Now (1) the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the (a) faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1) He contrasts that true doctrine, with false opinions, which he foretells that certain ones who shall fall away from God and his religio... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Speaking lies in (b) hypocrisy; having their (c) conscience seared with a hot iron; (2) Even though heretics pretend holiness ever so much, yet they have no conscience. (b) For they will as it were practise the art of disguised persons and players, so that we may not think they will lie lurkin... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, (4) which God hath created (5) to be received (6) with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (3) He sets down two types of this false doctrine, that is, the law of single life, and the difference of meats. (4) He prov... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (7) He sets an apostolic rule for taking away the difference of meats, against that false doctrine.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) For it is (d) sanctified by the (e) word of God and prayer. (8) He properly uses God's benefits who acknowledges the giver of them by his word, and calls upon him. (d) It is so made pure and holy in respect of us, so that we may use it with a good conscience, as received from the Lord's hands.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast (f) attained. (9) The conclusion with an exhortation to Timothy, to propound these things diligently to the church... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) But refuse profane and old wives' fables, (11) and exercise thyself [rather] unto (g) godliness. (10) He contrasts again true doctrine not only with the false and apostate doctrine, but also with all vain and curious wiles. (11) It is not only necessary that the minister of the word be sound... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (12) Godliness consists in spiritual exercise, and not in outward strictness of life, which though it is something to be esteemed, if it is u... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) This [is] a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. (13) He goes a little from his matter, and shows that those who give themselves to godliness, even though they are afflicted and reproached, are nonetheless not to be considered miserable as other men are, because they are not afflicte... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (14) Now he returns to that exhortation, showing what are the true virtues of a pastor, by which he may come to be reverenced even though he is young, th... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (15) The private exercise of pastors, is the continual reading of the scriptures, from which they may draw water out of wholesome doctrine and exhortation, both for themselves and for others.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both (h) save thyself, and them that hear thee. (h) Faith is by hearing, and hearing by preaching: and therefore the ministers of the word are so said to save themselves and others, because in them the Lor... [ Continue Reading ]