Thou (1) therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (1) The conclusion of the former exhortation which has also a declaration added to it: how those who do not keep that worthy thing that is committed to them, who keep it to themselves, but rather those who do most freely co... [ Continue Reading ]
And the things that thou hast heard of me among (a) many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (a) When many were there, who can bear witness of these things.... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2) Another admonition: that the ministry of the word is a spiritual warfare, which no man can so travail in that he pleases his captain, unless he abstains from and parts with all hindrances which might draw him away from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of (b) [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (b) With affairs of household, or other things that belong to other ordinary businesses.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) And if a man also strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (3) The third admonition: the ministry is similar to a game in which men strive for the victory, and no man is crowned, unless he strive according to the laws which are prescribed, be they ever so hard a... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. (4) Another similarity with respect to the same matter: no man may look for the harvest, unless he first take pains to plow and sow his ground.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. (5) All these things cannot be understood, and much less practised, unless we ask of God and he gives us understanding.... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: (6) He confirms plainly two principles of our faith, which are alway assaulted by heretics, the one of which (that is, that Christ is the true Messiah, made man of the seed of David) is the ground o... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. (7) The taking away of an objection: it is true that he is kept in prison as an evildoer, yet there is no reason why some should therefore go about to take away credit from his Gospel. And this is be... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be (c) dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]: (8) The fourth admonition: we ought not to contend upon words and questions, which are not only unprofitable, but also for the most part hurtful: but rather upon this, how we may compose ourselves to eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Of these things put [them] in remembrance, (d) charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers. (d) Call God to witness, or as a Judge: as Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and Paul himself did, in Acts 13.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, (e) rightly dividing the word of truth. (9) The fifth admonition: a minister must not be an idle disputer, but a faithful steward in correctly dividing the word of truth, in so much that he must stop the mouths o... [ Continue Reading ]
(f) But shun profane [and] vain babblings: (10) for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (f) Mark and watch, and see that they do not creep on further. (10) He reveals the subtilty of Satan, who beginning with these principles, draws us by little and little to ungodliness through the means of... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that (g) nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (11) A digression, in which he heals the offence that rose by their falling away. Firstly, he shows that the elect... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (12) The taking away of an objection: it is not dishonour to the good man of the house, that he has not in a great house all vessels of one sort and... [ Continue Reading ]
If a man therefore (h) purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work. (h) By these words is meant the execution of the matter, and not the cause: for in that we purge ourselves, it is not to be attributed t... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, (14) peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (13) Returning to the matter from where he digressed in (2 Timothy 2:16), he warns him to exercise himself in serious matters, and such as pertain to godliness.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, (i) patient, (i) To win them through our patient bearing with them, but not to please them or excuse them in their wickedness.... [ Continue Reading ]
In meekness instructing those that (k) oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (k) He means those who do not yet see the truth.... [ Continue Reading ]