|
2 Timothy i.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 3. Whom
I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience. That is, have always served and worshipped the one true God, as my
forefathers had done, which was true, even when he persecuted the Christians; though this he did not with a pure conscience,
but with a false mistaken zeal; and his ignorance could not excuse him, after he might have known Christ. (Witham)
Ver. 5. Thy
grandmother, Lois. The principal intention St. Paul seems to have had in writing this second epistle to Timothy, was,
to comfort him under the many hardships under which he laboured for the faith of Christ. To this end he endeavours first to
strengthen his faith, by calling to his mind the example given him in his grandmother, as also in his mother, Eunice. Some
likewise think St. Paul is here exhorting Timothy to a desire of martyrdom, in the perfect discharge of his ministry, by his
own example; as the same writers think it most probable that he was confined in prison at Rome, or at Laodicea, at the time
he wrote this epistle. (Denis the Carthusian) --- Certain[1] that in thee also. (Witham)
Ver. 6. That
thou stir up[2] the grace of God. In the Greek is a metaphor for fire that is blown up again. --- Which is in
thee by the imposition of my hands, when thou wast ordained bishop. (Witham) --- The grace, which St. Paul here exhorts
Timothy to stir up in him, was the grace he had received by imposition of hands, either in his confirmation, or at receiving
the sacrament of orders, being a bishop. This verse seems to shew that the imposition of hands is used in these two sacraments,
as the essential matter of the sacraments, being the instrumental cause of the grace therein conferred. (Denis the Carthusian)
Ver. 7. Of
fear.[3] Of a cowardly fear, and want of courage. --- Of sobriety.[4] Though the Protestants here translate of
a sound mind, yet they translate the same Greek word by sobriety in divers other places, as in Acts xxvi. 25;
1 Timothy ii. 9 and 15. and chap. iii. 2; Titus i. 8. &c. (Witham)
Ver. 8. Labour
with[5] the gospel. That is, labour with me in preaching, &c. Or by the Greek, be partner with me in suffering.
(Witham)
Ver. 10. By
the illumination of our Saviour. That is, by the bright coming and appearing of our Saviour. (Challoner)
Ver. 12. I
am certain that he (God) is able to keep that which I have committed to him[6] against that day. That is,
to the day of judgment. St. Paul here means that which he had committed, or as it were deposited in the hands of God; to wit,
the treasure of an eternal reward, due in some measure to St. Paul for his apostolical labours. This treasure, promised to
those that live well, the apostle hopes he has placed and deposited in the hands of God, who will reward him, and repay him
at the last day. This is the common interpretation. (Witham)
Ver. 14. Keep
the good (doctrine) deposited or committed[7] in trust to thee. This is different, though the word be the
same, from what he spoke of, ver. 12. There he mentioned what he had committed and deposited in the hands of God; here he
speaks of what God hath committed, and deposited in the hands of Timothy, after it was delivered to him by St. Paul and the
other preachers of the gospel: that is, he speaks of the care Timothy must take to preserve the same sound doctrine, and to
teach it to others. See 1 Timothy vi. 20. (Witham)
Ver. 15. All
they who are in Asia, are turned away from me. That is, all who are of Asia, or all the Asiatics now at Rome, where I
am prisoner, have withdrawn themselves from me, now when I am in danger; but he excepts Onesiphorus, who sought him out, assisted
and relieved him in his wants. (Witham) --- Phigellus, &c. These two, whom St. Paul says were the chief of those
in Asia Minor, who had departed from the faith, had become his followers by deceit, in order to become acquainted with the
mysteries of religion, taught by him, intending to make use of them, as affording them matter for calumniating him. (Denis
the Carthusian)
Ver. 16. Onesiphorus.
This person, also an inhabitant of Asia, seems to have supplied St. Paul with necessaries, as well at Rome during his confinement,
as at Ephesus. Timothy being with St. Paul at the latter place, knew better the charities of Onesiphorus there than at Rome,
at which place he was not eye witness of them. (Denis the Carthusian)
___________________
[1] Ver. 5. Certus sum, pepeismai, persuasum habeo.
[2] Ver. 6. Ut resuscites, anazopurein, quasi sopitum
ignem excitare.
[3] Ver. 7. Timoris, deilias, timiditatis, it
is not phobou.
[4] Ver. 7. Et sobrietatis, kai sophronismou.
[5] Ver. 8. Collabora, sugkakopatheson. Mala ferto mecum.
[6] Ver. 12. Depositum meum, paratheken mou. St.
Chrysostom (log. b. p. 336) says it may be either what St. Paul committed to the trust of God, or what God committed
to him: e o Theos auto parakatetheto, e en autos to theo.
[7] Ver. 14. Bonum depositum custodi; ten kalen parakatatheken
phulaxon.
 |
|
|
Bible Text & Cross-references:
He admonishes him to stir up the grace he received by
his ordination, and not to be discouraged at his sufferings, but to hold firm the sound doctrine of the gospel.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to
the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus:
2 To Timothy, most beloved son, grace, mercy, peace from God the Father,
and from Christ Jesus, our Lord.
3 I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure
conscience, that without ceasing I have a remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day.
4 Desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled
with joy,
5 Calling to mind that faith which is in thee unfeigned, which also dwelt
first in thy grandmother, Lois, and in thy mother, Eunice, and I am certain that in thee also.
6 For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God,
which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands.
7 *For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of
love, and of sobriety.
8 Be not thou, therefore, ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
me, his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of God:
9 Who hath delivered us and called us by his holy calling, *not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the times of the world.
10 But is now made manifest, by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus
Christ, who hath indeed destroyed death, and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel:
11 In which *I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, and a teacher
of the Gentiles.
12 For which cause I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed.
For I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him, against that
day.
13 Hold the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith,
and in the love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 Keep the good deposit by the Holy Ghost, who dwelleth in us.
15 Thou knowest this, that all they who are in Asia, are turned away
from me: of whom are Phigellus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord give mercy to the *house of Onesiphorus: because he hath
often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
17 But when he was come to Rome, he carefully sought me out, and found
me.
18 The Lord grant to him to find mercy of the Lord in that day. And how
many things, he ministered to me at Ephesus, thou very well knowest.
____________________
*
7: Romans viii. 15.
9: Titus iii. 5.
11: 1 Timothy ii. 7.
16: 2 Timothy iv. 19.
|
|
|