CHAPTER II. _He exhorts Timothy to constancy, fidelity, and courage; and to_ _acquit himself as a true soldier of Jesus Christ; and patiently_ _expect the fruit of his labours_, 1-7. _What the apostle's doctrine was relative to Christ_, 8. _He mentions his own sufferings and consolations_, 9-13... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 2:2. _THE THINGS THAT THOU HAST HEARD OF ME_] Those doctrines which I have preached the most publicly, and which many persons can attest. But he seems to refer here to the doctrines delivered to him when, in the _presence of many witnesses_, he laid his hands upon him; see 1 Timothy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 2:3. _ENDURE HARDNESS_] He considers a Christian minister under the notion of a _soldier_, not so much for his continual conflicts with the world, the devil, and the flesh, for these are in a certain sense common to all Christians, but for the hardships and difficulties to which he m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 2:4. _NO MAN THAT WARRETH ENTANGLETH_, c.] It is well remarked by _Grotius_, on this passage, that the legionary soldiers among the Romans were not permitted to engage in husbandry, merchandise, mechanical employments, or any thing that might be inconsistent with their calling. Many... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _IF A MAN ALSO STRIVE FOR MASTERIES_] εαν δε και αθλη τις. _If a man contend in the public games_-the Olympic or Isthmian games among the Greeks, so often alluded to and particularly explained in the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:24, to which the reader is referred for a full illustration of thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _THE HUSBANDMAN THAT LABOURETH_] That is: The _husbandman_ must _first_ till his ground before he can expect a crop; and he must till it according to the proper _rules_ of _agriculture_, else he cannot have a crop. The _combatant_ must fight and conquer, and fight according to the laws of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _CONSIDER WHAT I SAY_] Apply my metaphors and similitudes in a proper manner. _AND THE LORD GIVE THEE UNDERSTANDING_] But instead of δωη, _may_ _he give_, ACDEFG, several others, besides _versions_ and _fathers_, have δωσει _he will give_. Consider thou properly, and God _will_ give thee a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST_] The apostle seems to say: Whatever tribulations or deaths may befall us, let us remember that Jesus Christ, who was slain by the Jews, rose again from the dead, and his resurrection is the proof and pledge of ours. We also shall rise again to a life of glory an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _WHEREIN I SUFFER TROUBLE, AS AN EVIL DOER_] This verse contains one of the proofs that this epistle was written while St. Paul was a prisoner the second time at Rome. See the _preface_, where this is particularly considered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _FOR THE ELECT'S SAKE_] For the sake of the _Gentiles_, elected by God's goodness to enjoy every privilege formerly possessed by the Jews, and, in addition to these, all the blessings of the Gospel; the salvation of Christ _here_, and eternal glory _hereafter_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _IF WE BE DEAD WITH HIM_] That is: As surely as Christ rose again from the dead, so surely shall we rise again; and if we die for him, we shall surely live again with him. This, says the apostle, is πιστος ο λογος, _a true doctrine_. This is properly the import of the word; and we need not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _IF WE SUFFER - WITH_ HIM] These are other parts of the _true doctrine_, which the apostle mentions above.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _IF WE BELIEVE NOT_] Should we deny the faith and apostatize, he is the same, as true to his threatenings as to his promises; _he cannot deny _- act contrary to, himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THAT THEY STRIVE NOT ABOUT WORDS_] WORDS, not _things_, have been a most fruitful source of contention in the Christian world; and among religious people, the principal cause of animosity has arisen from the _different manner_ of apprehending the same _term_, while, in essence, both meant... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD_] Endeavour so to cultivate and improve thy heart and mind, that thou mayest not be a reproach to him from whom thou professest to receive thy commission. _RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH._] It is generally supposed that the apostle alludes here... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _SHUN PROFANE_ AND _VAIN BABBLINGS_] This is the character he gives of the preaching of the false teachers. Whatever was not agreeable to the _doctrine of truth_ was, in the sight of God, _empty_ and _profane babbling_; engendering nothing but _ungodliness_, and daily _increasing_ in that.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THEIR WORD WILL EAT AS DOTH A CANKER_] ως γαγγραινα. _As a gangrene_; i.e. as a _mortification in the flesh_, where the circulation is entirely stopped, and putrefaction takes place, which continues to corrupt all the circumjacent flesh, spreading more and more till death takes place, unl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _WHO CONCERNING THE TRUTH HAVE ERRED_] They had the _truth_, but _erred_ or _wandered from it_, saying the resurrection was already past, and thus denying the resurrection of the body, and, by consequence, future rewards and punishments; and this necessarily sapped the foundation of all re... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE_] The word θεμελιος signifies literally a _foundation_, and especially the _foundation_ of a _building_; and metaphorically, the _building_ itself, and often a _noble mansion_ or _palace_. In this place the apostle compares the religion of Christ to a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _BUT IN A GREAT HOUSE_] Here the apostle carries on the allusion introduced in the preceding verse. As the _foundation_ _of God_ refers to God's _building_, i.e. the whole system of Christianity, so here the _great house_ is to be understood of the same; and the different kinds of vessels... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _IF A MAN THEREFORE PURGE HIMSELF FROM THESE_] He that takes heed to his ways and to his doctrines, and walks with God, will separate himself, not only from all _false doctrine_, but from all _wicked men_, and thus be sanctified and proper to be employed by the Master in every good word an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _FLEE ALSO YOUTHFUL LUSTS_] Not only all irregular and sensual desires, but _pride, ambition_, and, above all, _the lust_ _of power_, to which most men will sacrifice all other propensities, their ease, pleasure, health, c. This is the most bewitching passion in the human heart. Both in _C... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _FOOLISH AND UNLEARNED QUESTIONS_] See the notes on 1 Timothy 1:4; _"_1 Timothy 4:7_"_, and _"_Titus 3:9_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE_] See on 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 3:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _THOSE THAT OPPOSE_] αντιδιατιθεμενους. This seems to refer to those who opposed the apostle's _authority_; and hence the propriety of the allusion to the _rebellion_ of Korah and his company. See observations at the end of the chapter. _IF GOD PERADVENTURE_] He was to use every means whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 2:26. _AND THAT THEY MAY RECOVER THEMSELVES_] The construction of this verse is extremely difficult, though the sense given by our translation is plain enough. I shall set down the original, and the principal English translations: - Και ανανηψωσιν εκ της του διαβολου παγιδος, εζωγρη... [ Continue Reading ]