The Apostolical History, Chapter 7 · Section 15
SECT. XV.
ABOUT this time Paul ſeems to have written his Second Epiſtle to Timothy (now, as 'tis probable, at Epheſus) who had been impriſoned with him at Rome, but was at this preſent ſet at liberty: ſee Heb. 13.23.
… ſecond Epiſtle to Timothy.In the Epiſtle there are theſe three parts:
1. The Preface.
2. The Body of the Epiſtle.
3. The Concluſion.
1. THE Preface, in which he declares himſelf an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, by the will and appointment of God the Father, that he might declare and make known the Goſpel or Promiſe (a)Secundum promiſſionem] i.e. Ad annunciandum hominibus promiſſionem illam Dei quâ is vitam aeternam promiſit omnibus in Chriſtum credentibus. Simili ſignificatione accipitur praepoſitio foreign Tit. 1.1. nempe ut notet finem ſen cauſam ſinalem, more Hebraeorum ל quae inte…dum valet foreign, interdum foreign. Piſcat.o… eternal life, which is made to all who truly believe in Chriſt. He directs his Epiſtle to Timothy, calling him his dearly beloved ſon (becauſe by him converted to the faith), to whom he wiſhes an encreaſe of grace, an abundant ſenſe of the mercy of God towards him, and much inward peace from God the Father, the Fountain of all bleſſings; and from Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator, who is the Conduit-pipe by whom they are conveyed. And in the firſt place he tells him, that he ſolemnly gave thanks(b)Gratiam habeo Deo pro te. Teſtis enim mihi …ſt Deus cui ſervio a majoribus cum purâ conſcientiâ, quod aſſidua… tuî memoria… teneam, &c. abſ que hoc ſupplemento plane non liquet, unde pende…t conjunctio foreign ubi dicitur foreign, &c. Idem. to the Lord for the gifts and graces he had beſtowed on him. And God (whom he ſerved after the example of the holy Patriarchs of old, with an upright conſcience) was his witneſs, how he was continually mindful of him in his prayers night and day. He tells him, he deſired earneſtly to ſee him again. For he remembred how paſſionately he wept at their parting, and he ſhould be glad (if it ſo pleaſed God) that their meeting again might be as full of joy as their parting was of ſorrow. He further tells him how much he pleaſ…d himſelf with the contemplation of that ſincere faith which he believed was in him; which grace eminently manifeſted it ſelf before in his Grandmother Lois, and Mother Eunice: And as it dwelt and continued in them unto the end; ſo he was confident it would do in him alſo. From Ver. 1, to 6.
2. He comes now to the Body of the Epiſtle; wherein, firſt, he tells him, That ſeeing he wiſh'd him ſo well, he would be his Monitor and Remembrancer, and would exhort him to excite and ſtir up the Miniſterial gi…t that was in him (by a diligent exerciſe thereof), viz. the faculty of tea… ing the Goſpel, which was conferred on him by his hands [1 Tim. 4.14. ſee pag. 218.], when with the conſent and concurrence of the Presbytery he ordained him to the Office of a Miniſter. Which gift he ſhould not through cowardize or fear ſuffer to lye unprofitably by him. For the holy *Vox Spiritus ſignificat aliquando per Metonym. motus hominis à Spiritu excitatos, five bonos, five malos, ut hoc loco; ubi ſpiritus timoris eſt trepidatio mentis; ſpiritus virtutis eſt confirmatio & roboratio mentis: ſpiritus dilectionis eſt bonus animi motus quo diligimus Deum, & proximum; ſpiritus ſobrietatis eſt bonus animi motus quo moderatè omnia agimus. Fridlib.Spirit which God gives his faithful Miniſters, is not a Spirit infuſing fear and cowardize into them (which would hinder them in the diſcharge of their duties); but a Spirit of Power, animating them with Chriſtian courage, and a Spirit of love, working in them an holy love to God, and an ardent deſire of the ſalvation of men; and laſtly, a Spirit working in them a ſound and compoſed mind, and giving them that prudence and ſobriety, that they neither through their own indiſcretion bring troubles upon themſelves; nor when they come upon them, break out into rage or impatience. Ver. 6, 7.
2. He exhorts him not to be aſham'd of the Goſpel which teſtifies of Chriſt, nor of his ſufferings who was impriſoned for it; but to be a chearful partner and co-ſufferer with him, in bearing patiently his ſhare of thoſe afflictions which follow a ſincere profeſſion of the Goſpel, according as God ſhall pleaſe to afford him power and ſtrength.
3. He ſhews, that not only Timothy, but all true Chriſtians, have great cauſe to diſpoſe themſelves to a willingneſs to ſuffer for the Goſpel when called to it, becauſe God hath ſaved them by his Son Jeſus Chriſt from eternal miſery; having called them with an holy calling, not for any works fore-ſeen in them, that could merit this calling, or move him thereunto; but according as it pleaſed and ſeemed good to himſelf, even according to his own free mercy and goodneſs, and the grace by himſelf given them (c)foreign, i. e. quam decrevit nobis dare Deus. M…. ſubj. Reipſa, data eſt nobis iſt haec grotia, per efficacem vocationem in tempore, non autem ante tempora ſecularia. Piſcat., that is, which he purpoſed and decreed to give them in and through his Son, before the world began(d)Ante tempora ſecularia] Ante tempora ſeculorum quae praeterieunt à jactis mundi fundamentis. Druſ. [ſee pag. 186.]. Which grace (he ſhews) God hath now manifeſted very clearly, and made them partakers of it, by Chriſts coming into the world(e)Poſtquam Chriſtus mundo apparuit, Dei gratia & charitas in homines apparuiſſe dicuntur. Tit. 2.11. & 3, 4., who hath by his death on the Croſs taken away the ſting of natural death to all true believers, and totally freed them from the puniſhment of eternal death; and hath ſhewed them, by the preaching of the Goſpel, a clear way to attain a glorious everlaſting life and immortality, which before was not ſo clearly revealed. And for the preaching and teaching of this Goſpel (eſpecially to the Gentiles), he declares that God had given him the authority and commiſſion of an Apoſtle. And this very thing, viz. his preaching to the Gentiles (he tells him) had highly exaſperated the Jews, and ſo had brought theſe troubles upon him which he now ſuffered. But he was not aſhamed of his ſufferings in ſo good a cauſe, nor diſcouraged at them: For he knew in whoſe Power and Faithfulneſs he had put his truſt, and was fully aſſur'd he was able to keep ſafe that great depoſitum or pledg he had committed to him (viz. his Soul and Body), to the day of Chriſt's glorious coming to judgment, at which time he expected a glorious reward for all his ſufferings. From Ver. 8, to 13.
4. He exhorts him to hold faſt that(f)Expreſſam formam teneto foreign ſubaudi foreign, qui ſunt de fide & charitate, vel qui occupantur in fide & charitate Piſc. Notatur objectum, & materia doctrinae Pauli. form of ſound words (or ſhort ſummary of ſuch things as were to be believed and practis'd by all) which he had receiv'd from him; which ſummary of ſound doctrine, he ſhews, conſiſted principally in precepts and directions con…erning faith in Chriſt, and love to God and our Neighbour; which graces are required by Chriſt, and framed in the hearts of all his true members, by his Spirit; ſee 1 Tim. 1.14. Gal. 5.6. Eph. 6.23. He enjoins him alſo to keep inviolably that great treaſure or depoſitum of the Goſpel*1 Tim. 6.20 (which was entruſted to him to be kept pure and uncorrupted by him, and tranſmitted to poſterity), though the power and aſſiſtance of the Holy Ghoſt, who dwelleth in the hearts and ſouls of true believers. He tells him, he ſuppoſed he had heard that the Aſian-Chriſtians, who were then at Rome, had in the time of his diſtreſs, forſaken him; as particularly, Phigellus and Hermogenes. He deſ…res the Lord to ſhew mer…y unto, and plentifully to reward the Family of On…ſiphorus, who, being come to Rome, ſought him out dilgently, and found him, and ſhewed great kindneſs unto him, and oft refreſhed him, and owned him without fear or ſhame in this time of his impriſonment, ſee Eph. 6.20. He deſires he may find mercy of the Lord in that great day when he ſhall come to judg the quick and dead, and to diſtribute rewards and puniſhments. For, ſays he, beſides what he hath done for me here at Rome, thou knoweſt alſo very well in how many things elſe he relieved me when I was at Epheſus. From Ver. 13, to the end.
Chap. 2 5. He proceeds to direct Timothy in the right management of his Miniſterial Office. In order to which,
1. He exhorts him to ſtrengthen and encourage himſelf through the grace derived to him from God the Father, as the Fountain; and in and by Jeſus Chriſt as the Conduit-pipe. Ver. 1.
2. That the ſacred Doctrine of the Goſpel, and the precepts of holy living which he had heard him deliver in the preſence of many the ſame he ſhould impart and commit to perſons of known ability and fidelity, who may be able to teach others. V. 2.
3. He ſhould be ready to endure hardſhip, and encounter difficulties, as a good Soldier of Jeſus Chriſt. And therefore as Soldiers were not to entangle themſelves in the ordinary affairs of this life, ſuch as Merchandize, Trades, or Husbandry, &c. but were to attend upon their Colours, and to obſerve the orders of their Commanders, ſo neith…r muſt a faithful Teacher of the Goſpel cumb…r himſelf with ſuch worldly matters as may hinder him from a faithful diſcharge of his Office, but muſt diligently attend upon his Miniſtry; and eſp…cially that he may pleaſe Chriſt who hath called him to this warfare, and is his Commander and General, and is able abundantly to reward him for all that he ſhall do or ſuffer for him. And as they that ſtrive for Maſteries in the Olympick-Games, are not to be crowned except they ſtrive lawfully, that is, obſerve the Laws and Rules of the Games, be they never ſo difficult or painful to be obſerved; And as the Husbandman muſt firſt(a)Sermonis ordo, paulo perturbatior, obſcuritatem adduxit orationi. Ea tolletur ſi foreign ſit praeteriti temporis & ab eo pendeat adverbium foreign, prius & non ab inſinitivo verbo quod ſequitur foreign & ſententiam ad hunc modum ordinemus, oportet agricolam accipere fructus, ſed ſi prius laboravit. Eraſm Praeſtat verborum Metatheſin agnoſc…re ut hoc dicatur foreign. Scultet. toil and labour, before he can be partaker of the fruits of the earth: ſo a Teacher of the Goſpel muſt firſt labour, and take pains, and endure hardſhip, before he can hope to reap that great fruit and benefit, the gaining and converting of ſouls to Chriſt. He adviſes him therefore to conſider of what he ſaid, and deſires the Lord to give him a right and ſound judgment, that he may underſtand how to do all things right which belong unto him. From Ver. 3, to 8.
4. He adviſes him to inculcate the Doctrine of Chriſt's taking his humane nature of the ſeed of David according to the Scriptures, and the Doctrine of his Reſurrection; this being the Doctrine which he himſelf had every where preached; and for the preaching of this(b)V. 9. foreign cujus causâ. Grot., he was now impriſoned at Rome as if he were a Malefactor. But he acquaints him, that the word of the Lord, or the Goſpel, was not bound; for he preached it feely, notwithſtanding his bonds; yea, his impriſonment had been a means of divulging and ſpreading it very much in Rome. And he tells him, that the Elect were worthy, that for their edification and confirmation in the faith (in order that they may obtain ſalvation and eternal glory, which is freely given through the Merits and Mediation of Chriſt), himſelf, and other Miniſters of Chriſt, ſhould ſuffer all ſorts of afflictions; and they ought not in the leaſt to be diſcouraged thereat: For this (ſays he) is a moſt true ſaying, If we be afflicted with him, and ſuffer as he ſuffered, for the defence of the truth [Rom. 8.17, 36. 2 Cor. 4.10.]; nay, if we be perſecuted even to death for his ſake, we ſhall alſo live together with him, and ſhall certainly be rewarded with a participation of his glory. But on the contrary, if we deny him, he will deny us. And we may aſſure our ſelves of this, that though we may be unfaithful*foreign] Si nos in illum infidi ſumus; foreign in his libris modo credentem ſignificat, modo fidelem. Grot. in not confeſſing him ſtedfaſtly, or ſerving him with that fidelity we ought; yet he always abides faithful, and will never fail of performing any of his promiſes; for he cannot do any thing that is contrary to the perfection of his Divine Nature. From Ver. 8, to 14.
5. He directs him to inculcate theſe things into his Auditors upon all occaſions; and charge them ſtrictly, as they will anſwer it before the Lord at his coming, That they fall not into thoſe idle diſputes and verbal-contentions, ſuch as are mentioned 1 Tim. 6.4, which tend not to any real profit or good, but infuſe uncharitableneſs and faction into mens minds, and tend to the drawing them off from ſound doctrine. As for Timothy himſelf, he exhorts him, That in his Miniſtry he ſhould endeavour to approve himſelf unto God, an upright, ſound, and faithful Teacher, a workman who (in reſpect of any unskilfulneſs▪ negligence, or unfaithfulneſs) hath no cauſe to be aſhamed, and one that is a right divider (d)Qui prudenter diſtribuat & accommodet uſibus Auditorum.and diſtribut…r of the word of truth. But he ſhould avoid*foreign pro Cavere habemus Tit. 3.9. quia circumcludere ſolemus ea à quibus nobis metuimus. Grot. and take h…ed f…r himſelf, and endeavour that his Flock ſhould avoid alſo the prophane and vain bablings and diſcourſ s of proud Hereticks; for ſuch diſcourſes will tend to the promoting and encreaſing(e)Ad incrementum impietatis proficient. Vatabil. of more and m…re impiety in the hearers. And their falſe doctrine, if it be not ſtopt at firſt, will eat as doth a Gangrene, and ſpread far into the body of the Church. This he plainly evidenceth unto them, by inſtan…ing in the dangerous error of Hymenaeus [ſee 1 Tim. 1.20.] and Philetus, who affirmed, that the reſurrection was paſt already, acknowled…ing no other but the ſpiritual reſurrection of the ſoul from the death of ſin; by which dangerous doctrine the Orthodox Faith (f)Intellige fidem temporariam, Nam vera fides ſubverti nequit. Piſc.of ſome concerning the reſurrection of the body(g)In Evangelio foreign tam apertè & tot locis deſcribitur, ut non poſſit alia intelligi quam quae erit poſt corporis ab animo ſejunctionem. Grot. at the laſt day, was overthrown. But he tells him, though ſome turn away from the truth, and the faith of ſome be overthrown; yet the foundation which God hath laid for tho ſalvation of true believers, ſtandeth ſure and unmovable, having this ſeal to confirm it, God knoweth who are his, and diſcerns them from others, and loves them, and takes care of them, and will preſerve them unto eternal life; yet ſuch as have good ground to believe they belong to God, muſt not be ſecure and careleſs of their ſalvation, or indulge themſelves in ſin; but muſt know, that there is required on their part a conſcientions care to pleaſe God, and that every one who names the name of Chriſt, and profeſſes to believe in him, muſt make conſcience to depart from all iniquity. But he ſhews it cannot be expected in the Church, any more than in a great Family, that all ſhould be equally good. In a great houſe there are Veſſels of gold and ſilver, and ſome alſo of wood and earth; ſome for more creditable, ſome for leſs creditable uſes (g; ſo it is not unſuitable to the ſtate of the viſible Church (God's great houſe) to have in it ſome Heretical, (h)Huc tendit foreign; Non mirum, ſi Deus aliquos ſinat ſe inſinuare in Eccleſiam, qui deinde malis factis ſe prodant. Deo nihil abſcedit, quia novit & bonis & malis uti. Confer quae ſunt, Rom. 9.21, 22. Grot.as other Orthodox profeſſors. Which thing ſhould ſtir up every one of us to endeavour to be of the number of the beſt. For if a man (through the aſſiſtance of grace) do labour to purifie himſelf from all pollution of error, and ſinfulneſs of life (which theſe Heretical Teachers he ſpeaks of were ſ… tainted with), he will then manifeſt himſelf to be a veſſel unto honour, ſanctified and conſecrated to the ſervice of the Lord, and meet for the Maſter's uſe, and fitted and made ready to perform all manner of good works. From Ver. 14, to 22.
5. He admoniſhes him to keep himſelf from thoſe carnal affections which young men are moſt apt to be led away with, ſuch as are n…t only love of pleaſure, but raſhneſs, contention, pride, vain-glory, which young Preachers too oft uſe to be infected with. And on the contrary, he adviſes him to purſue after righteouſneſs, fidelity (i)Ver. 22. foreign], h. e. fidem in verbis. Grot., charity, and concord and agreement with all them that worſhip God ſincerely.
6. That he ſhun thoſe idle and unprofitable queſtions which tend not to the promoting true Piety or Chriſtianity, but engender ſtrifes and contentions. For the ſervant of the Lord (who ſerves him in the Office of Teaching) muſt not be of a boiſterous contentious ſpirit, but muſt be mild, and gentle, and calm, and ready to inſtruct others, dealing with much patien…e and meekneſs with thoſe that oppoſe themſelves againſt the truth, and are otherwiſe perſwaded than we are, and ſo tryingkV. 25. Experiendo an det Deus illis poenitentiam; foreign pro foreign ut Luc. 3.15. ubi foreign habemus pro an. Grot. whether it may not pleaſe God to bring them to a ſight and ſenſe of their ſins, and to repent of them, and to an acknowledgment of the truth, that ſo they may recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the Devil, by whom they were before captivated and enſlav'd to do his will. From Ver. 22, to the end.
Chap. 3 He now prophetically admoniſhes and forewarns Timothy of thoſe dangerous Seducers and enemies of the truth, that were even then ariſing, and ſhould in after-times much more ariſe in the Church; charging him to have no communion with ſuch perſons, but to avoid them. He tells him, that in the laſt days (viz. the time betwixt Chriſt's aſcenſion and ſecond-coming) many Monſters ſhall ariſe in the Church, who ſhall be guilty of many notorious vices and enormities. He particularizes no leſs than Nineteen. He ſays, they will be inordinate ſelf-lovers, covetous, vain-glorious, boaſters of their gifts and virtues, Rom. 1.30; proud, flying in the face of God himſelf with their wicked blaſphemies, if he croſs them. Rev. 16.9, 11, diſobedient to Parents, unthankful, impure, and unholy; without natural affection, not regarding the very bonds of nature. Rom. 1.31. Truce-breakers, unfaithful in Covenants and Contracts; falſe accuſers, loading the innocence of others with feigned calumnies; Incontinent, fierce, and bloodily diſpos'd, haters and perſecutors of all good men; Traitors *V. 4. foreign] Qui amiciſſimos produnt: Qualis Judas Luc 6.16. Grot. Vide etiam Hammondum in loc., that is, betraying their fellow-Chriſtians into the hands of perſecutors, Mat. 10.21, and 24.9, 10. Heady and raſh, high-minded and inſolent perſons, lovers of pleaſure more than lovers of God; having a form or ſhew of godlineſs, but no way manifeſting the power or efficacy thereof in their lives. Of this ſort he ſhews they are, who creep into houſes, and ſeduce weak and unſtable women, laden with ſins, and tranſported with divers luſts and paſſions, who out of their curioſity are always affecting ſomething that is new, and accordingly ſeek after ſuch Teachers that may ſatisfie their curioſity; and though they give themſelves up to be diſciples to them, and pretend to be ever learning ſomething of them; yet its impoſſible for them by ſuch Teachers (who know it not themſelves) ever to attain to the knowledg of the truth, or the right way of ſalvation. From Ver. 1, to 8.
The Apoſtle proceeds in deſcribing theſe Seducers: He ſhews, that as Jannes (a)Their names are not found in the Old Teſtament. 'Tis poſſible the Apoſtle learnt them either from ſome ancient Record of the Jews then extant, or by the inſpiration of the Spirit of God.and Jambres, the Egyptian-Magicians, reſiſted Moſes, and ſought to render his miracles ineffectual, Exod. 7.11: ſo theſe reſiſt the truth, and the ſaving-doctrine of the Goſpel, and thoſe that teach and maintain it; being men of corrupt minds, and ſuch as have no right or ſound judgment in the matters of faith, but ſuch as ought to be rejected of all men. But he tells him, they ſhall not proceed much further to deceive, for their folly ſhall be made manifeſt, and they ſhall be diſcovered to be Impoſtors, as thoſe Egyptian-Magicians were. Ver. 8, 9.
As for Timothy, he tells him, Thou haſt another pattern quite contrary to theirs. For thou haſt been preſent, and haſt often heard the doctrine I have taught; thou haſt ſeen the way and manner wherein I order my life; thou haſt known(b)foreign] A principio uſ que ad finem adfuiſti, & teſtis es omnium. Vatab. the ſcope and aim which I propounded to my ſelf in my Miniſtry, and my faithfulneſs in the diſcharge of it; thou haſt ſeen my enduring many neglects and affronts, before I would give over my endeavours to reduce impenitent ſinners: thou haſt ſeen my charity, and brotherly affection to all Chriſtians, and my patience in bearing afflictions and perſeſecutions, as particularly thoſe that came upon me at Antioch of Piſidia, Act. 13.45, at Iconium. Act. 14.2, at Lyſtra, Act. 14.19: I ſay, thou haſt ſeen what great perſecutions I have endur'd, yet out of them all the Lord hath delivered me. And therefore be not thou diſcouraged when thou meeteſt with ſuch tribulations. For this I foretell thee, That all that will live godly according to the rules of Chriſt, ſhall meet with perſecution, and muſt accordingly arm themſelves with patience and expectation of it. But though evil men and ſeducers will wax worſe and worſe, deceiving others, and being themſelves deceived; yet continue thou ſtedfaſt in that doctrine thou haſt learned of me, and whereof thou haſt been aſſured that it is the true doctrine of Chriſt, being delivered to thee by my ſelf, who am an Apoſtle of his, and called immediately by him, and who was taken up into the third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12.2. And thou oughteſt the more firmly to adhere to this doctrine, becauſe from a child thou haſt been inſtructed in the holy Scriptures of the Old Teſtament; which if thou do well underſtand, they will make thee wiſe to diſcern the right way of attaining eternal life, which is by faith in Chriſt Jeſus the promiſed Meſſias, Joh. 5.39. And all thoſe Divine Writings both of the Old and New Teſtament, being given by the inſpiration of God,V. 16. Omnis ſcriptura], i. e. tota ſcriptura Intelligitur totum ſcripturae ſyſtema, cui, quae antecedunt, & ſequuntur, praedicata auguſta competunt, non verò ſingulis vel libris, vel dictis. Glaſs. Non id vult Apostolus quòd unaquae que pars Scripturae ſit utilis ad omnia ista; hic enim ſenſus liquidò falſus eſſet: ſed, quòd in universâ Scripturâ hae quatuor utilitates reperiantur. Eſtius. ſhould be diligently read and conſidered by thee, there being contained in them that which is profitable to teach the truth, to convince of error, to correct evil manners, to inſtruct in righteouſneſs, and to make the man of God, the Paſtor of the Church, perfectly meet and fit for every part of his Office, and to furniſh him with directions for the performing of every good work required of him. From Ver. 10, to the end.
He now gives Timothy a very ſolemn charge and exhortation, not knowing Chap. 4 but that it might be the laſt that ever he ſhould give him. He charges him, as he will anſwer it before God, and Jeſus Chriſt (who ſhall judg the quick and dead at that great and illuſtrious appearing of his, when he ſhall come in the Clouds gloriouſly attended with all his holy Angels, and when there ſhall be a full manifeſtation of his Kingly Power) to preach the word faithfully, to be inſtant with an holy importunity in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon (a)Spartenda est manus: non potest fieri ut non aliquando ſuccedat mulea tentanti. Sen. Ep. 29.(that is, at ſuch times and ſeaſons as were proper and appointed for it, yea, and at ſome that were not) that he labour to convince evildoers of their wicked courſes, to reduce by reprehenſion thoſe that are fallen, though not ſo foully and ſcandalouſly to exhort others to go on that have begun well; and all this with lenity and gentleneſs joined with ſound inſtruction. For he tells him, ſuch times were coming wherein many would not endure ſound doctrine; but having ears itching after novelties, and ſuch things as might pleaſe their luſts, would ſeek after ſuch Teachers as would gratifie their humour, Iſa. 30.10. (and they would find many(b)V. 3. Cumulabunt] Multos reperient tales doctores. ſuch), and by them they would be turned from the truth, and brought to believe fables and meer lyes. He adviſes Timothy therefore in ſuch dangerous times, to be very wachful over himſelf in all reſpects, and diligently to watch over thoſe alſo whom he was to inſtruct, to endure afflictions couragiouſly, to do what belongs to an Evangeliſt, or a perſon intruſted by the Apoſtles of Chriſt with the propagating of the Goſpel [Eph. 4.11.], to labour to fulfil (c)foreign] Imple. Grot.his Miniſtry, and to perform all the parts of it in ſuch manner, that he may ſufficiently evid…nce and prove that he is a faithful Miniſter of Chriſt. As for himſelf (he tells him), he was ſhortly to be offered(d)foreign] immolor, h. e. mox immolabor, praeſens pro paulo poſt futuro; alludit ad vini vel ſanguinis libationem in ſacri ficiis. Frid. Metonymia adjuncti metaphorica, nam ſacrificiis libamina adjungebantur. Vid. Phil. 2.17. Piſc. up as a ſacrifice to God, his blood was to be ſhed and poured forth, the time of his departure out of this world was at hand(e)This the Apoſtle knew, either by ſome ſpecial revelation, or by obſerving the condition and circumſtances of his affairs.. And he could mention it with joy and comfort, that he had (through grace) behaved himſelf faithfully in his Chriſtian warfare; he had run his Chriſtian race diligently, and was now almoſt come to the end of it. He had been faithful to Chriſt in his Office, and had not fallen off, nor made defection at any time from the faith which he had taught and profeſs'd, and therefore he doubted not but there was a Crown of Righteouſneſs reſerved for him, ſuch as God of his free-grace hath promiſed to give his faithful ſervants, as a juſt recompence of their righteous and holy walking before him. And ſuch a reward, he doubted not but Chriſt the righteous Judg would give him, in part at the day of his diſſolution, but more fully at the laſt Judgment(f)Diſtinguendum de diverſo modo quo corona haec juſtitiae datur. Datur enim vel in ſpe nimirum in hac vita, vel reipſa: & quidem vel inchoate ſtatim poſt mortem reſpectu animae, vel conſummate & perfecte reſpectu animae ſimul ac corporis in die noviſſimi adventus. Fridlib.. And not only himſelf, but all other faithful Chriſtians alſo, may expect the ſame, who joyfully look and long for Chriſt's ſecond coming, that they may then ſee him in his glory, who ſuffered ſo mu…h for them in this world, and may receive from him their everlaſting reward. From Ver. 1, to 9.
In the Concluſion of his Epiſtle he deſires Timothy to come to him with all the ſpeed be could. And he ſhould the rather haſten his coming, becauſe Demas, who did aſſiſt him in preaching the Goſpel, Philem. v. 24, and Col. 4.14, through worldlineſs had now forſaken him, and was gone to Theſſalonica. And as for Creſcens, he had ſent him to Galatia to preach the Goſpel there; and on the ſame errand he had ſent Titus to Dalmatia, and Tychicas to Epheſus. By which means he was almoſt all alone at preſent, no body but Luke remaining with him, which made him the more to ſtand in need of his help and preſence. And when he came, he ſhould bring Mark (Barnabas's Kinſman) with him, who he knew would be very uſeful to him there for the preaching and propagating of the Goſpel. He orders him to bring him from Troas a Cloak (g)Vide paupe…tatem tanti Apoſtoli qui rem tantillam, tam longè relictam, inter damna cenſuerit. Grot.that he left there, as alſo ſome Books (poſſibly the Volumes of the Old Teſtament, with ſome Jewiſh Commentators on them); but eſpecially the Parchments (h)Per has foreign intelliguntur Schedae pelliceae in quibus Paulus quaedam ſcitu digna ad juvandam memoriam annotaverat, unde de iis ſingulariter ſollicitus, dicit, Et maximè membranas. Gerhard. in loc. Paulus Bibliothecam librorum Graecorum non habebat; attamen in membranis ad uſum ſuum excerpſerat alia ex Epimenide, alia ex Arato, alia ex Menandro. Grot., wherein poſſibly he had written many things for the help of his memory.
He tells him, That Alexander the Copper-ſmith (probably that perſon mentioned Act. 19.33.) had done him a great deal of wrong at his being there; but God will one day reward(i)V. 14. Reddat ei Deus tam quae fecit, quam quae faciet. Hoc non eſt imprecantio, ſed Deo judicium omne permittentis. M.S. & Syrus legit foreign. him according to his works. He adviſes him eſpecially to beware of him, and to avoid him as an Excommunicate perſon [ſee 1 Tim. 1.20.], and as one that hath violently and vehemently oppoſed the truth and ſincere preaching of the Goſpel. He tells him, that at his firſt-Hearing before Nero the Emperor, or his Officers; all of his acquaintants that were able to have ſtood him in any ſtead, either by their power at Rome, or by their teſtimony in his defence, through infirmity and fear of ſuffering, forſook him. He deſires God to pardon them for it. Yet notwithſtanding, God ſtood by him, and ſtrengthned him, that his boldneſs and conſtancy in defending Chriſtianity in the face of all dangers, might be a convincing argument, that the preaching of the Goſpel (k)Ut ex meâ omnium praeſidio orbati conſtantià & mortis contemptu, omnes intelligerent & quaſi in animis ſuis convincerentur, praeconium Evangelii non eſſe opus humanum, ſed divinum. Scult. Erat non vulgaris Miniſterii ejus confirmatio, quòd cum totus mundus furiosè in eum inſaniret, & humana omnia praeſidia ipſum deſicerent, invictus tamen ſteterat. Calv. in loc.was not a thing carried on by man's power, but by divine aſſiſtance; and he was ſo wonderfully preſerved, that the preaching of the Goſpel might be more fulfilled by him, and that the doctrine of Chriſt might be ſpread into Nero's Court, and among all thoſe Gentiles of ſeveral Nations that frequented Rome. And for this reaſon he ſuppoſes it was, that God at this time ſo wonderfully delivered him from the imminent danger of death, and the cruelty of Nero, as out of the mouth of the Lion. Yea, he was confident, that God would ſtill deliver him from doing any thing unworthy of an Apoſtle and Servant of His, or that might blemiſh his holy profeſſion; and would bring him ſafe at laſt unto his heavenly Kingdom. To this only wiſe and ever bleſſed God he deſires all honour and glory may for ever be aſcribed. Amen.
He deſires him to remember him kindly to Priſca and Aquilla, and the Family of Oneſiphorus. As for Eraſtus and Trophimus, if he deſires to know what is become of them, he tells him, That Eraſtus ſtay'd at Corinth, and did not come at all to Rome; but he left Trophimus ſick at Miletum (l)Omnino aſſentior doctiſſimo Bezae legenti foreign vid Act. 28.1. In itinere Hieroſolymis Paulus Meliten attigit, non Miletum. Videmus hic obiter Deum qui dona ſanationum Apoſtolis dederat. aliquas voluiſſe corporis infirmitates & in ipſis & in ipſorum amicis manere, ut appareret eos eſſe homines. Grot.. He deſires him again to make haſte to him, and to come to him, if poſſibly he could, before Winter. He ſends him ſalutations from ſeveral Chriſtians there at Rome. He ſhuts up his Epiſtle with this accuſtomed ſeal [ſee 2 Theſ. 3.17.], wiſhing that the grace of Jeſus Chriſt may (as to its effects and ſenſe) reſide in his ſoul and ſpirit, to enlighten, ſanctifie, and comfort him more and more. And the ſame he wiſhes to all the faithful that were with him at Epheſus. From Ver. 9, to the end.