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1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, Rome. riod, 4778, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

or 4779. Valgar Era, 65 or 66.

§ 2. 2 TIM. 3-12.

St. Paul thanks God, whom he worships according to the
Manner of his Ancestors, that he has a constant Remem-
brance of Timothy in his Prayers, that he is mindful of
his Tears at their parting, or, as some suppose, when he
was instructed by St. Paul in the Christian Faith-He
thanks God also for Timothy's undissembled Faith, which
he received from his Progenitors-He calls upon him to
improve the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, by exercising it in
Defence of the Gospel, at all seasonable Occasions-For
Christ having given his faithful Followers the Spirit of
Courage and Wisdom, he ought not to be ashamed of the
Truth, which is the Testimony of Christ; or of St. Paul,
his Prisoner (as the Judaizing Teachers were) but become
a Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel in proportion
to the Ability given-God having saved all Mankind
from the Ruin of Sin, has invited them to become his
chosen People, according to his free Grace and Favour,
which was ordained from the Beginning of the World, but
is now made manifest by Jesus Christ, who hath made
Death ineffectual, by the eternal Life of the Soul after
Death, and the Incorruption of the Body after the Resur-
rection, which Things are illustrated in his own Person-
His divine Appointment to the Apostleship, that he might
instruct the Gentiles in the Doctrines of Salvation-his
past and present Persecutions on that account, have not
shaken his Faith in Christ.

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with
pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance
of thee in my prayers night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy :

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice: and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

commands, and charge him to live and suffer as he had done-
and you will have the frame of the apostle's mind during the
whole of this Epistle.

(a) Michaelis, vol. iv. p. 161-164. (b) Lactant. de Mort. persecu-
torum, c. 2. et Euseb. Histor. Eccles. l. 5. c. 1. versus fin edit. Reading.
p. 207.

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7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of Rome. riod, 4778, power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

or 4779.

Vulgar Æra, 65 or 66.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began ;

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel :

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: neyertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

§ 3. 2 TIM. i. 13, to the end. ii. 1-7.

He exhorts Timothy, in the midst of Dangers and Opposi-
tions, firmly to hold fast the Plan of Salvation, which he
had received from him through Faith, and Love of Christ;
and to keep the Gospel, which is deposited with him pure,
from all false Doctrine, by the Holy Spirit within him-
He shews the Necessity of stedfastness in the Faith, by
mentioning the Defection of many Asiatic Christians, on
account of his Disgrace and Suffering (chap. iv. 16.)—
The Apostle prays that Onesiphorus, who still acknow-
ledged him and ministered to him in his Prison, might be
rewarded for his Kindness, and that he may find Mercy
in the Lord Jesus in the Day of Judgment-The Apostle
exhorts Timothy also to be strong in Grace, and to com-
mit those Truths which he had received from St. Paul,
and which had been confirmed by many Witnesses, to
Men of approved Fidelity, who, after his Departure, may
be able to teach others also-Like a true Soldier, he is
to keep himself unencumbered by secular Occupations,
that he may be devoted to the Service of Christ; for if
any Man contend in the public Games, he is not crowned
unless he strive according to the prescribed Rules-The
Husbandman must first labour before he can partake of
the Fruits of the Earth: so also must the Christian Mi-
nister fulfil his Functions in the Manner appointed by
Christ, and Labour in his spiritual Vineyard before he
receives the promised Reward-The Apostle desires him
seriously to consider these Things, and prays that the
Lord will give him Understanding in all religious Mat-

ters.

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riod, 4778,

or 4779. Vulgar Era 65 or 66.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast Rome. heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

14 That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain :

17 But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also 23.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, 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 a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

§ 4. 2 TIM. ii. 8-13.

The Apostle desires Timothy to remember that the funda-
mental Doctrine on which the Gospel is founded, is the
Resurrection of Jesus in his human Form from the Dead,
contrary to that taught by Hymeneus and Philetus, who
preached a figurative Resurrection only (ver. 18.)-He
is now suffering as a Malefactor, in Bonds, on account of
the Gospel; but as his Enemies cannot bind the Gospel,
he patiently endures all Things for the Sake of the Gen-
tiles, that they may also obtain the Blessings of Salva-
tion; for it is certain that those who die with Christ in
the Flesh will also live with him in Glory-that those
who suffer with him will reign with him, but those who

23 St. Paul himself, a little before his death, has here clearly instituted a Gospel ministry. This was done by divine inspiration, and a succession of authorized teachers has perpetuated the true Gospel doctrine, from that time to the present period.

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through Fear deny him, he will deny them also at the Rome.
Day of Judgment-For though Man may be unfaithful,
God remains faithful to all his Promises and Threaten-
ings, and cannot act contrary to himself.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David,
was raised from the dead according to my gospel :

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself.

§ 5. 2 TIM. ii. 14–21.

The Apostle commands Timothy to put the Ephesians in mind of these great Motives to Faithfulness, charging them, as in the Presence of Christ, not to contend about Words to become himself a Workman approved of God, seasonably distributing the Word of Truth-resisting all profane and empty Declamations, which lead to greater Impiety, destroying the Soul as a Gangrene destroys the Body-Such are the Doctrines of Hymeneus and Philetus, who have greatly erred from the Truth, asserting that the Resurrection was accomplished when Men believedNotwithstanding these Defections, the Church of God being built on the Foundation of the Apostles (Eph. ii. 20.) their Authority stands firm, having this Inscription engraven on it (Num. xvi. 5. 26.), implying it was as Necessary for the Safety of the Ephesians to depart from such iniquitous Teachers, as it was for the Israelites to go from the Tents of Korah and his Companions, if they would avoid their Punishment-In a great Man's House there are Vessels of Gold and Silver, and Wood and Earthenware; some to honourable, some to a dishonourable Use: so in the House or Church of God, there are Teachers of different Characters, some engaged in the honourable Work of the Ministry, others in the dishonourable one of leading Men into Error-He who cleanses himself from such Debasement, will become a Vessel of Honour, consecrated and profitable to God's Use, who is Head of the Christian Church.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

Julian Period, 4778, or 4779.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a work- Rome. man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Vulgar Æra, word of truth.

65 or 66.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness:

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying, That the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

§ 6. 2 TIM. ii. 22, to the end.

That Timothy might become a Vessel consecrated to the
Use of God, St. Paul admonishes him to refrain from all
youthful Passions, the Lust of Ambition and Power, and
diligently to pursue Righteousness, Fidelity, Love to God
and Man, and Peace with all, particularly those who
have a pure
Desire to glorify God's Name-to reject the
foolish Notions and Practices of the Judaizers-To use
no violent Methods-to be gentle, practising the Virtues
he recommends-in Meekness instructing Opposers,
if by God's Grace they may be brought to the Acknow-
ledgment of the Truth-Being taken alive by the Servant
of God, from the Snares of the Devil, the Errors and
Sensuality of the Judaizers, that they may be preserved
from Destruction, and awake from the Intoxication of
Sin, that they may see their Danger, and know and do
the Will of God.

22 Flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness,
faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out
of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth:

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the