The Harmony Chronicle and Order of the New Testament, Part 2 · 2 Timothy – Colossians
THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY;
and in it urgeth Timothy to come to him before Winter.
Timothy was now at Ephesus when this Epistle was directed to him, as may be observed out of the Epistle it self by these collections.
1. In that he willeth him to salute the houshold of Onisephorus, Chap. 4.19. who was an Ephesian, Chap. 1.16, 18.
2. In that he biddeth him take Troas in …is way as he comes to him, Chap. 4.13. which had been the way that Paul himself had gone from Ephesus, 2 Cor. 2.22. and to Ephesus again, Act. 20.5.
3. In that he warneth him of Alexander, Chap. 4.14. who was an Ephesian, 1 Tim. 1.20. Act. 19.33.
There is one passage in this Epistle, which hath caused some to doubt about the time of its writing [for about the place there is no doubt] and that is, what he saith, Chap. 4 6. I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand: which would make one think, that he was now ready to be martyred, and taken away, and it hath made some beleeve that this was the last Epistle that ever he wrote: but when we compare his own words again in ver. 17, 18. and Philip. 1 25. and Philem. ver. 22. it maketh it past controversie that he speaketh not of his sudden Martyrdom, but that he is to be understood in some other sense. But what is that? Baroniu… giveth this gl…sse, The words of Paul concerning his speedy death, seem not possib…y otherwise to be understood, then that God had revealed to him, that he should s…ffer death under Nero. For that time might very well seem near which was to be fulfilled under the same Prince. I, but Nero for his age might have reigned 50 o… …0 years after the Apostles writi…g of this Epistle, and so the last words of this glosse, are but a very poor salving: And indeed the resolution of the difficulty lieth open and conspicuous in the text it self. Paul looked upon Timothy as the prime and choice man that was to succeed him in the work of the Gospel, when he himself should be dead and gone▪ as being a young man, not only of singular qualifications for that work, but of whom there had been speciall Prophesies and predictions to such a purpose, 1 Tim. 1.18. as was observed before. He exhorts him therefore in this place, to improve all his pains and parts to the utmost, to do the work of an Evangelist, and to make proof of his Ministry to the full, for that he himself could not last long, being now grown old and worn with travell, and besides all this, in bonds at present, and so in continuall danger: therefore must Timothy be sitting himself daily to take his work up when he was gone.
With Timothy he desires that Mark may come along with him to Rome, whom we observed to be at Corinth at Pauls last coming thither: and one clause in this Epistle seemeth also to speak to that matter: Chap. 4.20. Erasius abode at Corinth, but Trophimus I left at Miletum sick. Erasius abode at Corinth; Why? that Timothy k…ew without any information, for he was with Paul all along that journey when Erasius went to Corinth and staid there. And Trophimus I left at Miletum s…ck: Why? Timothy could not but know that too, without Pauls telling him so from Rome, Miletum and Ephesus were so very near together, nay it is more then pr…bab…e that Timothy was left at Miletum too when Trophimus was left there. But when was he le…t? Not when Paul went towards Ierusalem, and sent for the Elders of Ephesus to Miletum, Acts 20. for Trophimus went, and was with him at Ierusalem, Acts 21.19. But it was when Paul returned from Ierusalem in bonds to Rome, …s hath been said, though it be not particularly mentioned that he touched there. Some would have the word Miletum to be read Melita, among whom is Beza, who is ever one of the forwardest to tax the Text for corrupt, when he ca…not clear it. Potius con…icio leg…ndum foreign [saith he] quod vocabulum facile suit in foreign depravare. Luke saith plainly, that at Pauls coming away from Iudea in his voyage to Rome, it was their resolution to sail by the coasts of Asia, Acts 27 2. which had been a farre fairer ground to have concluded upon, that Paul was at Miletum in that voyage, since that was a part of those Asian coasts, then to change Miletum into Melita upon no ground at all. And certainly the very scope of the Apostle in that passage will not admit of that change: for he is not telling Timothy of Erastus his abode at Corinth, or of Trophimus his sick stay at Miletum, as things unknown to him, but as things very well known, yet mentioned to him as making to the Apostles present purpose: He had sent for Timothy and Mark to come away to him to Rome, and to forward them to that journey, he doth these two things. 1. He sheweth how all his company was scattered from him, ver. 9, 10. and therefore he had need of them in that destitution. 2. He telleth how supply might be made in their places though they came away, for though Mark should come from Corinth, yet Erastus might be a supply, for Erastus abode there. And Timothy come away from Ephesus, yet Trophimus is there ready to supply his place, for Trophimus I left at Miletum sick.
By Tychicus who was the bearer of this Epistle to Timothy, Chap. 4.12. Paul also sendeth
THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS:
for it is apparent that he was in bonds when he sent that Epistle, Chap. 3.1. and that he sent it by Tychichus, Chap. 6.21. That ye may know mine affairs and how I do, Tychicus a beloved brother, and faithfull Minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things, whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose.
In this Epistle he addresseth himself more especially to the convert Gentiles of the Ephesian Church, to establish and settle them in the truth, against that warping and wavering that was now too common: and he setteth himself to unfold the mystery of the Gospel in its full luster, and discovery in a more speciall manner, and that especially in the two first Chapters, as he himself professeth in the third. By revelation God made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye reade ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, ver. 3, 4.
He speaketh much of the mystery of the Gentiles calling, and calleth the Jews and Gentiles knit in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God, A perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ, Chap. 4.13. In Chap. 5.26, 27. speaking of Christs washing the Church, that he might present it to himself without spot or wrinkle, &c. he seemeth to allude to the Jews exceeding great curiousnesse in their washings for purification. Maym. in Mikvaoth per. 1. There must be nothing to interpose between the person that is washed and the water: for if there be any thing interposing betwixt him and the water, as if any clay or dough stick to his flesh, he is unclean as he was, and his washing profits him nothing. And a little after: If there be upon the flesh of a man or upon a vessel, any of those things that may interpose, as dough, pitch or the like, though it be no more then a grain of mustardseed, and he take it to thought, his washing profits him nothing.
Wh…t he saith in ver. 29. So ought men to love their wives even as their own bodies, is agreed … even by the Jews doctrine. Our Doctors teach, He that loves his wife as his own body, and he that honours her more then his own body, and he that maketh his sons to walk in a right way, &c. of such a one the Scripture saith, Thou shalt know that peace shall be in thy tabernacle, &c. Alphes. in Gittin per. ult.
CHRIST. LX NERO. VI WE are now come to the second year of Pauls imprisonment: in which he had the changeable and different occurrences, of loving visits and salutes from some Churches abroad, and crosse dealing from some ill-willed at home: some sadnesse of heart by the sicknesse of Epaphroditus near unto death, but comfort and reviving again by his recovery. The Church of Philippi had sent him to visit Paul in their name, and to bring him some tokens of their love for his support and maintenance in his imprisonment: and the good man fell sick in Rome very like to die: upon his recovery and return home again, Paul sendeth by him
THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS;
written in his name, and in the name of Timothy, who according to his appointment was now come to him. He sheweth in this Epistle, that as there were some which preached the Gospel of sincerity, so were there others that preached of envy and contention, and so added affliction to his bonds: He was yet in bonds, but in some good hopes of deliverance, as he sheweth in Chap. 2.24. for he saith he hoped ere long to send Timothy to them, and himself to come with him: but we shall observe ere long, that when Paul hath got his liberty, Timothy is got into prison, and so his journey for the present stopt.
He saluteth no Church in the platform of Bishops and Deacons, but only this: not but that there were Bishops and Deacons in other Churches as well as here, but it may be, he doth it here the rather, because of the contribution that the Bishops and Deacons had gathered for him and sent to him: or because he would shew the platform of office and order in this Church of Philippi, which was purely Gentile, agreeable to that of the beleeving Jews Churches.
He giveth warning to beware of the hereticall and unbeleeving Jews, whom he cals dogs and the concision: and now the name they used to give to the Gentiles [Dogs] is light upon themselves. The very Talmudists speak as evil of that generation in which Messias should come as the Scripture doth, 2 Tim. 3.1, &c. and among other things they say thus: When the sonne of David cometh, the Synagogues shall become stews: Galilee shall be destroyed: Gablan shall be desolate [the Samaritan Version of the Pentateuch doth constantly render Seir, Gablah] and the men of the border of Israel shall go from City to City, and the wisdome of the Scribes shall be abominated, and Religious persons shall be scorned: And the faces of that generation shall be as dogs. Talm. Bab. in Sanhedr. fol. 97. He cals them foreign The concision: The word signifies such superstitious and vain and impious cuttings in the flesh as Heathens used: as 2 King. 18.28, &c. No more doth he make of their Circumcision: the Greek word is used by the LXX Levit. 21.5.
He speaketh of one in Philippi whom he calleth his true yokefellow: alluding it may be either to the word foreign by which the Jews did ordinarily expresse great professors of Religion: foreign a most ordinary phrase in the Ierusalem Talmud: Or the word foreign yokes or couples whereby they expressed the President and Vicepresident of the Sanhedrin, those famous couples Shemaiah and Abtalion, Hillel and Shammai, &c. Of whom it is that he speaketh, is undeterminable. Barnabas or Silas might best bear the title. Whosoever it was, it seemeth it was some worthy person who was at this time in that Church, whom he intreats to compose some differences that were then afoot; and to be helpfull in som… occasions and cases that he knew needfull. It is not to be doubted but Epaphroditus, had acquainted him particularly with the state of the Church, and he applies his exhortations accordingly.
As the Church of Philippi had sent Epaphroditus to visit him, so did the Church of Colossi send Epaphras one of their Ministers to do the like, Colos. 1.7, 8. whereupon, by Tychicus, who had been the last year at Ephesus to fetch Timothy, and returned with him to Rome, Col. 4.7. and by Onesimus a Colossian, Col. 4.9. Paul and Timothy send
THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.
The naming of Mark now with him, Chap. 4.10. doth state the time of writing this Epistle, and fixeth it to this year; or else it would be easier for Tychicus his travell, to have supposed that he brought it the last year when he came to Timothy to Ephesus, and Colosse was not farre off: but the observing of Marks being now at Rome, puts the matter out of doubt. And whereas it might be thought more likely, that Epaphras that came with the visit from the Church, should bring this return of Paul back again, it appeareth by Chap. 4.12. that he staid still with Paul and was fellow-prisoner now with him, Philem. ver. 23.
The Colossians had never seen Pauls face, no more had the Laodiceans; for no lesse can be gathered from his own words, Chap. 2.1. yet had he been a means by some of his agents to plant these Churches, or at least to afford them plentifull watering. The Apostles had subordinate Ministers under them that they imployed to this purpose. I know not how the word Helps, 1 Cor. 12.28. can be better understood.
The Laodiceans had sent him an Epistle [as the Corinthians had also done, 1 Cor. 7.1.] and this is that Epistle that he speaketh of, Chap. 4.16. See that ye reade likewise the Epistle from Laodicea. Not that he had written any Epistle from thence which is now lost, as is conceived by some, for he was never there, but it meaneth that Epistle which the Laodiceans had sent to him: Not that he would have it read, as of equall Divine authority with his own, but as a good copy and example to the Colossians. If any be not satisfied with this construction, we shall offer another when we come to the Epistles of Iohn, rather then conceive, that any Epistle of Paul is lost, that was once read in the Churches.
Among those whose salutations he sends, he nameth Demas: who the last year was departed from him, and imbraced, as he thought, the present world, 2 Tim. 4.10. but now is come in a good man again. The sparks of grace once kindled, can never be quenched, yea though not discernable to the eye of a Paul: which however raked up under the ashes by vehement temptation or corruption, yet covered with an everlasting decree, of everlasting love, are unextinguishable. The act of grace, it is true, may be in a swone, and seem dead to the eyes of a Paul himself, whilest yet there is the habit in life: I mean that gracious changednesse, which by regeneration is wrought in the soul, the stony heart turned into flesh, which though it may congeal into ice again, yet can never again congeal into the stone it was. Fides quà apprehendens, its hand may slip, but fides quà apprehensa, his hand cannot slip that hath laid hold upon it.
By these same bearers Tychicus and Onesimus, by whom he sends the Epistle to the Colossians, he also sends