Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 51
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF S. PAVL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHIE.
CAP. I.
I Doe not onelyonly remember thee often,3 I thanke God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day. but I thanke my God (whom I serve in that true religion which I received from my forefathers, being in substance the same, which I now professe) that hee puts into my thoughts the remembrance of thee; for I take so much pleasure in recalling thy vertues and graces, that I hold it a great favour of God, that he hath given thee a place in my devotions, both by day, and by night.
When I call to remembrance the unfained faith wherewith thou art (amongst other graces) eminently indued; and that true piety,5 When I call to remembrance the unfained faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, &c. which was at first notably apparent in thy grandmother Lois, and, &c.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance,6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stirre up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands: that thou quicken and stirre up those gifts and graces of God, which were given thee by the imposition of my hands; not suffering them to goe out, for want of use, and excitation.
But exercise them boldly, and cheerfully;7 For God hath not given us the Spirit of feare, but of power, of love, and of a sound minde. for God hath given us his Spirit to inable us, and beare us out in these holy services, which Spirit of his, is not a Spirit of feare, and cowardise; but a Spirit of power, and resolution; a Spirit of fervent love to his Church; a Spirit of sincerity, both of judgement and affection.
Be thou a cheerfull partner of those afflictions,8 But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospell according to the power of God, which follow the profession of the Gospell; not out of any strength of thine owne, but out of the mighty power of God, upholding and incouraging thee therein.
Who hath saved us from sinne, and death,9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his owne purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Iesus, before the world began. and hath vouchsafed to call us effectually into the state of saving grace, even to holinesse and newnesse of life; not for any merit of our workes, but for his owne mercies sake, upon his owne good purpose, and grace, which was decreed to be given to us, in, and by Christ Jesus; before the world began.
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Iesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life, and immortality to light, &c.Which hath taken away from death, all that power and tyranny, which hee exercised over mankinde; and hath made a cleare way to life and immortality, for all that beleeve, through the Gospell.
For I well know what a powerfull, and mercifull God,12 For I know whom I have beleeved, and I am perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day. and Saviour it is, whom I have relyed and cast my selfe upon; and I am fully perswaded, that he is infinitely able, against all the powers of hell, to keep, and safeguard that my pretious soule, which I have committed to his care, and custodie, and to bring it forth glorious, at that great day of his appearing; and to perfect that salvation of mine, which he so gratiously hath undertaken.
13 Hold fast the forme of sound words which thou hast heard of mee, in faith, and love, which is in Christ Iesus.Hold fast both the substance of sound Christian doctrine, and the forme of expressing, and delivering of it; which thou hast heard of mee; the summe of which doctrine is our faith in God through Christ, and our love to him, and our brethren.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee, keepe by the holy Ghost.That good and pretious treasure of the Gospell of Christ, which was committed unto thy care & trust; and those singular graces which God hath bestowed upon thee, see that thou keepe and maintaine, with an happy increase; not out of any power and vertue of thine own, but by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in thee.
18 In that day, &c.In that day of the last and generall retribution, when he shall come to reward every man according to his workes.
CAP. II.
1 Thou therefore my sonne, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Iesus.THou therefore, my sonne, be couragious, and strong in the maintenance of that Gospell of Christ, which thou hast received through the grace that is given thee, by the same Lord Jesus Christ.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of mee, among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithfull men, who shall be able to teach others also.And the same things which thou hast heard mee deliver unto thee, not in a corner, but publiquely before many witnesses, as a truth worthy to be averred; even the same things doe thou preach, and deliver over to faithfull men, that may communicate them unto others; that so this blessed message of the Gospell, may be both diffused abroad, and transmitted to posterity.
3 Thou therefore endure hardnesse, as a good souldier of Iesus Christ.Thou knowest thy calling, that thou art by thy profession, a souldier of Jesus Christ, serving under his colours; resolve thou therefore to do, and endure that which belongs to thy place; be content to suffer, and undergoe all hardnesse for his names sake.
It is not therefore for thee, to be taken up with other cares, and imployments;4 No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life, that hee may please him, who hath chosen him to be a souldier. no man that gives himselfe to the warres, whiles hee is in that service, intangles himselfe in the affaires of his husbandry, or bargainings, but devotes himselfe wholly to the military businesse, which he hath in hand, that hee may please his captaine, or generall.
And as it is in wrestling; every man that strives,5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except hee strive lawfully. is not presently graced with the garland; but hee that wrestles skilfully, and according to the lawes of that exercise; so it is in this holy station; not every Bishop is crowned, and rewarded of God, but hee that manageth this calling gravely, holily, faithfully.
The husband man must first labour and take paines in plowing, and sowing,6 The husband man that laboureth, must first bee partaker of the fruits. ere hee can be partaker of the fruits of his field; and when hee hath bestowed this profitable toyle, he is well worthy to be the first, that shall eate of his owne labours.
I am persecuted, as an offender,9 Wherein I suffer trouble as an evill doer, even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound. for that I preach the Gospell of Christ; and am imprisoned, and put into bonds and fetters, for this onelyonly cause; but howsoever they may binde mee fast, as they doe; yet they cannot binde up and fetter the Gospell of Christ; that word of his, both is, and shall ever be free; for even in these bonds of mine, I doe, and will preach it unto all commers.
Therefore,10 Therefore I endure all things for the elects sake. I endure affliction for those good offices that I doe towards the furthering of the salvation of the elect, &c.
And if wee beleeve not, hee loseth nothing by it;13 If we beleeve not, yet hee abideth faithfull, hee cannot denie himselfe. the misery and damage is ours; but for him, hee is the same he was (what ever become of us) just, and faithfull in all his promises, and undertakings; hee cannot be lesse then his word, but will certainly doe whatsoever hee hath spoken.
And the doctrine of these profane heretickes spreads abroad, as a canker doth in the flesh; of which sort,17 And their word will eate as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus, and Philetus. are Hymeneus, and Philetus.
Who have erred in a maine point of faith; saying,18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying, that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. that there is no other then a spirituall resurrection, to be received; and that this spirituall resurrection is passed, whiles wee live here on earth; and by this meanes have perverted, and overthrowne the faith of some.
19 Neverthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seale, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquitie.But howsoever, some fashionable professors of Christianity doe thus fall off; yet neverthelesse, the foundation of Gods gracious and eternall election remaines sure, and unmovable; and is shut up inviolably under this seale of his; The Lord hath eternally fore-knowne those that are his; yet not so, as that presuming upon an absolute decree, wee should liue as wee list; but on our parts who are thus mercifully fore-knowne, there is required an holy, and conscionable obedience; so, as that every one that professes the name of Christ must depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house, there are not onelyonly vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood, and of earth, and some to honour, and some to dishonour.Neither need we to be troubled to see some fall away from Christ; for, as we see it is in a great house, there are vessells of all sorts and metalls; and of all formes, and for all uses; some pretious ones of gold, and of silver, which are for honourable uses; others againe of wood, or of earth, which are destin'd to baser uses: so it is in the great house of God, the world, all are not faithfull, all are not set apart to glory.
21 If a man therefore purge himselfe from these, he shall bee a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meete for the masters use, and prepared unto every good worke.And if any man therefore shall keepe himselfe pure, and cleane from these false doctrines, and hereticall teachers, he shall approve himselfe to be a vessell of honor, sanctified and set apart by God, for the glory of his mercy, and by him prepared, and inabled to every good worke.
22 Flie also youthfull lusts.Avoid thou those impetuous desires, and passions, to which youth is commonly subject, &c.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid.But foolish questions, and such as tend to no edification, and can give no furtherance to our knowledge by assoyling them, doe thou avoid, &c.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive.And it is not for a servant of the Lord to quarrell, and brabble about slight, and worthlesse matters, &c.
25 In meeknes instructing those that oppose thēselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth:Endeavouring that by this meanes, God, if he have so decreed, may give them repentance, and grace to acknowledge that truth, which they have gaine-said.
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of devill, who are taken captive by him at his will.And that they may seasonably recover themselves from their heresies, and errors, which are the very snares of the devill, wherein they are intangled, and held captive at his pleasure.
CAP. III.
MAking an outward and formall profession of godlinesse,5 Having a forme of godlinesse, but denying the power thereof: from such turne away. in words, but in their deeds denying the power thereof: so living, as if godlinesse were but a meere name, and a matter of fashion, without all force and efficacy; have nothing to doe with such kinde of men.
Of this sort of dangerous hypocrites, are they,6 For of this sort are they which creepe into houses, & lead captive silly women laden with sinnes, led away with divers lusts, which under faire pretences insinuate themselves into mens houses; and seduce poore silly women; which are the more apt to be mis-led, for that they are formerly vicious, being light huswives, and those that are given up to leud, and wanton courses.
Which indeed are fit disciples for such teachers,7 Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. as those which are curiously inquiring still into every novelty of doctrine, and never care to attaine unto sound knowledge of Gods saving truth.
Now as of old, Jannes and Jambres,8 Now as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses, so doe these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. which were Pharaohs sorcerers, resisted Moses and contested with him, in the message that he brought frō God; so doe these false teachers at this day resist us, in delivering the truth of the Gospell; being men of corrupt mindes, desperately erring in the maine points of religion, and framing their beleefe according to their owne fancies, and affections.
But they shall not prevaile to the seducing of any more; for God shall lay them open,9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. and display the foolishnesse of their doctrine, and shame them, as he did those sorcerers, who were so restrained by the hand of God, that they could not so much as make lice, in emulation of Moses.
The godly are afflicted, and persecuted,13 But evill men and seducers shall waxe worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. but wicked men and seducers are at full ease, and grow on, from one degree of sinne to another; deceiving others, and being themselves deceived, by Satan.
All holy Scripture is given by inspiration from God; not being dictated,16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproofe, for correction, for instruction in righteousnesse; or penned by any humane device; and is fully availeable, as for matter of doctrine, and for confutation of errors; so also in respect of manners, both for correction of mis-demeanours, and for instruction, and direction of our holy, and righteous carriage.
That a Divine,17 That the man of God may bee perfect, thorowly furnished unto all good workes. or teacher of Gods people may bee made complete; throughly furnished by it unto all the services of his profession.
CAP. IIII.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrins, but after their owne lusts shall they heape to themselves teachers, having itching eares.BE earnest, and diligent in preaching, for there will arise false teachers; who shall so bewitch the mindes of men, with their plausible fancies, as that they will not endure sound doctrine; but shall multiply to themselves great variety of pleasing teachers; having itching eares, that affect altogether nouelty and choice of doctrines, and curious speculations.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.For I am now ready to be offered up, as a sweet sacrifice to God, in my martyrdome, for his name, &c.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.My life is a warfare, and behold, I have fought a good fight, having striven for the Gospell zealously, and effectually: My life is a race, and I have runne my course, even to the very goale, constantly, and happily; I have maintained and defended the truth of Christs Gospell inviolably.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crowne of righteousnesse.And now from henceforth, I comfort my selfe with the expectation, and assurance of that crowne, or garland of immortality and glory, which upon the gracious promise of the righteous God, is laid up for me, &c.
10 For Demas hath forsakē me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica, &c.For Demas hath given over to attend me in my affliction, any longer, rather choosing to take his own ease, and to provide for his owne safety and profit, then to minister to me in my bonds.
For he may be of great use to assist me here in my ministery,11 For he is profitable to mee for the ministery. which I labour in (though a prisoner) continually.
16 At my first answere no man stood with me, but all men forsooke me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.At my first answer before Neroes tribunall, I was forsaken of all, which formerly professed favour to me; out of a weake feare of danger, and persecution; whose infirmity I so farre pitty, that I doe earnestly pray to God, that this timorous shrinking of theirs may not be laid to their charge.
17 And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.And I was delivered from the tyranny of that cruell Nero.
18 And the Lord shall deliver mee from every evill worke, and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdome.And the Lord shall deliver me still, and ever, from every evill worke, that might blemish this my holy profession; from all cowardly feares, and sinfull revolts, and whatsoever else may bee offensive to God and his Church, &c.