Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 50
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF S. PAVL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHIE.
CAP. I.
VNtoUnto Timothie, my owne deare sonne, whom I have spiritually begotten to the faith,2 VntoUnto Timothie my owne sonne in the faith. &c.
Neither give heed to idle Jewish fables,4, 5 Neither give heed to fables, & endlesse genealogies, which minister questions, rather then edifiing which is in faith: so doe. Now the end of the commandement is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfained. nor to those infinite pedigrees, and genealogies which they stand upon, in drawing downe the line of their discent from Abraham; or from David, in a pretence of claiming kinred of Christ, according to the flesh; which breed many frivolous questions, and contentions; rather then tend to thee dification of the Church, in the faith of Christ, which should be the end and drift of all our labours; For that which the commandement of God both in the law, and in the Gospell drives at, is charity; even that Christian charity, which floweth from a sincere hart, and a good conscience, and an unfained faith in that Christ, which hath loved us, and shed abroad his love in our hearts.
From which graces some having roved, and taken a wrong aime,6 From which some having swarved, have turned aside unto vaine jangling: have shot away their shafts, and have turned aside unto vaine jangling:
Taking upon them to be teachers of the law, whiles in the meane time,7 Desiring to bee teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say, &c. they understand neither the principles, nor conclusions of their owne doctrine.
Not, that I take exceptions against the law it selfe;8 But wee know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully. no, the law is good, and to excellent purpose, if a man make such use of it, as hee ought; not seeking to bee justified by it, but to bee directed by it, in his obedience, and to bee brought by it, to Christ, which is the end of the law.
Knowing this,9 Knowing this, that the Law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawlesse, and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners. that the law is not made for the coertion, restraint, punishment of the righteous, and upright in their conversation, but of lawlesse and disobedient men, of godlesse, and leud persons, &c.
But I obtained mercy from God;13 Who was before a blasphemer, & a persecuter, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbeliefe. who graciously held me capable thereof; because that which I did, I did not maliciously, or spightfully, but out of ignorance, and unbeliefe.
Howbeit, for this I obtained mercy,16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Iesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a patterne to them which should hereafter beleeve on him to life everlasting. that Christ Jesus might make me a patterne, & exāple, in whom he might shew forth his wonderfull patience, and long suffering; for the comfort and incouragement of all them, who notwithstanding the conscience of their many infirmities, should hereafter beleeve in him, to life everlasting.
This charge I commit unto thee, sonne Timothie,12 This charge I commit unto thee sonne Timothie, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest warre a good warfare. that knowing thy selfe to be of more then ordinary note, and one whom many Prophesies have foretold of, as a worthy and eminent instrument of Gods glory, and the good of his Church, that thou stirre up thy selfe, according to those predictions of thee, to approve thy selfe a good souldier in this spirituall warfare of Christ.
Holding the pure and true doctrine of the Gospell,19 Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning faith, have made shipwracke. and a good conscience in all thy actions, which some having disregarded and put away, have beene miserably ship-wracked in their judgement, concerning matters of faith.
Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander,20 Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learne not to blaspheme. whom I have by a dreadfull sentence of excommunication, given over to the power of Satan that they may be hereupon drawn to repent of their heresie, and blasphemy against God.
CAP. II.
I Exhort therefore, brethren, that first of all, when yee meet together in your publike assemblies,1 I Exhort therefore that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thankes bee made for all men. ye joyne together in all kinde of prayers and holy devotions; both those whereby we sue to prevent and avoid evills that may befall us, and those wherein we sue for all blessings that we want, and those wherein we intreat for the good of all others, and those wherein we give thankes, for our owne good, and the good of the whole Church.
2 For Kings, and for all that are in authoritie, that wee may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie.But especially let your prayers, and thanksgivings be for Kings, and for all that are in authority over you, that through Gods blessing upon their government, wee may lead a quiet, and peaceable life, &c.
4 Who will have all men to bee saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.And thus generall would God have your prayers, and intercessions to be, because he hath excluded no sorts or conditions of men from the capacity of heaven, or from the meanes of salvation, so as it is not for us to reject, or condemne any, as irrecoverably cast away by him, and uncapable of our prayers; since he hath revealed his will to be thus large, and gracious.
For as there is but one God, and mankinde is but as one corrupted masse;5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Iesus. so there is but one mediator betwixt God, and mankinde, even that man and God, Jesus Christ; who having taken the nature of man upon him, for the working of this reconciliation, hath therein made no difference of Jewes or Gentiles, of great, or meane, but calleth all indifferently.
6 Who gave himselfe a ransome for all, to be testified in due time.And gave himselfe accordingly, to be a ransome for all; so as the world should in due time, see, & know what an open way is made by him, for their salvatiō; a ransome sufficient for the redemption of all mankinde, and perfectly effectuall to all that beleeve.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an Apostle.Of which wonderfull and mercifull redemption I am, through the grace of God, ordained a preacher, and an Apostle, &c.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath, and doubting.By vertue of this my Apostolicall charge, and function, I doe therefore ordaine, and will that men doe not confine their devotion to any one place, but that as occasion offers it selfe, they pray every where; looking not so much to these outward circumstances, as to the inward devotion of the heart, that they pray in holinesse, in charity, in faith,
9 Not with broidered haire or gold, or pearles, or costly aray.Not in a fashion that may argue either wantonnesse, or curious nicenesse, or pride.
For I suffer not a woman (though she be indued with gifts fit for the instruction of others) to teach publikely in the congregation;12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurpe authoritie over the man, but to be in silence. nor yet at home to take upon her, to governe and rule her husband; but in a modest silence to receive his instruction, and commands.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve:For Adam had the priority in his very creation; he was first formed; and then Eve was formed of the substance taken from him.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.And Adam as he was the first in creation, so hee was not the first in transgression, neither was Adam deceived immediately by the Serpent, but the woman.
15 Notwithstanding she shall bee saved in childe bearing, if they continue in faith and charitie, and holinesse with sobriety.But though the woman hath by her yeeldance to the suggestion of the Serpent, brought upon man and her selfe, so great sinne and misery; and though I allow her not to take upon her publike offices, yet there is imployment for her at home, wherein she may so demeane her selfe, as may be pleasing unto God; and in that very punishment which God inflicted upon her, hee hath given her just cause and meanes of comfort; for God shall make those her painfull conceptions, and the care and anxiety, which she undergoes in the education and nurture of her charge, good meanes to bring her to salvation: but the maine condition, and help to that her future glory, is the continuance (of that sexe, as well as the other) in faith, charity, and holinesse with sobriety.
CAP. III.
IF a man desire the office of publike teaching,1 If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good worke. and governing the Church; he desireth a worke that is both holy, and excellent, and difficult.
A Bishop then, must bee a man of an inoffensive life;2 A Bishop then must be blamelesse; the husband of one wife, &c. one that is not tainted with the common blemish of polygamie; that is, of having more wives at once then one, or, after an unjust repudiation of one wife, marying another, &c.
Not a novice in the faith, or in age;6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemna- of the Devill. lest being puffed up with the conceit of his early advancement, above others, he fall through pride, into that condemnation into which the Divell is, for that same cause, plunged; or give advantage by this meanes to the tempter and accuser of mankinde to worke his damnation.
Lest he fall into the reproach of the heathen,7 Lest hee fall into reproach, and the snare of the devill. and going on in leud and debauched courses, bee intangled in the bands of wickednesse, the snares of the Devill.
Holding and maintaining the true doctrine of Christian religion, in a sanctified heart,9 Holding the mysterie of the faith, in a pure conscience. and a pure conscience.
See verse 2.12 Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children, and their, &c.
Doe justly obtaine the favour, and honour to bee preferred to the higher offices in the Church;13 Purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldnesse in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus. and do by this meanes receive an increase of courage, and holy boldnes, in the profession of the Gospell of Christ.
15 But if I tarry long, that thou maiest know how thou oughtest to behave thy selfe in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, &c.How thou oughtest to carry thy selfe in this great family of God; the Church of the living God; which is, in repect of men, the pillar and ground of truth: So as that it sustaineth, and beareth up (by a faithfull profession, and maintenance thereof) the true religion of God.
The summe whereof is, that undoubtedly-great and wonderfull mystery of godlines:16 And without controversie, great is the mystery of godlinesse, God was manifest in the flesh. God manifested in the flesh, &c.
CAP. IIII.
1 Now the spirit speaketh expresly, that in the later times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devills.NOw the Spirit of God hath expresly revealed both to me, and others his Prophets, that in the later times, wherein Antichrist shall raigne, and sway in the world; some shall depart away from the purity of religion, giving heed to seducing spirits, and to doctrines devised, and set on foot by the Devill.
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisie, having their conscience seared with a hote yron;Broaching false, and erroneous points of doctrine, and labouring to make them good, by an hypocriticall ostentation of holinesse; having hard, and seared hearts, insensible of their owne dangerous estate, and of the fearfull judgements of God.
3 Forbidding to marrie, and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created, to be received with thanksgiving of them which beleeve, and know the truth, &c.Forbidding marriage, either absolutely in it selfe, or specially to some sorts, and estates of men, as a thing uncleane and unlawfull; and commanding (upon pretence of holinesse, and conscience) to abstaine from some kind of meates; which yet God hath created good, and allowed to be received, &c.
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer.For it is sanctified to us, and may lawfully be received, if the word of God have not forbidden, but given free way unto it; and if we use it, both with prayer for a blessing upon it, and with thanksgiving to God for it.
6 Nourished up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.Nourished and brought up in the true religion of God, and in good and wholesome doctrine; &c.
But refuse thou both erroneous, and hereticall opinions,7 But refuse prophane and old wives fables, and exercise thy selfe rather unto godlinesse. as also the fabulous dotages of vaine, and braine-sicke men; and exercise thy selfe rather in the holy and Spirituall workes of piety, and godlinesse.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godlinesse is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.For as for that bodily exercise of fasting, and strict penitence, wherewith many please themselves, if it bee considered in it selfe, surely it profiteth little; and many have used it to small purpose; but the exercises of true Piety, whereby we worke upon our hearts, to draw them to the feare of God, to sound repentance, to a lively faith, and all other heavenly dispositions, are profitable to all ends and purposes; having the promises of Gods gratious acceptation, and reward, both in respect of the blessings of this life, and the life to come.
For therefore we doe with much chearfulnesse,10 For therefore wee both labour, and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that beleeve. both labour and toyle in our vocations, and also suffer the reproaches, that are cast upon us for Christ; because wee have our full trust, and confidence reposed upon the living God; who is the protector, preserver, and maintainer of all men, but especially of those that beleeve, who are most peculiarly interessed in him.
Demeane thy selfe so grauely, and stayedly,11 These things command and teach. that no man may take occasion to despise thee for thy young yeares; but be thou an example to all beleevers,12 Let no man despise thy youth, but bee thou an example of the beleevers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. to frame their lives according to thine; Goe thou therefore before them, & lead them both by thy doctrine, and by thy conversation, in Christian love and charity, in an undaunted courage and fortitude, in a lively faith, in an holy purity both of heart and life.
Till I come be thou diligent in reading,13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. and meditating upon the holy Scriptures; and imploy thy selfe carefully in teaching, and exhorting others.
Doe not neglect to stirre up,14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesie, with the laying on of the hands of the presbyterie. and exercise those notable gifts & graces, which were given thee by the Spirit of God, when, upon the speciall revelation of God, and the divine oracle of his holy Ghost, thou wert appointed and designed to this holy ministery; whereto thou wert admitted and consecrated by the prayers, and imposition of the hands of the presbytery.16 Take heed unto thy selfe, & unto the doctrine: continue in them.
Looke carefully to thy selfe, both for thy life, and thy doctrine; and continue constant in the carefull observation of these rules, which I have given thee, &c.
CAP. V.
DOe not take up too sharply, and roundly,1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren. those that are ancient in yeares, but intreat them plausibly, and gently, as thy fathers in age; neither be too harsh to the younger men, but treat with them as with brethren.
Give due respect to those widowes which under thy charge,3 Honour widowes that are widowes indeed. are appointed to bee maintained by the publike contribution of the Church: such I meane, as are widowes indeed, and therefore for their condition duly capable of this maintenance.
But if any widow have children,4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learne first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. and nephewes of sufficient abilitie, to provide for her; let those children, or nephewes learne to shew their pitty and love to such their Parents, or Aunts; and to requite those loving and chargeable offices, which in their yonger times they received from them, &c.
Now she that is a widdow indeed, fit for your reliefe, is shee,5 Now she that is a widdow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. that is utterly destitute of other helpes, that is religiously given, trusting in God, and spending her time ever in holy devotion, both night and day.
But shee that lives in pleasure and delicacie, pampering herselfe so much the more,6 But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth. by occasion of her freedome, and giving her selfe over to wantonnesse, though she live in the body, yet in soule shee is dead, dead in her sinnes and trespasses.
8 But if any provide not for his owne, and specially for those of his owne house, he hath denyed the faith, and is worse then an infidell.But if any shall willingly neglect to provide for those that concerne him; and especially for them of his owne family, and neare kinred; that man, together with humanity, hath cast away religion also; and makes himselfe, in this foule and shamefull incivility, worse then an infidell.
9 Let not a widdow be taken into the number, under threescore yeares old, having beene the wife of one man.Let not one be taken into the number of those widdowes, who depend upon the maintenance of the Church, and are imployed, by it, to charitable services, in attendance of the sicke, and ministration to the Saints in their travailes, under threescore yeares old; and such a one as hath given good proofe of her modesty; having so beene the wife of one husband, as that she hath not, upon his repudiation, married to another.
11 But the yonger widdowes refuse: for when they have begun to waxe wanton against Christ, they will marry.But doe not admit of younger widdowes to this condition, and service; for they, after that they have betaken themselves to this ministration, and by this meanes have, as it were, married themselves to Christ, when they grow pampered and wanton, will be casting off these resolutions of their serviceable attendance upon the Church of Christ, and will marry, perhaps to infidels; for those who are the sonnes of the Church will not easily give way to match with persons so devoted.
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.And so by this meanes run into the just danger of damnation, because to please their new husbands they cast off their profession of the faith of Christ; at least in marrying they doe violate that promise, and ingagement, wherein they bound themselves to doe their continuall service to the Church.
I will therefore, and ordaine that the yonger women be left to their full liberty to marry,14 I will therefore that the yonger women marry. &c.
15 For some are already turned aside after satan.For some are, already, through their wanton courses and knowne fornications, mis-carried by satan, to the great scandall of the Church.
17 Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.Let those Bishops or Pastors that rule well, be counted worthy of all due respects, both of honour and maintenance; but especially those among them, which besides their care and paines in governing, labour diligently in teaching and instructing their people.
Against a Presbyter, whose function is sacred,19 Against an Elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. and whose scandall may be more dangerous, receive not an accusation, unles it be proved by two or three witnesses.
But those Presbyters which give manifest offence by their sin, doe thou rebuke, and censure publiquely,20 Them that sinne rebuke before all, that others also may feare. that others also may feare.
Doe not rashly lay thy hands upon any man, to ordaine,22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sinnes. Keepe thy selfe pure. and authorize him to the holy function of the ministery; neither doe thou admit of any unworthy man; nor by this meanes through thy partiality, make thy selfe a partaker of other mens sinnes; but keepe thy selfe holy, and untainted.
Some there are who offer themselves to ordination,24 Some mens sinnes are open before hand, going before to judgement: and some men they follow after. whose scandalls are knowne beforehand, and runne (before their tender of themselves to this holy function) into just censure: others offences are not knowne till after they be ordained.
Likewise also on the contrary,25 Likewise also the good workes of some are manifest beforehand, and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. the good workes & holy carriage of some, that put themselves forward to this holy calling, are well knowne and approved beforehand, so as thou needst not make scruple of laying thy hands upon them; and as for them that are otherwise, if thou doe diligently enquire after their demeanour, and conversation, they cannot be hid from thy notice; so as thou maist refraine to admit them.
CAP. VI.
LEt those Christians,1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their owne masters worthy of all honour. which are under the yoke of servitude, so carry themselves to their masters (though infidels) as accounting them worthy of all honour; not derogating ought from their obedience, because themselves are called to the knowledge, and profession of Christ, &c.
And for those that have beleeving masters,2 And they that have beleeving masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren, but rather doe them service, because they are faithfull. let them not thinke they may abate ought of their due respects, and observance to them, because they are their fellow-Christians, &c.
And consent not to the true,3 And consent not to wholsome words, even the words of our Lord Iesus Christ. and saving doctrine of the Gospell, &c.
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strife of words, &c.Hee is proud (knowing nothing, indeed, of what hee ought to know) but vainely distempering himselfe about idle, and frivolous questions and quarrels, about words, whereof, &c.
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gaine is godlinesse, &c.Perverse, and peevish brablings of disputations of men of corrupt and depraved mindes; void of all care and love of truth; ayming only at their own filthy lucre, as supposing gain to be the best, and only godlinesse, &c.
6 But godlinesse with contentment is great gain.But I say contrarily, that godlinesse is great gaine, and such as may give a man all-sufficiency in himselfe; if he have an heart content with his estate.
9 But they that will bee rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts.But they that set down their rest, and resolution, that they will be rich, must needs fall into many temptations, & be miscarried with them; and cannot but be intangled in the snares of satan, and drawn into many covetous desires, &c.
10 Which whiles some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced thēselves through with many sorrowes.Which whiles some have immoderately coveted, they have beene drawne to renounce their Christian profession, and have wounded their soules with many sorrowes, and have brought infinite mischiefes upon themselves.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternall life.Fight thou that good and happy fight of a true and faithfull champion of Christ, for the maintenance of his faith, and Gospell, which thy true faith in him shall inable thee unto, and crowne thee for; and lay hold upon that blessed reward of eternall life, &c.
13 Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.Who before Pontius Pilate made a just and undaunted profession of his Messiahs-ship: telling him, that for this cause hee came into the world, that hee might beare witnesse of the truth.
16 Who onelyonly hath immortality, dwelling in the light, which no man can approach unto.Who onelyonly hath perfect and absolute immortality, as in himselfe; dwelling in that increated and infinite glory of divine Majestie, which our weake and darke apprehensions cannot conceive or reach unto, &c.
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternall life.Laying up in store for themselves, through the grace, and acceptation of God, a good foundation of assured comfort, against the evill day, even the day of death; that they may, upon his mercifull remuneration obtaine eternall life.
20 O Timothy, keepe that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vaine bablings, and oppositions of science, falsly so called.O Timothy, keepe thou sure and carefully, that pretious treasure of sound and wholsome doctrine, wherewith thou art entrusted; avoiding those profane & vaine janglings about idle questions, and those bootlesse quarrels of sophistrie, which carry a shew of learning & knowledge,21 Which some professing, have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee, Amen. but indeed have nothing but frothy ostentation.
Which some professing have beene drawn into grosse errours, and mis-opinions concerning religion.