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THE SECOND EPISTLE

OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY.

1 PAUL,

CHAPTER I.

an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, as 2 to the promise of life which is by Christ Jesus, to Timothy my beloved son, favour, mercy, and peace1 from God our Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did with a pure conscience, that without ceasing I make mention of 4 thee in my prayers night and day; longing to see thee, be5 ing mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; and calling to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Loïs, and in thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that it dwelleth in thee also.

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Wherefore I remind thee that thou stir up the free gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, 8 and of love, and of prudence. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony concerning our Lord, or of me a prisoner because of him: but suffer affliction together with the go9 spel, according to the power given thee of God; who hath saved us *, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, and that be to him, N. 2 the Father, N. 3 Or, kindle up. ⚫ the spirit, N.

1 peace

* i. e. has rescued us from the yoke of the law, or from the bondage of heathen idolatry.

favour which was bestowed on us in Christ Jesus', before 10 the ancient dispensations; but which hath now been made manifest by the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and incor11 ruption to light, by the gospel: of which I have been ap

pointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the 12 gentiles. For which cause I suffer also these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which he hath committed to me* against that day3.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard from me, together with that faith and love, which are in 14 Christ Jesus. That good doctrine, which is committed to thy trust, keep through the holy spirit which dwelleth

in us.

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15 Thou knowest this, that all those who are in Asia have turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Her16 mogenes. The Lord show mercy to the household of One

siphorus: for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed 17 of my chain; but, when he was in Rome, sought for me 18 very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him

that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day 7. And in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

CH. 11. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the favour

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1 through Christ Jesus, N. 2 Gr. as concerning. 3 that great day, N.
4 Or, a form of sound words which thou heardest from me, hold fast in faith
and love.
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5 Or, by, N. m.
keep, &c.
7 that great day, N.
cious gospel.

Or, The honourable trust committed to thee, 8 the favour of God, N. Or, the gra

* i. e. the gospel. See ver. 14; and 1 Tim. v, 20, which are the only places in which the same word occurs. The apostle triumphed in the thought that, though he was persecuted, and soon to fall a sacrifice to the fury of his enemies, the gospel which was intrusted to him would not perish with him, but would be preserved by the power of God to the end of time. See Slichtingius in loc. The Primate renders the clause," he is able to keep what I have committed to him,"

2 which is by Christ Jesus. And the things which thou hast heard from me amidst many witnesses, these commit to faith3 ful men, who will be able to teach others also. Wherefore suffer thou hardships, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be 5 a soldier. And if a man contend also in the games, he is not 6 crowned unless he contend according to the laws. The husbandman must first labour, and then partake of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee' under8 standing in all things. Remember Jesus Christ of the race

of David, who was raised from the dead3, according to the 9 gospel which I preach3: for which I suffer hardships, unto bonds, as an evil-doer: but the word of God is not bound. 10 Wherefore I endure all things for the sake of the chosen *,

that they also may obtain the salvation which is through 11 Christ Jesus, with everlasting glory. These are true words:

for if we have died with him, we shall live also with him: 12 if we suffer, we shall reign also with him: if we deny him, 13 he also will deny us: if we be faithless, yet he continueth faithful: for he cannot deny himself.

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Of these things put men in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they contend not about words, to no 15 profit, but to the subversion of the hearers. Study to present thyself before God approved by him, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 16 truth. But avoid profane emptiness of speech": for they 17 that use it will increase to more ungodliness: and their

speech will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom are Hymenéus 18 and Philetus: who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and overthrow the

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1" for the Lord will give thee," Mss. ? Or, Remember that Jesus Christ hath been raised, &c. 3 Gr. my gospel. 4 The Primate supplies the word gen. tiles." 5 R. T. and N. omit the particle for. 6 subverting, N. 7 Or, profane and empty words: N. m.

19 faith of some.

Nevertheless the firm foundation of God standeth, having this inscription', "The Lord knoweth those that are his." And, "Let every one who nameth the 20 name of the Lord' depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold, and of silver, but of wood also, and of earth; and some to honour and some 21 to dishonour. Ifa man therefore cleanse himself thoroughly from these things, he will be a vessel to honour, sanctified, [and] fit for the master's use, and prepared to every good 22 work. Flee also youthful desires: but follow righteous

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ness, faith3, love, peace, together with those who call on 23 the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned 24 questions avoid, knowing that they beget contentions. And the servant of the Lord must not contend: but must be gen25 tle to all men, apt to teach, forbearing, with meekness in

structing those that oppose themselves; if by any means God may give them repentance to the acknowledgement of 26 the truth and they who have been taken captive by the accuser + may recover themselves out of his snare, to the will of God 5.

CH. III. But know this, that in the last days difficult times 2 will come. For men will be lovers of their own selves, lovers of wealth, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient 3 to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, covenant-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, haters 4 of good men, treacherous, rash, vain, lovers of pleasure 5 more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but 6 denying its power: from such also turn away. For of such

1 Gr. seal. 2 of Christ, R. T. 3 Or, faithfulness, N. m. 4 patient of wrong, Wakefield. 5 Gr. to his will.

*Mr. Wakefield translates, "who call themselves by the name of the Lord with a pure heart." This is favoured by the Armenian and Coptic versions. See Griesbach.

that is, they who through fear of calumny and persecution have apostatized from the Christian faith. 1 Tim. iii. 6, 7, 11. See Simpson on the Existence of the Devil, p. 147: "taken captive by the devil," N.

are those that enter into families, and lead captive weak 7 women laden with sins, led away by many evil desires, ever

learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the 8 truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so these also withstand the truth: men of corrupt minds, re9 probate concerning the faith. But they will not proceed far: for their folly will be manifest to all men, as that of the others also was.

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But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, 11 purpose, faith', long-suffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings; what things befel me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured: but out of all the 12 Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that would live religiously 13 in Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution: and evil men and

seducers will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being 14 deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast

learned, and hast been assured of, knowing from whom thou 15 hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known

the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto 16 salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. All

scripture given by inspiration of God * is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righte 17 ousness: that the man of God may be perfect, perfectly fitted to all good works.

CH. IV. I charge thee before God, and before Jesus Christ⭑ who will hereafter judge the living and the dead, and by 2 his appearance and his kingdom; preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; confute, rebuke, exhort,

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1 Or, faithfulness, N. m. 2 Or, by faith in Christ Jesus, N. m. thee therefore, R. T. and N. 4 the Lord Jesus Christ, R. T. pearance, R. T. and N.

3 I charge 5 at his ap

* All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable, &c. N. But in his note the Primate observes, that, "Some render, All scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable, &c. So Syr., the three Arabic versions, Vulg., Grotius, the English Bible of 1549, &c. Thus it is not defined what scripture was divinely inspired."

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