The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2 · Subsection 10 – Subsection 12
I Timothy
THe first Epistle of the Apostle Paul to TIMOTHY. So denominated from Timothy to whom Paul wrote.
TIMOTHY Is a Greek name; Signifies, An Honourer of God. Probably his Godly Parents desired he might be such an one when they gave him this name: and he proved an excellent instrument of Honour to God both in Doctrine and conversation, according to the happy Omen and presage of his name. He is supposed to be of Lycaoni…, in Asia. His Father was a Greek, his Mother a Jewesse who believed, Act. 16.1. her name Eunice, daughter of Lois his Grandmother; both sincere believers, 2 Tim. 1.5. From a child they trayned him up in the Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3.14, 15. Whence Paul is perswaded that the like Faith dwelt in him, as did in his mother and Grandmother, 2 Tim. 1.5. His Father being a Greek, he was not Circumcised after the custome of the Jewes, but being come to maturity, Paul circumcised him, for the gaining of the Jewes by his Ministry, Act. 16.3. And having good commendation of him by the brethren of Lystra and Iconium, Paul made him his companion in travels throughout the Churches, Act. 16.2, 3, 4. &c. Sometimes Paul sent him as a Messenger to the Churches; whereupon Paul makes such an honourable mention of him and his workes, Act. 19.22. Rom. 16.21. 1 Cor. 4.17. And 16.10. Phil. 2.19, 20, 21, 22. 1 Thes. 3.2, 6. Gives him divers excellent Titles, cals him his brother, 1 Thes. 3.2. Heb. 13.23. His beloved son and faithfull in the Lord, 1 Cor. 4.17. His natural son in the Faith, 1 Tim. 1.2. His dearely beloved sonne, 2 Tim. 1.2. The Minister of God; and his fellow-labourer in the Gospel of Christ, 1 Thes. 3.2. His work-fellow, Rom. 16.21. Yea Paul joynes Timothy with himselfe in the inscriptions of divers Epistles to the Churches, that so he might both commend Timothies worth and authority to the Churches, as also propound him as an exemplary pattern to all faithfull Ministers. See 2 Cor. 1.1. Phil. 1.1. Col. 1.1. 1 Thes. 1.1. 2 Thes. 1.1. Philem. 1. At last after many travels with Paul by Sea and Land, Paul returning into Asia committed the care of the Church of Ephesus to him, whom he knew to be so able and trusty, 1 Tim. 1.3. &c. Which he happily taught, and governed about fifteen yeers; but at last more grievously inveighing against the Idolatrous worships of Diana; under Nero the Christians cruel Enemy, he was slain of the Gentiles with Arrowes and Stones, as is testified by Eusebius Hist. l. 3. c. 14. Some thinke that his bones, together with the reliques of Andrew and Luke were translated to Constantinople by Constantine the Emperour. As Hieronym. and Nicephorus.
When this Epistle was written, see in the Table above.
Occasion and Scope. The Apostle being to depart into Macedonia, left Timothy at Ephesus, that he might prevent unsound Doctrine, and ordaine Elders for that Church. Compare Act. 20. 1 Tim. 1.3. &c. That therefore Timothy might the better know how to behave himselfe in that Church in all Ecclesiasticall affairs, he writes to him this Epistle, not knowing how long he should be absent from him. 1 Tim. 3.14, 15. So that this Epistle may not unfitly be stiled▪ St. Pauls Directory for right mannaging of the Office of the Ministery in the Church of God.
Principall parts, to this end; are
I. The Inscription of the Epistle, c. 1, 1, 2.
II. The matter or Substance of the Epistle, which is chiefly by way of practicall instruction or direction. He directs Timothy,
1. Touching …aith how to maintaine against the teachers of the Law, the truth of the Gospel wonderfully committed to Paul) notwithstanding all impediments, and to adde to faith a good conscience, c. 1, 3. to the end.
2. Touching Ecclesiasticall worship, for whom they should pray, c. 2.1. to 8. How men and women should behave themselves in prayer, and in publick assemblies, c. 2, 8. to the end.
3. Touching Church officers. 1 How Bishops and Deacons with their wives ought to be qualified, c. 3 1. to 14. To which he annects, the end or Scope of his writing this Epistle to Timothy, viz. That he might know how to governe the Church, the house of God, the pillar of truth, giving an Epitome of Gospel-truth, c. 3, 14. to the end. which he amplifies by a Propheticall prediction of the Apostacy, from the faith which should come to passe in the latter times, c. 4.1. to 6. 2 How Timothy should behave himselfe both in his doctrine and conversation, c. 4.6. to the end. How in private reproofs, c. 5, 1, 2. How towards widows, c. 5, 3, to 17. How towards Elders▪ c. 5, 17. to the end. What duties he should teach servants, and how he should carry himselfe towards them that teach otherwise, and count Gaine godlinesse, c. 6. to 17. And how he should instruct rich men, c. 6, 17, 18, 19.
III. The Conclusion of the Epistle, exhorting Timothy to keep that which was committed to him, and to avoid prophane and vaine bablings, and oppositions of science, &c. c. 6, 20.21.
II Timoth:
THe second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to TIMOTHY. So denominated from Timothy to whom Paul wrote. A Description of this Timothy, see in former Epistle.
Occasion. The Apostle having left Timothy at Ephesus to take care of the Church there, 1 Tim. 1.3. when he departed from the Elders of Ephesus, after he had called them to Miletus, and given them charge of the flock, they all wept sore, Acts 20.36, 37. probably, Timothy was one of those that powred out tears, 2 Tim. 1.4. and perhaps the Apostle, that he might comfort Timothy lamenting him, intimated some hopes of his returne unto him, 1 Tim. 3.14. But Paul meane while being carried away captive to Rome, and by his bonds hindred from coming againe to Timothy, thought it necessary by this Epistle to stablish and comfort him, both against the Apostles sufferings and martyrdome approaching as also against all the pressures and persecutions of the Church, & that he should be moved by none of them, to desert or neglect the faithfull, keeping of that excellent treasure of truth, committed of trust to him, 2 Tim. 1.8, 13. and 2.1, 2, 3.4. and 4.1, 2, 5, 6. &c. and that they might more effectually be comforted in one another, he desires him to come shortly to him, 2 Tim. 4.9. that so they might take their last farewell one of another. For this was Pauls last Epistle (as his Swan-like Song) a little before his death, 2 Tim. 4.6, 7.
Scope, To stirre up and strengthen Timothy, to constancy and fidelity, in discharge of his ministeriall office, and the keeping and asserting of the truth, deposited and committed of trust to him; against all the present dangers and persecutions impending him or the Apostle for the same, in these perillous times.
Principall parts. to this end are
I. An Inscription of the Epistle, c. 1, 1, 2, together with an insinuative patheticall proem, testifying his singular affection to Timothy, v. 3, 4, 5.
II. The substance of the Epistle, which is chiefly Hortatory and Consolatory. Herein he,
1. Exhorts and encourages him to constancy and faithfulnesse in all the work of the Ministry committed to him, notwithstanding all the Apostles afflictions endured for the truth, all the troubles Timothy might incurre in defence of the truth, and the unfaithfulnesse of some revolting from the truth, c. 1, 6. to the end, and c. 2.
2. Prophetically forewarnes him of the perillousnesse of the last dayes, especially by reason of wicked hypocrites and Seducers, c. 3, 1. to 14.
3. Most earnestly incites and charges him to be constant in the faith, according to the Scriptures which he knew from a child, and to be instant in preaching the word, against all discouragements, after the Apostles example, who had finished his course, and now shortly was to receive his Crown, c. 3, 14. to c. 4, 9.
III. Conclusion of the Epistle, with 1 Some particular directions, c. 4, 9. to 16. 2 Narration of his owne affairs, v. 16, 17, 18. 3 Salutations, v. 18. to 22. and 4 Valediction, v. 22.
Titus.
THe Epistle of Paul to TITUS. So intituled from the name of the person to whom he wrote, Tit. 1.1, 4. Titus is evidently a Greek name, either derived from foreign Titus, i. e, A Dove; (as Ionah in Hebrew hath his name from a Dove,) or rather from foreign Tio i. e. to honour, esteem, &c. thence foreign, Titos i. e. Honoured; a fit name for him, that was truely honoured both by God and man. Titus was by Nation a Grecian, a Gentile, & uncircumcised probably till his death, Gal. 2.3. yet effectually converted by Paul to the faith, hence called his naturall sonne after the common faith, Tit. 1.4. yea he cals him his Partner and fellow-helper. 2 Cor. 8.23. and his brother, 2 Cor. 2.13. having enjoyed him as a companion of his travels, Gal. 2.1. a comfort in his sorrows, 2 Cor. 7.6. and having used him as a Legate or messenger unto divers Churches, and betrusted him with the Collections for the poor Saints in Iudea, 2 Tim. 4.10. 2 Cor. 8.6, 16, 17. Paul having planted a Church in the Isle of Creta, now called Candy, he left Titus there behind him to finish the work, appointing him to set in order things that were wanting, and to ordaine Elders in every city, Tit. 1.5. and there it is thought, he died and was buried.
Occasion and Scope, Paul having left Titus in Creet to order things wanting, &c. in the Church now planted there, and perceiving that in his absence false Teachers, erroneous in judgement, and scandalous in life, crept in, seeking to destroy the faith, by mingling Christ and Moses together, to disturbe Church-Government planted, and to disjoyne the practice from the profession of piety. Paul therefore sollicitous for the Church, writes this Epistle to Titus, both to strengthen and gaine Authority to his ministery there against all contempt; as also to direct him, how to order and stablish things wanting in the Church, how to represse distempers and disorders arising, and how to demeane himselfe, both in doctrine and conversation, towards severall sorts of Persons.
Principall parts to this end
I. An Inscription, c. 1, 1, to 5.
II. Substance of the Epistle, (of like nature to the I. To Timothy) wherein he
1. Declareth for what ends he left Titus in Creet, c. 1, 5.
2. Directeth him in reference to these ends.
1. What qualifications are requisite in Bishops, or Elders both for life and doctrine, c. 1, 6. to the end.
2. How Titus should accordingly approve himselfe in the ministry, both in his doctrine and life, and that towards both aged men and women, as also towards servants, c. 2. and generally towards all Christians, how he should teach them to behave themselvs, both towards magistrates, and mutually towards one another, backing the same with …ogent Arguments, c. 3, 1. to 12.
III. A Conclusion of the whole Epistle consisting of more private directions, salutations, and his Apostolicall valediction, c. 3, 12. to the end.
Thus of Pauls Epistles written to particular persons about Ecclesiasticall affairs. Now of his Epistles written to particular persons, yea to a Church, Philem. 1.2. about Oeconomicall or Houshold affairs. viz.