I charge _thee_ therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Ver. 1. _I charge thee therefore_] Matters of greatest importance must be pressed with greatest vehemence. As God putteth not forth great power but for great pur... [ Continue Reading ]
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Ver. 2. _Be instant_] Gr. επιστηθι, stand over it, stand close to it. Chrysostom, at Antioch, having preached many sermons against swearing, was at length asked when he would preach up... [ Continue Reading ]
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; Ver. 3. _Sound doctrine_] Which, as honey, _vulnera purgat, ulcera mordet, _ purgeth green wounds, but causeth pain to exulcerate parts. (Alex. Aph... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall turn away _their_ ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Ver. 4. _Turn their ears from the truth_] Aristotle writeth (De Mirabil. Auscult.) that vultures are killed with oil of roses. Sweet smells enrage tigers. Swine cannot live in some parts of Arabia, saith Pliny, b... [ Continue Reading ]
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. Ver. 5. _Endure afflictions, do the work_] _Honor ministerii est in onere, dignitas in diligeutia, corona in contemptu._ Make full proof] πληροφορησον, or, accomplish thy ministry. So e... [ Continue Reading ]
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. Ver. 6. _Ready to be offered_] To be poured out as a drink offering upon God's altar. _a_ Thus the apostle expresseth himself emphatically, pathetically, elegantly, setting forth by what death he should glorify God, viz. by... [ Continue Reading ]
I have fought a good fight, I have finished _my_ course, I have kept the faith: Ver. 7. _I have fought a good fight_] The nearer anything is to the centre, the more strongly and swiftly it moveth. The wine of the Spirit is strongest in the saints, when they are drawing to an end. His motions are qu... [ Continue Reading ]
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Ver. 8. _There is laid up a crown_] Beyond a crown the wishes of mortal men extend not. Alexander inviting... [ Continue Reading ]
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: Ver. 9. _Do thy diligence, &c._] We want much of our comfort in the want of a friend,Ecclesiastes 4:9. _Optimum solatium sodalitium._ How doth David bemoan the loss of Jonathan! How did Dr Taylor prize the company of his fellow prisoner, that angel of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Ver. 10. _Demas hath forsaken me_] Blazing comets, as long as they keep aloft, shine bright; but when they begin to decline from their pitch, they fall to the ea... [ Continue Reading ]
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. Ver. 11. _For he is profitable_] Once unprofitable, Act 15:38 _See Trapp on "_ Act 15:38 _"_ but now profitable, Phm 11.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. Ver. 12. _Tychicus have I sent_] For what end, see Ephesians 6:22. _See Trapp on "_ Eph 6:22 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring _with thee_, and the books, _but_ especially the parchments. Ver. 13. _The cloak that I left_] _O supellectilem Apostolicam!_ (Eras. _in loc._) Oh, what a small deal of household stuff had this great apostle, saith Erasmus; a cloak... [ Continue Reading ]
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Ver. 14. _Alexander the coppersmith_] Who was once _martyrio propinquus, _ saith Calvin, near unto martyrdom in Paul's cause, Acts 19:33. A glorious professor may become a furious persecutor. "Let him that stand... [ Continue Reading ]
Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. Ver. 15. _He hath greatly resisted our words_] Or, our preachings, not our persons only. This was a foul fault. See1 Thessalonians 4:8; Exodus 16:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all _men_ forsook me: _I pray God_ that it may not be laid to their charge. Ver. 16. _No man stood with me_] So that Paul might have said as Socrates did, φιλοι, ουδεις φιλος, My friends, I have never a friend. And as Plato, A friend is a very mutable cr... [ Continue Reading ]
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and _that_ all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Ver. 17. _The Lord stood_] God is never so sweet and so seasonable to his saints as in the day of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve _me_ unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom _be_ glory for ever and ever. Amen. Ver. 18. _And the Lord shall deliver_] Experience breeds confidence. St Paul got an opportunity after this from Rome to make an excursion to plant and co... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Ver. 19. _Salute Prisca, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Rom 16:3 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Ver. 20. _At Miletum sick_] _See Trapp on "_ Php 2:27 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. Ver. 21. _Do thy diligence, &c._] The apostle quickeneth Timothy, as Cicero did his friend, _Quamobrem si me amas, &c., si dormis expergiscere, si stas ingredere, si ingrederis c... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord Jesus Christ _be_ with thy spirit. Grace _be_ with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.>> Ver. 22. _Grace be with you_] God's blessing be with you al... [ Continue Reading ]