CHAPTER III. _Dangerous times in the latter days, from the apostasy and_ _wickedness of men, of whom an affecting description is given_, 1-7. _It shall happen to them as to Jannes and Jambres, who withstood_ _Moses_, 8, 9. _The apostle speaks of his persecutions and sufferings, and shows_ _th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 3:2. _FOR MEN SHALL BE_] The description in this and the following verses the Papists apply to the Protestants; the Protestants in their turn apply it to the Papists; _Schoettgen_ to the _Jews_; and others to _heretics_ in general. There have been both teachers and people in every ag... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 3:3. _WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION_] αστοργοι. Without that affection which _parents_ bear to their _young_, and which the _young_ bear to their _parents_. An affection which is common to every class of _animals_; consequently, men without it are worse than brutes. _TRUCE-BREAKERS_] ασ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 3:4. _TRAITORS_] προδοται. From προ, _before_, and διδωμι, _to deliver up_. Those who deliver up to an enemy the person who has put his life in their hands; such as the Scots of 1648, who _delivered up_ into the hands of his enemies their unfortunate _countryman_ and _king_, Charles... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS_] The original word μορφωσις signifies a _draught, sketch_, or _summary_, and will apply well to those who have all their religion in their creed, confession of faith, catechism, bodies of divinity, c., while destitute of the life of God in their souls and are no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _FOR OF THIS SORT ARE THEY_] He here refers to _false_ _teachers_ and their _insinuating manners_, practising upon weak women, who, seeing in them such a semblance of piety, entertain them with great eagerness, and at last become partakers with them in their impurities. Among the Jews there... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _EVER LEARNING_] From their false teachers, _and never_ _able to come to the knowledge of the truth_, because that teaching never leads to the _truth_; for, although there was a _form of_ _godliness_, which gave them a sort of _authority_ to teach, yet, as they denied the _power of godlines... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _NOW AS JANNES AND JAMBRES WITHSTOOD MOSES_] This refers to the history of the Egyptian magicians, given in Exodus 7, where see the notes (Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:12), and particularly the concluding observations at the end of that chapter, Exodus 7:25 where several things are said concerning... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _BUT THEY SHALL PROCEED NO FARTHER_] Such teaching and teachers shall never be able _ultimately_ to prevail against the truth; for the foundation of God standeth sure. _THEIR FOLLY SHALL BE MANIFEST_] As the Scriptures, which are the only rule of morals and doctrine, shall ever be preserve... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _THOU HAST FULLY KNOWN MY DOCTRINE_] And having long had the opportunity of knowing me, the _doctrine_ I preached, my _conduct_ founded on these doctrines, the _object_ I have in view by my preaching, my _fidelity_ to God and to my trust, my _long-suffering_ with those who walked disorderl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _PERSECUTIONS - WHICH CAME UNTO ME AT ANTIOCH_] The _Antioch_ mentioned here was Antioch in Pisidia, to which place Paul and Barnabas came in their first apostolic progress, and where Paul delivered that memorable discourse which is preserved in the 13th chapter of Acts, Acts 13:16. In th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY_] So opposite to the spirit and practice of the world is the whole of Christianity, that he who gives himself entirely up to God, making the Holy Scriptures the rule of his words and actions, will be less or more reviled and persecuted. "If religion gives no quart... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _EVIL MEN AND SEDUCERS SHALL WAX WORSE_] They will yet get on for a season, deceiving themselves and deceiving others; but, by and by, _their folly will become manifest to all_, 2 Timothy 3:9. The word γοητες, which we render _seducers_, signifies _jugglers,_ _pretenders to magical arts_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _BUT CONTINUE THOU_] No man, however well instructed in the things of God, or grounded in Divine grace, is out of the reach of temptation, apostasy, and final ruin; hence the necessity of watching unto prayer, depending upon God, continuing in the faith, and persevering unto the end.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES_] The early religious education of Timothy has been already sufficiently noticed; see 2 Timothy 1:5, and the _preface_ to the first epistle. St. Paul introduces this circumstance again here for the confirmation of Timothy's faith. He had le... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD_] This sentence is not well translated; the original πασα γραφη θεοκνευστος ωφιλιμος προς διδασκαλιαν, κ. τ. λ. should be rendered: _Every writing Divinely inspired is profitable for_ _doctrine_, c. The particle και, _and_, is omitted by almost... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 3:17. _THAT THE MAN OF GOD_] The preacher of righteousness, the minister of the Gospel, the person who derives his commission from God, and always appears as _his_ herald and servant. _MAY BE PERFECT_] αρτιος. From αρω, to _fit_ or _adapt_. It properly signifies an _integer_ or _who... [ Continue Reading ]