A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 2 · Subpart 19 – Subpart 20
VERS. 21. Do thy diligence (or make haste) to come before Winter: Eubelus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the Brethren.
PAul being very desirous to see Timothy before he dies, reneweth his suit to him, desiring him to make haste, and to come before winter, when it is dangerous sayling, and the Seas (in many parts) are shut up by the extremity of cold, so that there is no sayling. Besides, Timothy was but sickly and weak, and therefore the Apostle would have him come in Autumne, that the winter season might not prejudice his health.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia do greet thee.
The Apostle to quicken Timothy to come the more speedily to him, haveing told him how some had forsaken him, others were sick, and the rest scattered abroad; now he telleth him what friends he should yet finde at Rome, who do send salutations to him.
1. Eubulus, by his name he seemeth to be a Greeke, he was one of Pauls familiar friends at Rome, We finde no mention of him but onelyonly in this place.
2. Pudens was a noble Senator in Rome, who embraced the Faith, and the Christians had frequent meetings in his house.
3. Linus was one of Pauls acquaintance, his first Disciple (say some) and afterwards Bishop of Rome say others, Anno Christi, 70.Vide Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 2. Platina de Vitis Pontif. Pap. 2. p. 18. Niceph, Lib. 3. cap. 2. Baron. Annal. T. 1. p. 636.
4. Claudia, she was a noble Matron, a Brittish woman (say our Chronologers) who went to Rome, was converted by Paul, married a Roman Senator called Pudens. 'Tis thought that she sent the Gospel first into England.
And all the Brethren.
Having named some of the choysest Christians in particular, and many of them Greekes, and so the better known to Timothy; he names the rest in general, and under the name of Brethren comprehendeth all the faithful who were at Rome, which it seemeth were many, and therefore he would not stand to name them all. This also he might mention to incourage Timothy to come the sooner to Rome since he had so many friends there.
Now strange it is that amongst so many and they of such note that they should all forsake Paul at his first answer. Here we see what fear and frailty may be in persons of choice note for grace in the Church of God. See more on V. 16.
Observations.
1. God hath some in all places that serve him. At Rome, yea, in Nero's Court God had his Saints, Philippians 4.22. The Saints in C…ars house salute thee. This Caesar was Nero in whose Palace Pauls bonds were made manifest, and God so blest his preaching and suffering that he had many converts there.
Exeat aula qui vul… esse pius.Piety is rare in Princes Courts, yet in this Tyrants Court are some Saints. God hath his two witnesses in the worst of times, Revelations 11.2, 3. Yea, he hath his thousands which lie hid in the Papacy which shall shortly come out both in person and affection, Revelations 18.4. He hath a faithful Abraham in the middest of faithlesse Cananites, and a zealous Ionathan and David in the Court of a persecuting Saul. God will have a Church in all Ages to glorifie him, Ephesians 3.21. and therefore we should not be discouraged when we come to places where we think we are alone, yet God hath his hidden ones there which have not bowed their knee to Baal. Palaces and Prisons are oft times the worst places in the world, yet God hath some there. Onesimus was converted in prison, and the Iayler and his houshold receive the Gospel.
2. Observation.
2. There are some good women in the world: here is a Claudia and Priscilla that own the Apostle and believe the Gospel, when Nero and the most of his Courtiers persecute him.
We reade of many good women that supported Christ with their substance, when Herod and the great ones crucified him,See more in To…sh…ls, Womens Glory. Luke 8 2, 3. Lydi… entertained the Apostles when others cast them out of all. Of those 277. Martyrs that died in Queen Maries dayes, 55. were women.
3. Observation.
3. God doth great things usually by weake meanes. He can make weake women instrumental to spread the Gospel: The Apostle at first had no other Hearers but a few women at Philippi, yet after it became a flourishing Church, Acts 16.12, 13. Philip. 4.3. God usually hangs the greatest weight on the weakest wires that so his Name may have all the glory. What more violent then the Sea, and what weaker then sand, yet …e hath made the sand to bound the Sea, Jeremiah 5.22. It is a little David and that with a sling that overcometh a great Goliah. Gideons three hundred, overcome a great host of Midianites. It is by the mouths of babes and sucklings that God confounds his enemies, Psal. 8.2. It is the Worm Iacob that shall thresh mountains. (Isay 41.14, 15.) It is impar congress…s, an unequal match, there is no proportion between a mountain and a worm, one bit of a mountain will crush in pieces ten thousand worms; I, but if these worms have God on their side they shall arise and thresh mountains. God creates strong things in the earth, he makes a woman to compass a man, (.i.) though the enemies of the Church be many and mighty and Gods people be low and contemptible, being esteemed as weak women in comparison of their manly adversaries, yet this weak effeminate one shall prevail against those stout and manly Caldeans, Ier. 31.22. Let none then despise the day of small things, where we see any sparks of grace let's love it and encourage it, Rom. 14.1. and 15.1. If Christ would not break the bruised reed, much less may we. True grace is little at first, it is like a grain of Mustard-seed which is parvum & humile, yet acre & fervidum, little but full of life and spirit. Let not men then be discouraged because of their weak beginnings, the greatest Gyant was at first an Infant, the tallest Oak was once an Acorn, and the greatest Schollar at first in his battle-dor. OnelyOnly rest not in beginning, but improve the means of grace and God will increase thy stock and make thy little strength hold out (Rev. 3.8, 9.) when the strong in their own conceits shall fall.
2. In the Churches Reformation we should not be despondent though it meet with much opposition; what though mountains of difficulties lye in the way, yet they shall all become a plain before Gods Zerubbabels, Zach. 4.6, See how the Lord hath subdued Rome Pagan, and Rome Arrian, and he daily doth, and will not rest till he have destroyed Rome Antichristian. Wicked men gather themselves together against the Church of God with an intent to ruine and rase it even to the foundation, these are their thoughts, I but they know not my thoughts (saith God) why what were Gods thoughts? Why his thoughts were to make their rising against his people to be their ruine, & their own counsels to be their own confusion, Micah 4.11, 12, 13. They shall be gathered together as sheaves in the floor, arise and thresh O daughter of Zion. q. d. Thy enemies thought to come to thresh thee, but thou shalt thresh them. The work of God in all ages hath been carried on by weak means.See more in Mr Marshalls Serm. on Psal. 8.2. preacht 1646. Babington on Exod. 8.4. Mr. Fan. Taylor on 1 Cor. 1.26. The Apostles many of them Illiterate fisher-men. Luther a Monk, King Edward the sixth a Child, Queen Elizabeth a Woman; no matter how weak the Instrument be if God be the Agent.
The Brethren. 4. Observation.
4. All the faithful are Brethren in Christ.
In Scripture we read of three sorts of Brethren.
1. By Race.
2. By Place.
3. By Grace.
1. By Race such as descend from the same father and mother, so Iacob and Esau were brethren and sometimes kinsmen called Brethren, as Lot and Abraham.
2. By Place, such as are of the same Nation, thus the Jews called one another Brethren, Deut. 23.20.
3. By Grace, and that Common or Special.
1. Common in respect of Creation, and so all men are Brethren, Gen. 9.5.
2. Special,See more in Mr. Fran. Taylor on 1 Cor. 1.26. pag. 22. and Espencaus in 2 Tim 4. Digres. 26. in respect of Adoption and so all Believers are Brethren, Rom. 1.13. and 8.12. and 12.1. Phil. 1.14. and 4.21. 1 Thes. 1.4. and 2.2, 1. Iames 1.2. This must needs be so, for they have the same God for their Father, the same Church for their Mother, the same House for their dwelling, the same Inheritance for their portion; They speak like one another, and are cloathed like one another. They fight against one common enemy, they walk in one path, and eye the same Objects. Let us then love like Brethren, let it not be Verbal, but an Affective and Effective love, both in heart and deed, Rom. 12.10. Heb. 13.1. 1 Pet. 2.17. We should part with some of our right for Peace, and there should be no contention between us for we are Brethren, Gen. 13.8. 1 Cor. 6.5, 6. We should Sympathize like Brethren, a Brother is or should be a second-self. We should bear each others sin and sufferings;Fratep quasi ferè alter. if children of the same Family see one of their fellowes beaten, all the rest of the little ones fall a crying about him; So should we weep with them that weep, and remember those that are in bonds, since we our selves are subject to the same afflictions, Heb. 13.3.
VERS. 22. The Lord Iesus Christ be with thy Spirit. Grace be with you, Amen.
THE Apostle having finisht his Salutations cometh now to conclude his Epistle with a Comprecation and an Apostolical benediction:
1. Of Timothy in particular. He prayes that the Lord may be with his Spirit. q. d. Be not sad at my departure, for though I must leave thee, yet the Lord shall be with thee, and uphold thee with his Grace.
2. He prayes for the rest of the Brethren with him and commends them to Gods grace. Grace foreign, Vobiscum.be with you (.i.) with you all as it is Heb. 13.25. This is Pauls conclusion written with his own hand in all his Epistles (to prevent false Coppies,) 2 Thes. 3.17.
3. He ratifies and seals up all with that concluding Particle,See this Verse more fully explained in Mr. Dyke on Philemon 25. Amen. Of which see more V. 17.
Observations.
1. Our special desire should be that God would be with the Spirits of his people. By Spirit here is meant that noble faculty of mans Soul called the Understanding or the Mind with the most inward cogitations thereof, Luke 1.47. My Spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour. (.i.) My Understanding in the apprehension of this great mercy stirs up all the rest of the powers of my Soul to glorifie God. We should pray that God would direct our Spirits in thinking, devising, judging, chusing, refusing, loving, hating. Generally that the Lord would lead us by his Spirit as his children, inclining our hearts to that which is pleasing in his sight. So praid David, Psal. 143.10. and Paul, Ephes. 3.16, 17. This inward presence of Christ with the Spirits of his people is one great part of the reward of their love and obedience to him, Iohn 14.21, 23. This comforts them under the cross, and assures them of their Salvation. We should therefore alwayes pray that Christ by his Spirit would be present with our Spirits, and that we may so live that he may delight to dwell in us: for if he be not with us sin and Satan will soon prevail against us. We should therefore labour to find and feel this special presence of Christ in our hearts, that we may rejoice in it, and lament its absence, without it we can do nothing, nor understand any thing in the mysteries of Religion, for the wisdom of the flesh is not onelyonly an enemy but enmity it self against God, Rom. 8.7. The natural man for want of the Spirit of God perceives not the things of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2.14.
Grace be with you.
Thus he begins and thus he ends with Prayer for Vnico hoc vocabulo Continetur ingens ille ace…vas beneficiorum quae fidelibus permittuntur in Evangelio. Davenant.Grace (.i.) for the free favour and love of God and all other spiritual blessings which accompany it, as Pardon of sin, Sanctification and Glory.
2. Observation.
Socrates desired to see the Kings countenance rather then his coin. Aquinas could say Non Tua sed Te Domine.2. Gods favour and grace is principally to be sought, even above and before all other things. The Apostle doth not say, Riches be with you, Honours be with you or the favour of men be with you. But Grace and Gods favour be with you. So in all his Epistles he puts Grace first,See more, Perkins CC. l. 1. c. 5. Hicks Fast Serm. on Isay 28.5, 6. p. 10. preacht 1644. June 26. Church his Treasury p. 173 &c. and his Miscellanies p. 137. &c. and Peace which denotes Temporal blessings last, Rom. 1.7. Colos. 1.2. Rev. 1.4. Numb. 6.25. Psal. 4.6, 7. Matth. 6.33. In the Lords Prayer we first beg for spirituals and have six Petitions for that, and then for temporals.
Amen.
(.i.) So it is, or so let it be, or so it shall be.
3. Observation.
3. What is prayed for must be believed and earnestly desired. So much this word Amen implyes. They sin then that pray without any understanding, fervent desire, or belief of what they pray for.
POST-SCRIPT. The second Epistle unto Timothy ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
See the falshood of these Post-scripts in Cudworth on Gal. 6. in the end. p. 429. & Glassii Philolog. l. 1. Tract. 4. Sect. 4. mihi. p. 245.THese Post-scripts are no part of the Text, neither was this added by the Apostle, for it contradicts the Text. The Apostle calls Timothy an Evangelist, 2 Tim. 4.5. and the Post-script makes him a Bishop; The Evangelists were not tied to personal residence in one place, as Bishops and Pastors were: but they were to go from place to place to confirm the Churches planted by the Apostles. Beza observes that this first clause doubtless is spurious, it is not extant in divers old coppies, and, which is much, the Vulgar Latin omits it. So do the Syriack and Aethiopick Versions. So that this is but a very sorry foundation to build the Divine Right of Episcopacy upon.
FINIS.