2 Timothy 2:2

the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses -Of" in the sense of from as in 2 Timothy 1:13; - among," i.e. -in the presence of according to the well-known use of the same preposition in Galatians 3:19 -(the law) ordained throughangels," i.e. -in the presence of," -amid the pomp of." Cf. Winer iii. § 47 i., -intervenientibus multis testibus." We are most probably to understand the presbyters who assisted at Timothy's ordination. See 1 Timothy 4:14; and note the similar form of the statement there -amid the pomp of prophesying" with the similar use of the preposition.

the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able Lit., -who are of such a class that they will be able," as 1 Timothy 1:4, &c. St Clement of Rome, St Paul's contemporary, thus further defines the rule of this apostolic succession, ad Cor. c. 44. -The Apostles appointed the above-named priests and deacons, permanence being afterwards given by them to the office in order that oh the death of the first-appointed other reputed men should succeed to their ministry. Those then who were appointed either directly by the Apostles or in the second generation by other approved heads with the consent of the whole Church … we do not think can be rightly ejected from office." See Lightfoot's emended text, p. 136.