ANNOTATIONS ON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY.

THE ARGUMENT AND ANALYSIS.

Saint Paul being ready to lay down his earthly tabernacle, sends for Timothy to come unto him, and to bring with him such things as he most needed: withal, he foretells his own martyrdom, and the crown of righteousness which he should thereby receive, and fully instructs Timothy how to carry himself in the government of the Church, after his departure.

The Epistle itself is partly

1. Commendatory of Timothy himself, and his parents, and Onesiphorus, and others, chap. 1, 2.

2. Exhortatory to chastity, faith, charity, peace, and meekness, chap. 2. To undaunted fortitude, in withstanding all opposition against the truth, and to the study of the Scriptures, chap. 3. To diligence in his pastoral function, watchfulness, patience, and to godly prudence, and constancy in his holy profession to the end, chap. 4.

CHAPTER 1

Vers. 1. {Promise of life} Eternal life hid in Christ, which God has promised to all that believe in him.

V. 2. {beloved son} He calls Timothy his son in a natural, civil and spiritual, or Ecclesiastical respect: First, in a natural, because Paul was now aged, and Timothy but a young man. Secondly, in a civil or moral, because Paul affected him, as if he were his own son, and Timothy served him as a son does his father; Phil. 2.22. Thirdly, in a spiritual or Ecclesiastical, because Paul ordained him a minister of the Gospel. See 1 Tim. 1.2.

V. 3. {forefathers} Not his immediate forefathers, who bred him up in Pharisaism, but his ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, &c. who served God in the same true religion, for substance, which the Apostle now professes, Acts 23.1. and 24.16.

{with pure} Gr. in pure.

V. 5. {call} Gr. calling.

V. 16. {stir up} Gr. kindle again; or, quicken, as fire burneth under ashes, ἀναζωπυρεῖν, signifies to rekindle, or revive; for the gift of God is as it were a certain lively flame kindled in our hearts, which the flesh and the devil go about to put out; and therefore we on the contrary must labor, as much as we can, to foster and keep it burning. In the metaphor the Apostle seems to allude to the type of the Priests in the Old Testament, by whose ministry the holy fire on the altar was cherished, (that it might not go out) and as it slaked, blown to a brighter flame.

{the gift} Some by this gift understand the gift of miracles, which he received by the imposition of the Apostles’ hands; and that by the laying hands of the presbytery, 1 Tim. 4.14. he was admitted into the holy ministry; but because there is no proof in Scriptures or undoubted antiquity, that Timothy had the gift of miracles, it is more probable, that by gift is here meant that ghostly power or office which Timothy received at his ordination, by the laying on of the Apostles’ hands on him, in the presence of the presbytery, who all gave consent thereunto, and testified it by putting their hands upon him also, 1 Tim. 4.14.

V. 7. {spirit of fear} The meaning is, rouse up the gifts of God in you, and suffer not them to be slaked or abated by carnal fear, for such a fear does in no wise proceed from the working of the Spirit, but is quite contrary to the same which the Apostle does mention here; lest Timothy might be affrighted with the affliction of the Church, and of Paul’s in particular.

{but of power} Of courage and resolution to go through with the work of the ministry, notwithstanding all oppositions and dangers.

{of love} Of an holy love of God and Christ, wherewith the faithful being inflamed, do cheerfully undergo all manner of troubles and adversities for his sake.

{sound mind} Whereby the Holy Ghost does reduce the troubled mind to tranquility, and banish all turbulent passions, such as fear is. Or the spirit of moderation and discretion, that we bring not causeless troubles upon ourselves, and when they come upon us, break not out into a rage or impatience.

V. 8. {afflictions of the Gospel} Be a cheerful partner with me of those troubles and afflictions which follow the profession of the Gospel. These are called afflictions of the Gospel, because as Christ suffers in the persecution of his members, so the Gospel after a sort suffers, when the preachers thereof are opposed, disgraced, silenced, and imprisoned, or any way hindered from the free and powerful preaching thereof.

V. 9. {not according to our works} See Tit. 3.5. Not for the merit of our works, but for his own mercies’ sake; or, not according to works done by us in time, or foreseen by God before the world was; for these works, as in time they flowed from the grace of God, so they were foreseen likewise no otherwise than as effects of his grace in us, and consequently not as causes or inducements to God, to elect us to eternal life.

{before the world began} Gr. secular times, or, everlasting. See Ephes. 1.4. Tit. 1.2.

V. 10. {who hath abolished death} By taking away the fear and sting of the natural death in all true believers, 1 Cor. 15.55. Heb. 2.15. and freeing them from the guilt and punishment of the eternal and second death. Rev. 2.11. and 20.6.

{life and immortality to light} Has given us a full and clear sight of immortality, whereof before we had but as a glimpse; or showed us a clear way to life and immortality.

V. 11. {Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, &c.} See 1 Tim. 2.7.

V. 12. {believed} Or, trusted.

{keep that which I have committed} Either my precious soul which I have committed to his care and custody to bring it forth glorious at that day of his appearing: Or, my eternal life, happiness and crown of glory, which I have as it were deposited with him by faith and hope.

V. 23. {form of sound words} Gr. wholesom, or, healthful ὑγιαινόντων, such as conduce to the health of our souls, rather wholesome than delicate, or words not tainted with, nor savoring of any error or heresy, false or corrupt doctrine.

V. 14. {committed unto thee} See 1 Tim. 6.20.

{by the Holy Ghost} Though it be a hard thing to do it, considering what enemies lie in wait to rob us of it: yet the Spirit of God is mighty, who has endued us with power and virtue to keep it.

V. 15. {turned away from me} Leaving me in my trouble and affliction, and being ashamed of my bonds.

V. 16. {my chain} See Ephes. 6.20.

V. 17. {sought me out} By this it appears, that S. Paul was not in prison for then Onesiphorus needed not to have made any great search to find him; yet was he not free, but committed to the custody of the keeper, with whom he might go abroad to dispatch his affairs; and therefore in the verse going before, he speaks not of chains in the plural number, but of a chain in the singular, with which he was tied to the soldier that kept him. Vid. Senec. l. 1. de tranquil. an. c. 10. Eadem catena tam reum quam militem tenet.

CHAPTER 2

Vers. 1. {My son} See Chap. 1.2.

{in the grace that is in Christ Jesus} Be strong and courageous in the maintenance of the Gospel of Christ: or confidently rely on the favor of God, wherewith the Father embraces us for his Son Christ Jesus’ sake.

V. 2. {among many witnesses} Or, by many witnesses. Either the things which you have heard confirmed by many witnesses and testimonies of holy Scripture, as the word witnesses is taken, Heb. 12.1. Or, which you heard of me at your ordination among the whole presbytery: Or, not spoken in a corner, but publicly in my preaching, before many witnesses.

V. 3. {endure hardness} Or, suffer affliction. The ministry of the Word is a spiritual warfare, wherein no man can so serve that he may please his captain or general, but he must forego and part from all hindrances which may draw him from it, and also endure much hardness and be put to many a hot brunt.

V. 4. {No man that warreth} Warriors and soldiers busy not themselves with merchandising, handicraft works, husbandry or household affairs; but are always attending their watchings, marchings, and other services and commands of their leaders and captains: so neither must a faithful minister of the Gospel trouble or distract himself with any worldly matters and affairs that may hinder him in the faithful discharge of his sacred function.

{entangleth himself} Gr. is entangled.

V. 5. {strive for masteries} The ministry is like to a game, or striving for the mastery, wherein no man is crowned unless he strive according to the laws that are prescribed, be they never so difficult or painful.

V. 6. {The husbandman, &c.} Or, The husbandman labouring first, must be partaker of the fruits.

V. 8. {Remember that Jesus Christ} He confirms two principles of our faith which are always assaulted by heretics; the one, that Christ is the true Messias, God incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and made of the seed of David; and the other the highest article of our Creed and mystery of our salvation, his resurrection from the dead.

V. 9. {but the word of God is not bound} Though they may confine me, and bind me fast, yet they cannot bind and fetter the Gospel of Christ, that word of his ever is and shall be free, not only preached by those who are at liberty, but even by me and other servants of Christ who are restrained and in durance.

V. 10. {endure all things} Not in their stead, or that my sufferings may be imputed unto them, but I endure afflictions for those offices, which I do towards the furthering of the salvation of God’s elect.

V. 11. {if we be dead with him} See Rom. 5.8. If we be afflicted with him, and persecuted even to death for his sake, we shall also live together with him eternally, and most happily in heaven.

V. 12. {If we suffer} See Rom. 8.17.

{if we deny him} See Matt. 10.33. Mark 8.38.

V. 13. {if we believe not} See Rom. 3.3.

{he abideth faithful} Though we alter never so much, yet God is the same, most just and faithful in all his promises, and undertakings, Rom. 3.3. Mal. 3.6. Jam. 1.17.

V. 14. {strive not about words} μὴ λογομαχεῖν. Not to strive about words only, when the controversy is mere verbal or nominal, and no way real, or not at all importing faith or good manners: or, strive not with words bandying contumelious speeches, or bringing no better proof than vaunting words and boastings.

V. 15. {rightly dividing} By adding nothing to it, neither overslipping anything, neither mangling it, nor renting it in sunder, nor wresting of it; but marking diligently what his hearers are able to bear, and what is fit for edification. The metaphor is taken either from the cutting and squaring out of the streets and highways, and setting out the bounds of men’s lands and possessions: or from the Priests of the Old Testament, who having slain the beasts that were to be sacrificed, did joint and divide the same in an accurate manner: or from housekeepers that cut out and divide to everyone in their families their share and portion of meat, 1 Cor. 3.2. Luk. 12.42. Heb. 5.12.

V. 16. {increase} Or, proceed.

V. 17. {eat as doth a canker} Or, gangrene. γαγγραῖνα from γραίνω, signifying to eat, as the disease called a wolf or a canker does, which if it be not looked to in time grows incurable, and not only consumes the part where it is, but spreads farther in the flesh: such is the nature of heretical doctrine, if it be not stopped in the beginning, and cured by solid confutations, and Ecclesiastical censures inflicted upon those that are obstinate, it will spread far, and run over the whole body of the Church, and corrupt the same, 1 Cor. 5.7. Gal. 5.9.

{Hymenaeus and Philetus} He names here the chiefest of those profane, and vain babblers, that being known they might be the better shunned.

V. 18. {erred} Or, missed the mark.

{resurrection is past} It is probable they taught that there was no other resurrection but the spiritual rising of the soul from the death of sin; or the renovation of the condition of the world under the Gospel, according as the word resurrection is sometimes taken.

{overthrow the faith of some} That is, infect them with their heresy, and thereby subvert their orthodox faith.

V. 19. {Nevertheless} Although some slide away from the truth, we must not be offended thereat, as if the salvation of the elect were not sure.

{the foundation of God} The eternal election, which is the first groundwork of the salvation of the faithful, laid by God himself, cannot be shaken in such sort, that the elect of God should be seduced by the like heresies, and fall away from faith, Matth. 24.24.

{sure} Or, steady.

{having this seal} The book of life in which the names of the elect are written is confirmed as with a seal, and the number of the elect in the foreknowledge of God is sealed up as in a book.

{Let every one} Though the Lord has eternally foreknown those that are his, yet not so that we presuming upon that decree should cast away all care of our salvation, and let loose the reins to all carnal liberty. For on our parts who are thus mercifully foreknown and elected to salvation, there is required a holy and a conscionable obedience, and a careful endeavor to please God in all things, and shun all manner of sin.

V. 20. {and some to honour} See Rom. 9.21.

V. 21. {If a man therefore purge} Cleanse himself from these heretical and impure doctrines, and keep himself unspotted of the world by the grace and virtue of the Holy Ghost that dwells in him, 1 Pet. 1.22. Joh. 5.5.

{vessel unto honour} The counsel of God shall be fulfilled in him, and he shall be really and effectually according as he is ordained unto it of God, a vessel of honor. Or, he shall show and approve himself to be such a vessel indeed. The like expression we have Joh. 15.8.

V. 23. {foolish and unlearned} See 1 Tim. 1.4. Tit. 3.9.

V. 24. {must not strive} Must not be of a contentious disposition, nor at all strive about foolish and unlearned questions, vers. 23.

{patient} Or, forbearing. To win them through our patient bearing with them, but not to please them, or excuse them in their wickedness.

V. 25. {oppose themselves} Gr. set themselves against him, or, are ill affected to him.

{repentance to the acknowledging} The knowledge of the truth goes before repentance, yet true repentance goes before the public recantation of their error, and particular acknowledgment of that truth before gainsaid and opposed.

V. 26. {recover} Gr. awake.

{snare of the devil} Heretical doctrines are the snares wherein the devil entangles the understanding of seduced men, as vicious provocations are the snares wherein he entangles the wills and affections of dissolute persons.

{taken captive} Gr. taken alive.

{at his will} Gr. to.

CHAPTER 3

Vers. 1. {In the last days} See 1 Tim. 4.1. 2 Pet. 3.3. Jude 18. The end of the world is the harvest, and when the sins of Antichrist and of all his followers shall be ripe, then will the Angel thrust in his sickle and mow the earth, Apoc. 14.16.18. 1 Tim. 4.1.

{perilous times} Gr. hard. We may not hope for a Church in this world without corruption, but there shall be rather great abundance of most wicked men, even in the very bosom of the Church, who notwithstanding shall make a show and countenance of great holiness.

V. 2. {lovers of their own selves} Such persons have been in all ages of the Church, but towards the end of the world, being as it were the lees and dregs of time, there shall be almost none but such: these vices being spread over the whole face of the Church, and the mentioned evils become epidemical.

{covetous} Gr. lovers of silver; or, money.

{boasters, proud} See Rom. 1.29,30.

V. 3. {false accusers} Or, make-bates.

V. 4. {highminded} Gr. puffed up.

V. 5. {Having a form of godliness} Or, formality. Not μορφὴν, but μόρφωσιν, not the true form and essence of godliness, but an outward conformation thereunto, a resemblance, vizard, or show of holiness; men’s religion consisting in a formal profession of godliness, (Tit. 1.16.) without expressing the power and efficacy thereof in their lives: Or, in external gestures, behaviors, rites, and ceremonies, without the pure inward worship of God in spirit and truth.

V. 6. {women laden with sins} Silly women are more easily deceived, and those of them are more apt to be misled in their judgments which are given up to lewd and wanton courses. Josephus Antiq. Jud. 2. observes that the Pharisees had their Gynecea, colleges or meeting of women; and S. Jerome ad Cres. that Simon Magus had his Helena, Marcion his female forerunner, Apelles his Philumena, Montanus his Maximilla, Donatus his Lucillia, Elpidius his Agape, Priscillian his Galla, Arius the Prince his sister; and generally all arch heretics some strumpet or other, by whom they spread the poison of their heresy.

V. 7. {Ever learning} The Apostle taxes not these women for endeavoring by continual learning to improve their knowledge; but for curious inquiring into every novelty of doctrine, and following now one teacher, now another, having no care to attain to sound and saving truth.

V. 8. {Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses} The names of the chief of the Egyptian sorcerers that strove with Moses, whose names are not expressed, Exo. 7.11. yet are here related by the Apostle, either out of some Jewish writers, not now extant, or from some ancient tradition. Howsoever, certain it is, that these Magicians’ names were famous, or infamous, for Numerius the Pythagorean Philosopher, and Artabanus the Historian make mention of them both, and Pliny in his Natural Story, l. 3. c. 1. names one of them to wit, Jannes. See Euseb. de prep. Evang. l. 9. c. 3.

{reprobate concerning the faith} Or, of no judgement. Whose doctrines are abominable before God, and ought to be rejected of all; or, who have lost all right and sound judgment in things that belong to the Faith, Rom. 1.18.26. Tit. 1.16.

V. 9. {proceed no further} He adds a comfort, that God will at length pluck off all the vizards of Hypocrites and false teachers.

{folly} Or, madness.

V. 10. {thou hast} Or, thou hast been a follower of.

{fully known} You know thoroughly, not only what I taught and did, but also how I was minded and disposed.

V. 11. {afflictions} Gr. sufferings.

V. 12. {shall suffer persecution} Gr. shall be persecuted.

V. 13. {worse and worse} 2 Pet. 2.20,22.

{deceiving, and being deceived} Deceiving others by their sophisms and fair show of holiness, and being deceived by Satan.

V. 15. {from a child} There is nothing more profitable than to be exercised in the Scriptures from our infancy; for the vessels that are at the first seasoned with the savor of life, seldom or never lose it, Prov. 22.6. And though while they are very young, they cannot come to much understanding, yet the having of Scripture phrase and texts by heart, is very useful, and will much stead them after they come to riper years, and are able to dive deeper into the meaning of those things they retain perfect in their memories from their childhood.

{wise unto salvation, through faith} Although the Scripture sufficiently instruct us unto salvation, yet we cannot be saved without a lively faith working through love, therefore he adds, through faith: Or, by Scriptures he means the Scriptures of the Old Testament which it is like were only extant when Timothy was a child, the knowledge whereof could not save Timothy without faith in Christ, whereby he believed the accomplishment of all those things which were foreshowed in the Old Testament, both by predictions and types.

V. 16. {All Scripture is given} See 2 Pet. 1.21. Or, the whole Scripture, as the word is taken, 1 Cor. 13.2. and elsewhere. Every part of Scripture is divinely inspired, 2 Pet. 1.20,21. and is profitable to some of these ends, to furnish the man of God to some good works: but the whole Scripture is profitable to all those ends, to furnish him to every good work. The parts of the Scripture as they were delivered, were sufficient for the instruction of those to whom they were delivered; and now the whole is most sufficient for us, and all Churches to the end of the world.

V. 17. {man of God} The Minister of God in his Church, 1 Tim. 6.11.

{perfect} Gr. accomplished.

{throughly furnished} Or, perfected.

{furnished unto all good works} That is, to all the services of his profession, to those works of his calling, he mentioned before, namely doctrine of the principles of Christian Religion, reproof of errors and false doctrines, correction of life and evil manners, and instruction in the precepts of a holy life and Christian conversation.

CHAPTER 4

Vers. 1. {I Charge thee therefore} Gr. testifie, or, denounce. This is my principal and chief charge of all.

{before God and the Lord Jesus Christ} This deep kind of charging Timothy, in so vehement and pathetical a manner, shows how urgent and important the matter is, how simply necessary diligent and constant preaching is in a Minister of the Gospel, and how fearful his case is, if he fail in this duty of his function.

{judge of quick and dead} See 1 Cor. 15.51. 1 Thess. 4.17.

V. 2. {in season, out of season} Upon all occasions, with a holy importunity. There is no contradiction in these commands, both may and ought to be done by a faithful Minister of God, who preaches in season, when God offers him a fair opportunity, and the hearers desire, Neh. 8.1. and call for the Word, and the argument he handles, is seasonable for the time. Out of season, when a door of utterance is opened unto him, that he may preach, but his hearers are not willing to hear, either because they are ill-affected to the Word, or distracted by other businesses, or they like not to hear such points touched or meddled with at such a time, when yet he knows it to be needful for the health of their souls, to hear such doctrines handled, or duties pressed.

{exhort} Or, comfort.

V. 3. {sound doctrine} Gr. wholesom. See 1 Tim. 1.10.

V. 4. {ears} Gr. hearing.

V. 5. {watch thou} Or, be sober. The wickedness and falling away of the world ought to cause faithful Ministers to be so much the more careful and vigilant; and so likewise the taking away of those who labored with them before in that office. Vers. 6. John 1.2. Col. 4.17.

{make full} Or, fulfil.

{ready to be offered} To be sacrificed or martyred. The word in the Original σπένδομαι, signifies properly libation, or a drink-offering; and he alludes to the pouring out of blood, or wine which was used in sacrifice, and seems withal to intimate the manner of death wherewith he was to glorify God, which was not by being offered as a holocaust by fire, as Polycarp, and many others were, but by a death wherein his blood was shed or poured out, namely beheading.

{departure} Gr. dissolution. See Philip. 1.23.

V. 7. {fought a good fight} Gr. that good fight. See 1 Tim. 6.12.

{I have finished my course} I am come to the period of my days; Vixi, & quem dederat cursum fortuna, peregi. And in this metaphor he seems to allude to the manner of his whole life, which after his conversion was spent, as it were, wholly in running from place to place, speedily to disperse the doctrine of the Gospel, and now he was come to the last stage or goal at Rome, where he was to receive his garland, after the manner of those who ran for prizes. 1 Cor. 9.24,25.

{kept the faith} The true doctrine of faith; or the gift of saving and justifying faith; or the faithfulness which he promised Christ in the discharge of his Apostleship, Rev. 2.10.

V. 8. {a crown of righteousness} A reward of just and holy works, an incorruptible crown of glory, which though it be a crown of mercy, Psal. 103.4. and a gift of grace, Rom. 6.23. yet he calls it here a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give him, the more fitly to follow the metaphor taken from runners or wrestlers for prizes, at their solemn exercises or games in Greece, in which there were certain Judges appointed to observe those that proved masteries, and give just sentence on the conqueror’s side, if he strove lawfully, and fairly won the prize. And the meaning of the Apostle is, that he had kept the laws of proving masteries, and so acquitted himself in running and wrestling, that he might justly expect the prize. Besides, eternal life may be rightly termed a crown of righteousness, both ex parte Dei, who promises it to everyone that overcomes, Revel. 2.10. & 3.21. and ex parte rei, because it is just and righteous with God to render unto them, who have endured for his sake toilsome labors, painful torments, and disgraceful reproaches, ease, joy and glory. 2 Thes. 1.6,7.

{love his appearing} That they may see him in glory, who suffered so much for them in this world, and that they may receive from him their everlasting reward.

V. 10. {loved this present world} Has given over to tend on me in my affliction any longer, choosing rather to follow his worldly occasions, and provide for his own safety and profit.

V. 13. {cloak that I left at Troas} φελόνην, which some take for a riding coat, or traveling cloak, as if it were made by a transposition of letters, from the Latin penula; but the most ancient Syriac interpreter takes it for domum, or, repositorium scriptorum; and Hesychius a most exquisite Greek Grammarian inclines to that opinion, that by it the Apostle meant scriniolum, a little desk or coffer, wherein he laid his books or writings.

V. 14. {Alexander the Coppersmith} Covetousness is the bane of religion. Two of the greatest enemies S. Paul had, were two smiths, the one a silversmith, Acts 19.24. and this coppersmith here, and both of them, as it is conceived, maligned and opposed him, and his preaching for the same reason, because the Apostle taught they were no Gods that were made with hands, and thereby hindered their gain, and marred their handicraft, which was to make silver, or copper shrines, or images to the heathen gods and goddesses.

{the Lord reward him} Gr. Tec. shall reward him. This is not a curse, proceeding from anger, or a revengeful heart, which is contrary to the doctrine of Christ, Matt. 5.44. and of S. Paul himself, Rom. 12.14. but a Prophetical commination out of a godly zeal, and a prediction inspired by the Holy Ghost, of the punishment which was ready to be executed upon him. See Psal. 5.10. & 109.7. & deinceps. With this interpretation agrees the Greek copy of great antiquity, written, as it is supposed by Tecla, wherein the Verb is not ἀποδῴη, but ἀποδώσει, the Lord reward, but the Lord shall or will reward him according to his works.

V. 15. {our words} Or, our preachings.

V. 16. {answer} Gr. apologie, or, defence of my self.

{that it may not be laid to their charge} It is not sufficient for us to maintain the truth ourselves, but we must assist them who stand up for the truth, and not timorously shrink from them when they are in trouble for it.

V. 17. {stood with me} Gr. by me, or, assisted me.

{mouth of the lion} Out of great and imminent danger of death. Some by the Lion understand the Emperor Nero, so called for his rage and cruelty; as generally Tyrants and powerful enemies of the Church are called. Ezek. 19.2. Psal. 35.17. & 91.13. Prov. 28.15. Jere. 2.15. & 47. And Marsyas certifying his Patron at Rome of the death of Tiberius, uses this phrase, τεθνηκὲν ὁ λέων, the Lion is dead. Josephus antiqu. l. 18. c. 16.

V. 18. {every evil work} From forsaking or wronging the truth, or doing anything out of cowardly fear that may blemish this my holy profession.

V. 20. {at} Gr. in.

{at} Gr. in.