1_But know this _By this prediction he intended still more to sharpen
his diligence; for, when matters go on to our wish, we become more
careless; but necessity urges us keenly. Paul, therefore informs him,
that the Church will be subject to terrible diseases, which will
require in the pastors uncom... [ Continue Reading ]
2_For men will be _It is proper to remark, first, in what he makes the
hardship of those “dangerous” or “troublesome” times to
consist; not in war, nor in famine, nor in diseases, nor in any
calamities or inconveniences to which the body is incident, but in the
wicked and depraved actions of men. An... [ Continue Reading ]
5_From those turn away_. This exhortation sufficiently shows that Paul
does not speak of a distant posterity, nor foretell what would happen
many ages afterwards; but that, by pointing out present evils, he
applies to his own age what he had said about “the last times;”
for how could Timothy “turn a... [ Continue Reading ]
6_Of those are they who creep into families _You would say, that here
Paul intentionally draws a lively picture of the order of monks. But
without saying a single word about monks, those marks by which Paul
distinguishes false and pretended teachers are sufficiently clear;
creeping into houses, snar... [ Continue Reading ]
7_Always learning, while yet they never can come to the knowledge of
the truth _That fluctuation between various desires, of which he now
speaks, is when, having nothing solid in themselves, they are tossed
about in all directions. They “learn,” he says, as people do who
are under the influence of c... [ Continue Reading ]
8_And as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses _This comparison confirms
what I have already said about the “last times”, for he means that
the same thing happens to us under the gospel, which the Church
experienced almost from her very commencement, or at least since the
law was published. In like mann... [ Continue Reading ]
9_But they shall not proceed further _He encourages Timothy for the
contest, by the confident hope of victory; for, although false
teachers give him annoyance, he promises that they shall be, within a
short time, disgracefully ruined. (184) Yet the event does not agree
with this promise; and the Apo... [ Continue Reading ]
10_But thou hast followed _(185) In order to urge Timothy, he employs
this argument also, that he is not an ignorant and untaught soldier,
because Paul carried him through a long course of training. Nor does
he speak of doctrine only; for those things which he likewise
enumerates add much weight, an... [ Continue Reading ]
11_But out of them all the Lord delivered me _It is a consolation
which mitigates the bitterness of afflictions, that they always have a
happy and joyful end. If it be objected, that the success of which he
boasts is not always visible, I acknowledge that this is true, so far
as relates to the feeli... [ Continue Reading ]
12_And all who wish to live a godly life _(186) Having mentioned his
own persecutions, he likewise adds now, that nothing has happened to
him which does not await all the godly. (187) And he says this, partly
that believers may prepare themselves for submitting to this
condition, and partly that goo... [ Continue Reading ]
13_But wicked men and impostors _This is the most bitter of all
persecutions, when we see wicked men, with their sacrilegious
hardihood, with their blasphemies and errors, gathering strength. Thus
Paul says elsewhere, that Ishmael persecuted Isaac, not by the sword,
but by mockery (Galatians 4:29.)... [ Continue Reading ]
14_But as for thee, continue in those things which thou hast learned
_Although wickedness prevail, and push its way forward, he advises
Timothy nevertheless to stand firm. And undoubtedly this is the actual
trial of faith, when we offer unwearied resistance to all the
contrivances of Satan, and do n... [ Continue Reading ]
15_And that from (thy) childhood _This was also no ordinary addition,
that he had been accustomed, from his infancy, to the reading of the
Scripture; for this long habit may make a man much more strongly
fortified against every kind of deception. It was therefore a
judicious caution observed in anci... [ Continue Reading ]
16_All Scripture; _or, _the whole of Scripture; _though it makes
little difference as to the meaning. He follows out that commendation
which he had glanced at briefly. First, he commends the Scripture on
account of its authority; and secondly, on account of the utility
which springs from it. In orde... [ Continue Reading ]
17_That the man of God may be perfect. Perfect _means here a blameless
person, one in whom there is nothing defective; for he asserts
absolutely, that the Scripture is sufficient for perfection.
Accordingly, he who is not satisfied with Scripture desires to be
wiser than is either proper or desirabl... [ Continue Reading ]