EXPRESSIONS OF AFFECTION AND EXHORTATIONS TO FAITHFULNESS 1, 2. Salutation. According to the promise of life] St. Paul declares himself appointed an Apostle with the view of his spreading the knowledge of the life which had been promised and was now being enjoyed by Christians adopted in Christ. 3... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK GOD] The construction is involved. What St. Paul thanks God for is Timothy's unfeigned faith which he remembers night and day, thinking of their last sad parting and hoping to see him again.... [ Continue Reading ]
EUNICE] is simply described in Acts 16:1 as 'a woman that was a Jewess.' She was Lois' daughter, Timothy's father was a Greek.... [ Continue Reading ]
Exhortation to firmness in his glorious calling. 6. Stir up] as a fire that is beginning to die down. THE GIFT OF GOD] which he received at his ordination by the laying on of the hands of St. Paul and the presbyters of Ephesus (1 Timothy 4:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR] indicating a certain timidity in Timothy, like the 'Be not ashamed' of 2 Timothy 1:8. A SOUND MIND] RV 'discipline.' It means self-discipline, self-control.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS PRISONER] St. Paul was now undergoing his last imprisonment in Rome. He refers in like manner to his first imprisonment in Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1; Philemon 1:9. PARTAKER OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE GOSPEL] RV 'suffer hardship with the gospel'; better, 'suffer hardship with me for the gospel'... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH SAVED] RV, more exactly, 'saved,' God by His free grace and mercy called, and still calls us into a state of salvation, not for our work's sake (which is a false view of justification), but according to His own purpose and by the grace of adoption given us in Christ in eternity. How can the gra... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOLISHED DEATH] The resurrection of Christ showed that death was under control, and delivered believers from its fear,... [ Continue Reading ]
I.. SUFFER THESE THINGS] this imprisonment, etc. WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED] i.e. trusted. THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM] himself and all his hopes. 13, 14. As God will keep safe that which is committed to Him, so Timothy is by the help of the Holy Ghost TO KEEP THE GOOD THING committed unto thee,... [ Continue Reading ]