CHAPTER IV. _The apostle charges Timothy to be diligent, incessant, and_ _faithful in his preaching; to watch, suffer patiently, and give_ _full proof of his ministry_, 1-5. _He predicts his own approaching death, and expresses the_ _strongest confidence of being eternally happy_, 6-8. _Desire... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 4:2. _PREACH THE WORD_] Κηρυξον τον λογον· _Proclaim the_ _doctrine_, the doctrine of Christ crucified, for the sins of the whole world; the doctrine, that the Gentiles are invited to be fellow heirs with the Jews, and that for Jews and Gentiles there is no salvation but by faith in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 4:3. _FOR THE TIME WILL COME_] There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the _practical_ truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of "deny thyself, ta... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 4:4. _AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH_] The truth strips them of their vices, sacrifices their idols, darts its lightnings against their easily besetting sins, and absolutely requires a conformity to a crucified Christ; therefore _they turn their ears away from it_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS_] It is possible to be overtaken in a fault, to neglect one's duty, and to lose one's soul. Watching unto prayer prevents all these evils. _ENDURE AFFLICTIONS_] Let no sufferings affright thee; nor let the dread of them either cause thee to abandon the truth,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED_] ηοηαπενδομαι. _I am already poured out as a libation_. Philippians 2:17, Philippians 2:17. He considers himself as on the eve of being sacrificed, and looks upon his blood as the libation which was poured on the sacrificial offering. He could not have spo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT_] Every reader will perceive that the apostle, as was his very frequent custom, alludes to the contests at the Grecian games: Τον αγυνα τον καλον ηγωνισμαι· _I have wrestled that good wrestling_-I have struggled hard, and have over come, in a most honourable caus... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN_] This I can claim as my due; but the crown I expect is not one of _fading_ _leaves_, but a _crown of righteousness_; the reward which God, in his kindness, has promised to them who are faithful to the grace he has bestowed upon them. _THE LORD,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _DO THY DILIGENCE TO COME SHORTLY UNTO ME_] He appears to have wished Timothy to be present at his death, that he might have his faith confirmed by seeing how a Christian could die; and, as he had but a short time to live, he begs Timothy to _hasten his_ _visit_, and particularly so as he h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _DEMAS HATH FORSAKEN ME_] This is another proof of the posteriority of this epistle: for Demas was with the apostle in his first imprisonment, and joins in the salutations, see Colossians 4:14, which were written when Paul was a prisoner at Rome for the first time. _HAVING LOVED THIS PRES... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME._] This was _Luke_ the evangelist, and writer of the Acts of the Apostles, who was always much attached to St. Paul, and it is supposed continued with him even to his martyrdom. _TAKE MARK, AND BRING HIM WITH THEE_] This was _John Mark_, the sister's son of Barnabas,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _TYCHICUS HAVE I SENT TO EPHESUS._] For this person, see Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7. It is rather strange that the apostle should say, _I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus_, if Timothy was at Ephesus at this time; but it is probable that Tychicus had been sent to Ephesus some ti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THE CLOAK THAT I LEFT AT TROAS_] τον φελονην is by several translated _bag_ or _portmanteau_; and it is most likely that it was something of this kind, in which he might carry his clothes, books, and travelling necessaries. What the _books_ were we cannot tell, it is most likely they were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH_] We are not to understand this of any _tradesman_, but of some _rabbin_; for it was not unusual for the Jews to apply the name of some _trade_ as an epithet to their rabbins and literary men. He is, in all probability, the very same mentioned Acts 19:33, where s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _OF WHOM BE THOU WARE ALSO_] It seems that this rabbin travelled about from place to place for the purpose of opposing the Gospel, _the Jews putting him forward_, as it is said, Acts 19:33. _HE HATH GREATLY WITHSTOOD OUR WORDS._] Has been a constant opposer of the Christian doctrines.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _AT MY FIRST ANSWER_] Εν τῃ τρωτῃ μου απολογιᾳ· _At_ _my first apology_; this word properly signifies a _defence_ or _vindication_. To his is the meaning of what we call the _apologies_ _of the primitive fathers_; they were vindications or _defences_ of Christianity. It is generally al... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THE LORD STOOD WITH ME_] When all human help failed, God, in a more remarkable manner, interposed; and thus the excellency plainly appeared to be of God, and not of man. _THAT BY ME THE PREACHING MIGHT BE FULLY KNOWN_] When called on to make his defence he took occasion to _preach the Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _AND THE LORD SHALL DELIVER ME FROM EVERY EVIL WORK_] None of the evil designs formed against me to make me unfaithful or unsteady, to cause me to save my life at the expense of faith and a good conscience, shall succeed; my life may go, but he will preserve me _unto his heavenly kingdom_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _SALUTE PRISCA AND AQUILA_] Several MSS., _versions_, and _fathers_ have _Priscilla_ instead of Prisca: they are probably the same as those mentioned Acts 18:18; Acts 18:26. _THE HOUSEHOLD OF ONESIPHORUS._] See 2 Timothy 1:16. Onesiphorus was probably at this time dead: his _family_ still... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _ERASTUS ABODE AT CORINTH_] He was _treasurer_ of that city, as we learn from Romans 16:23. See the note there. The apostle had sent him and Timothy on a mission to Macedonia, Acts 19:22, whence it is probable he returned to Corinth, and there became finally settled. _TROPHIMUS HAVE I LEF... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _COME BEFORE WINTER._] 1. Because the apostle's time was short and uncertain. 2. Because sailing in those seas was very dangerous in winter. Whether Timothy saw the apostle before he was martyred is not known. _EUBULUS_] This person is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament. _PUDE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Timothy 4:22. _THE LORD JESUS CHRIST_ BE _WITH THY SPIRIT._] This is a prayer addressed to Christ by one of the most eminent of his apostles; another proof of the untruth of the assertion, that prayer is never offered to Christ in the New Testament. He prays that Christ may be _with his spir... [ Continue Reading ]