IV. (1) I CHARGE THEE THEREFORE BEFORE GOD, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. — The parchment, or papyrus, in the prison room of St. Paul on which, probably, Luke (2 Timothy 4:11), the faithful friend, was writing to the Apostle’s dictation, was nearly filled up. What has still to be said to the chief pre... [ Continue Reading ]
PREACH THE WORD. — The language of the original here is abrupt and emphatic, written evidently under strong emotion and with intense earnestness. St. Paul charged his friend and successor with awful solemnity, as we have seen, “preach,” or proclaim. loudly and publicly, as a herald would announce th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE. — Timothy must bear in mind that things in the Church of Christ on earth will not change for the better. The great drag-net of the Church, in its wide sweep, would keep drawing into its meshes something of every kind. Errors now just a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH. — This was the punishment of those who would only listen to what was pleasing to them, and which flattered instead of reproved their way of life. They became involved in the many various errors in doctrine which were then taught in the schools of t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS. — “But do thou,” continued St. Paul, “do thou be watchful.” The Greek word translated “watch thou,” signifies literally, _be sober._ It has been well paraphrased, “Keep thy coolness and presence of mind, that thou be not entrapped into forgetfulness, but as one ever wak... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED. — What, in the Philippian Epistle (Philippians 2:17), was alluded to as a contingency likely enough to happen here is spoken of as something which was then absolutely taking place. In his first imprisonment at Rome St. Paul looked on to a martyr’s death as probable.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT. — More accurately, more forcibly rendered, _the good fight._ St. Paul changes the metaphor, and adopts his old favourite one, so familiar to all Gentile readers, of the athlete contending in the games. First, he speaks generally of the combatant, the charioteer, and the r... [ Continue Reading ]
A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. — More accurately rendered, _the crown of righteousness._ St. Paul, after speaking calmly of death, the bitterness of which he was already tasting, looks on beyond death, and speaks of the crown which awaited him. The crown was the victory prize which the “good fight” of 2... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THY DILIGENCE TO COME SHORTLY. — Such a request as this would — had we no other arguments — tell us that no forger ever wrote this Epistle. Who would ever have dreamed of putting into the letter such a request as this, _after_ those solemn expressions of the last few verses, in which the Apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR DEMAS HATH FORSAKEN ME. — This once faithful companion of St. Paul had been with him during the first imprisonment of the Apostle at Rome (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24); but now, terrified by the greater severity and the threatened fatal ending of the second imprisonment, had forsaken his old... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME. — The “writer” of the Third Gospel, the Gospel which, as has been stated above, was very possibly the work of St. Paul — “my Gospel.” Luke, “the beloved physician” of Colossians 4:14, of all St. Paul’s companions, seems to have been most closely associated with the Apostle. Mos... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TYCHICUS HAVE I SENT TO EPHESUS. — Instead of “and,” the Greek particle here should be rendered “but Tychicus.” “This ‘but’ appears to refer to a suppressed thought, suggested by the concluding portion of the last (11th) verse: bring Mark. I need one who is profitable (or _serviceable_) for the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CLOKE THAT I LEFT AT TROAS. — The apparently trivial nature of this request in an Epistle containing such weighty matter, and also the fact of such a wish on the part of one expecting death being made at all, is at first a little puzzling. To explain this seemingly strange request, some have wis... [ Continue Reading ]
ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH DID ME MUCH EVIL. — Most probably, the same Alexander, mentioned in the First Epistle (1 Timothy 1:20) “as delivered to Satan,” and not improbably identical with the Alexander “the Jew” put forward by the Jews in the Ephesian tumult. (Acts 19:33). It has been suggested tha... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM BE THOU WARE ALSO. — This Alexander was evidently then at Ephesus. That he had been at Rome, and had given evidence against St. Paul, and had argued against the defence of the Apostle, is probable. “Our words” some understand as especially referring to St. Paul’s defence before the imperial... [ Continue Reading ]
AT MY FIRST ANSWER NO MAN STOOD WITH ME... — And then, after the mention of what his _enemy_ had done out of hatred to the cause of Christ, the old man passed on to speak of the conduct of his own _familiar friends_ at that great public trial before — most probably — the city præfect: Præfectus Urbi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTWITHSTANDING THE LORD STOOD WITH ME, AND STRENGTHENED ME. — Though men deserted him, yet One — even his Lord (Christ), who could do more for him than any friend, or advocate, or protector of earth — stood by him, and strengthened him by giving him courage and readiness. THAT BY ME THE PREACHING M... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL DELIVER ME FROM EVERY EVIL WORK... — Many commentators have explained these words as the expression of St. Paul’s confidence that the Lord not only had, in the late trial, strengthened His servant, and given him courage to endure, but that He would watch over him in the future whi... [ Continue Reading ]
SALUTE PRISCA AND AQUILA. — These were two of St. Paul’s earliest friends after he had begun his great work for his Master. Originally of Pontus, they had taken up their abode at Rome, where Aquila exercised his trade of a tent-maker. Driven out of Rome by the decree of Claudius, which banished the... [ Continue Reading ]
ERASTUS ABODE AT CORINTH. — Better rendered, _remained at Corinth._ An Erastus is mentioned in Romans 16:23, the “chamberlain” of Corinth, one of the Christian congregation of that city. This man was probably identical with him. Another “Eastus” appears among those who ministered to St. Paul at Eph... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THY DILIGENCE TO COME BEFORE WINTER. Probably this was added to hasten his coming. If he delayed, the season of the year would put off, perhaps hinder altogether, his voyage. EUBULUS GREETETH THEE. — Of this Eubulus nothing is known. AND PUDENS, AND LINUS, AND CLAUDIA. — Of these, Linus was, no... [ Continue Reading ]