Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Ver. 1. _Be strong_] Together with the word there goes forth a power, as Luke 5:17. Exhortations are God's means to make us such as he requireth us to be. _ In the grace that is in Christ Jesus_] Weak grace may evidence pardon... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _Commit them to faithful men_] No talent is given us for private and proper use, but that we be trading and transmitting it also to others. Synesius... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Ver. 3. _Endure hardship_] Never dream of a delicacy; think not to find God in the gardens of Egypt, whom Moses found not but in the burning bush. Many love Canaan, but loathe the wilderness; commend the country, but look upon the c... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _With the affairs_] Or, gainful negotiations with marriage matters, say the Papists here, but without all show of sense. The Council of Chalcedon strictly forb... [ Continue Reading ]
And if a man also strive for masteries, _yet_ is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. Ver. 5. _Except we strive lawfully_] _Tam circa ciborum quam continentiae ac honestatis rationem, _ saith Cassianus, except for matter and manner he observe the laws of wrestling, both for preparation and ex... [ Continue Reading ]
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Ver. 6. _The husbandman labouring first_] _Spes alit agricolas. Nae illi falsi sunt_ (saith Salhst, in Jugur.) _qui diversissimas res expectant, ignaviae voluptatem, et praemia virtutis._ They are utterly out, that think to have th... [ Continue Reading ]
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Ver. 7. _Consider what I say_] Apply to thyself these forementioned similes, and so buckle close to thy business. _ And the Lord give thee_] Unless God open Hagar's eyes, she cannot see the fountain that is hard by. Rebecca c... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Ver. 8. _Remember that Jesus_] Remember it for thine encouragement; that Christ, for a reward of his sufferings, was both raised and exalted, Philippians 2:9 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, _even_ unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Ver. 9. _But the word of God is not bound_] It runs and is glorified, 2 Thessalonians 3:1, being free and not fettered. I preach, though a prisoner, saith Paul; so did Bradford and other martyrs. Within... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _That they may also obtain_] viz. By my pains in preaching, though bound, and by example of my patience in suffering bonds, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is_ a faithful saying: For if we be dead with _him_, we shall also live with _him_ : Ver. 11. _It is a faithful saying_] A sound and a sure assertion,Romans 8:17. Afflictions are the _praeludia triumphi, _ prelide of a triumph. _ If we be dead_] As Christ, 2 Timothy 2:8. Or, for Christ, if we... [ Continue Reading ]
If we suffer, we shall also reign with _him_ : if we deny _him_, he also will deny us: Ver. 12. _If we suffer_] No wearing the crown but by bearing the cross first. _Ne Iesum quidem audias gloriosum, nisi videris prius crucifixum, _ saith Luther (Epist. ad Melancthon). Christ himself was not glorif... [ Continue Reading ]
If we believe not, _yet_ he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Ver. 13. _If we believe not_] _See Trapp on "_ Rom 3:3 _"_ Some sense it thus: though we prove perfidious, yet he is no loser by us, as having all within himself. Howbeit hereby we show that we have no interest in Christ; for he... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _Strive not about words_] Either out of novelty or niceness. As Longolius, who would not use the word _Ecclesia, _ Church, but i... [ Continue Reading ]
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Ver. 15. _Study to show thyself_] There are crept into God's sanctuary such Levites to divide the word, that are not worthy the place of Gibeonites to cleave wood; like those unlea... [ Continue Reading ]
But shun profane _and_ vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. Ver. 16. _But shun_] Gr. περμστασο, go round about them, viz. to suppress them on every side. St Peter calls them bubbles of words, full of wind, 2 Peter 2:18 . _ For they will increase_] The Greek word προκοψουσι... [ Continue Reading ]
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Ver. 17. _Eat as doth a gangrene_] Which presently overruns the parts, and takes the brain, pierceth into the very bones, and if not suddenly cured by cutting off the part infected, kills the patient. Lo, such is heresy an... [ Continue Reading ]
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Ver. 18. _Have erred_] Gr. ηστοχησαν, have missed the mark, as unskilful archers, or as inconsiderate mariners, by misreckoning of a point, they have missed the haven and run upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 19. _Nevertheless the foundation_] viz. Of God's election, which is here compared to a sealed book: on the one side of... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _There are not only, &c._] Wonder not therefore, murmur not that there are a mixture of good and bad in God's house. He knows how to serve himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _Purge himself from these_] From these seducers or arch-heretics, those vessels of dishonour, whose doctrine defileth worse than an... [ Continue Reading ]
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Ver. 22. _Flee also youthful lusts_] φευγε, Flee them he must with post haste, though such a chaste and chastened piece as he was. Youth is a slippery age, slippery as gla... [ Continue Reading ]
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. Ver. 23. _But foolish and unlearned, &c._] παραιτου. _Vitiligatorum naenias devita._ Shift them off, set them by as seeds of sedition. Shake off vain questionists as great triflers. Such were the schoolmen, in detestati... [ Continue Reading ]
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all _men_, apt to teach, patient, Ver. 24. _Must not strive_] μαχεσθαι, scold, wrangle, _Ne rixando amittatur veritas, ut fere fit, _ lest by striving about the truth we utterly lose it. _Facta est fides Evangeliorum, fides temporum, e... [ Continue Reading ]
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; Ver. 25. _Those that oppose themselves_] Though they should deal as absurdly with us as those that deny the snow to be white, &c. Aristotle forbids to dispute with... [ Continue Reading ]
And _that_ they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Ver. 26. _Recover themselves_] ανανηψωσι. Put away their spiritual drunkenness, 1 Samuel 1:14, and go forth and shake themselves, as Samson, out of sin's lethargy. "Out of the snare of th... [ Continue Reading ]