Timothy to come to him with... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK GOD. — The exact reference of these words of thankfulness on the part of St. Paul has been the subject of much argument. Although the sense is a little obscured by the long parenthesis which intervenes, it seems clear that St. Paul’s expression of thankfulness was for his remembrance of the... [ Continue Reading ]
GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE. — In view of that violent death which, at this time a close prisoner, he saw was imminent, the memory, too, of the tears of his friend made him long yet more earnestly to see him once again on earth. BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS. — Shed probably by Timothy when his aged m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED FAITH THAT IS IN THEE. — It is for the “unfeigned faith” which he was confident dwelt still in his dearest and best loved companion, whom he had intrusted with the care of the Ephesian church, that he thanked God. (See 2 Timothy 1:3.) It is more than probabl... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE I PUT THEE IN REMEMBRANCE. — _Wherefore_ (_seeing that I am so thoroughly persuaded of thy faith_)_ I am determined to put thee in remembrance_... It seems, from the general tenor of the Epistle, that Timothy was deeply cast down by the imprisonment of St. Paul. Timothy, as well as the mar... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR. — Or better, perhaps, _the spirit of cowardice_ — that cowardice which manifests itself by a timidity and shrinking in the daily difficulties which the Christian meets with in the warfare for the kingdom of God. (Comp. John 14:27, and Revelation 21:8.) “... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT THOU THEREFORE ASHAMED OF THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD. — Seeing, then — remembering, then, that God gave you and me (notice the beautiful courtesy of the old martyr waiting for death, death the _human_ guerdon of his fearless life, coupling, as he has been doing, his sorrow-stricken, dispirited... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH SAVED US. — St. Paul now specifies the manner in which the power of God has been displayed towards us. This is an inclusive word, and comprehends all God’s dealings with us in respect to our redemption. (See Notes on Titus 3:5.) Again, as so frequently in these Pastoral Epistles, is the Fir... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IS NOW MADE MANIFEST. — The grace, a gift given to us in Christ from all eternity, but hidden during unnumbered ages, till the fulness of time — the appointed time — arrived; the “now,” when it was made manifest. BY THE APPEARING OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. — The simple act of the Incarnation... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO I AM APPOINTED A PREACHER.... — Whereunto — that is, to preach the gospel referred to in the previous verse. (On these titles see 1 Timothy 1:12; 1 Timothy 2:7.) In all his deep humiliation, a solitary prisoner awaiting death, deserted by his friends, St. Paul, with solemn emphasis, rehear... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WHICH CAUSE I ALSO SUFFER THESE THINGS. — Because he had been the teacher and apostle, had all these sufferings — the prison, the chains, the solitude, the hate of so many — come upon him. There was no need to refer to them more particularly. Timothy knew well what he was then undergoing. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME. — It was not sufficient for Timothy to renew his fainting courage and to brace himself up for fresh efforts; he must do something more — in his teaching he must never let those solemn formularies he had once received from him be changed... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOOD THING WHICH WAS COMMITTED UNTO THEE. — “The good thing committed unto thee,” or _the deposit,_ differs from the “deposit” of 2 Timothy 1:12, inasmuch as the “deposit” of 2 Timothy 1:12 was something committed by St. Paul to God; while, on the other hand, in 2 Timothy 1:14 a trust committed... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS THOU KNOWEST, THAT ALL THEY WHICH ARE IN ASIA BE TURNED AWAY FROM ME. — This sad desertion of friends is well known to thee. Instead of being dispirited by it, and by my arrest and close imprisonment, rather shouldest thou be stimulated to fresh and renewed exertions for the cause for which I s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GIVE MERCY UNTO THE HOUSE OF ONESIPHORUS. — In striking contrast to those false friends who turned away from him was one, also well known to Timothy, probably an Ephesian merchant. Onesiphorus, to whose house the Apostle prays the Lord to give mercy, had, early in this last imprisonment of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT, WHEN HE WAS IN ROME, HE SOUGHT ME OUT VERY DILIGENTLY, AND FOUND ME. — But, on the contrary, instead of fear — far from being ashamed — he, when he arrived in Rome, sought me out. This must have been a much more rigorous captivity than the one alluded to in the last chapter of the Acts when St.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GRANT UNTO HIM THAT HE MAY FIND MERCY OF THE LORD IN THAT DAY... — The Greek should be rendered here, _favour of the Lord,_ instead of by “mercy of the Lord.” Some commentators, who have found a difficulty in this unusual repetition of “the Lord,” explain it thus: The expression, “the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]