2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:1

MY sonne] See Chap. 1. 2.

in the grace that is in Christ Jesus] Be strong and couragious in the maintenance of the Gospel of Christ: or confidently relie on the favour of God, wherewith the Father embraceth us for his sonne Christ Jesus sake.

2 Timothy 2:2

among many witnesses] Or, by many witnesses. Either the things which thou hast heard confirmed by many witnesses and testimonies of holy Scripture, as the word witnesses is taken, Hebrews 12:1. Or, which thou heardest of me at thy ordination among the whole Presbyterie: Or, not spoken in a corner, but publikly in my preaching, before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:3

endure hardnesse] Or, suffer affliction. The ministery of the word is a spirituall warfare, wherein no man can so serve that he may please his Captain or Generall, but he must forgo and part from all hinderances which may draw him from it, and also endure much hardnesse and be put to many a hot brunt.

2 Timothy 2:4

No man that warreth] Warriours and souldiers busie not themselves with merchandizing, handicraft works, husbandrie or houshold affairs; but are alwaies attending their watchings, marchings, and other services and commands of their Leaders and Captains: so neither must a faithfull Minister of the Gospel trouble or distract himself with any worldly matters and affairs that may hinder him in the faithfull discharge of his sacred function.

entangleth himself] Gr. is entangled.

2 Timothy 2:5

strive for masteries] The Ministerie is like to a game, or striving for the masterie, wherein no man is crowned unlesse he strive according to the lawes that are prescribed, be they never so difficult or painfull.

2 Timothy 2:6

The husbandman, &c.] Or, The husbandman labouring first, must be partaker of the fruits.

2 Timothy 2:8

Remember that Jesus Christ] He confirmeth two principles of our faith which are alwaies assaulted by heretikes; the one, that Christ is the true Messias, God incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and made of the seed of David; and the other the highest Article of our Creed and mysterie of our salvation, his resurrection from the dead.

2 Timothy 2:9

but the word of God is not bound] Though they may confine me, and binde me fast, yet they cannot bind and fetter the Gospel of Christ, that word of his ever is and shall be free, not onely preached by those who are at libertie, but even by me and other servants of Christ who are restrained and in durance.

2 Timothy 2:10

endure all things] Not in their stead, or that my sufferings may be imputed to them, but I endure afflictions for those offices, which I do towards the furthering of the salvation of Gods elect.

2 Timothy 2:11

If we suffer] See Romans 8:17.

if we denie him] See Matthew 10:33. Mark 8:38.

2 Timothy 2:13

If we beleeve not] See Romans 3:3.

he abideth faithfull] Though we alter never so much, yet God is the same, most just and faithfull in all his promises, and undertakings, Romans 3:3. Malachi 3:6. James 1:17.

2 Timothy 2:14

strive not about words] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Not to strive about words onely, when the controversie is meer verball or nominall, and no way reall, or not at all importing faith or good manners: or, strive not with words bandying contumelious speeches, or bringing no better proof then vaunting words and boastings.

2 Timothy 2:15

rightly dividing] By adding nothing to it, neither over-slipping any thing, neither mangling it, nor renting it in sunder, nor wresting of it; but marking diligently what his hearers are able to bear, and what is fit for edification. The Metaphor is taken either from the cutting and squaring out of the streets and high-waies, and setting out the bounds of mens lands and possessions: or from the Priests of the Old Testament, who having slain the beasts that were to be sacrificed, did joynt and divide the same in an accurate manner: or from house-keepers that cut out and divide to every one in their families their share and portion of meat, 1 Corinthians 3:2. Luke 12:42. Hebrews 5:12.

2 Timothy 2:16

increase] Or, proceed.

2 Timothy 2:17

eate as doth a canker] Or, gangrene.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying to eat, as the disease called a Wolfe or a Canker doth, which if it be not looked to in time groweth incurable, and not onely consumeth the part where it is, but spreadeth farther in the flesh: such is the nature of hereticall doctrine, if it be not stopt in the beginning and cured by solid confutations, and Ecclesiasticall censures inflicted upon those that are obstinate, it will spread far, and run over the whole body of Church, and corrupt the same, 1 Corinthians 5:7. Galatians 5:9.

Hymeneus and Philetus] He nameth here the chiefest of those profane, and vain bablers, that being known they might be the better shun’d.

2 Timothy 2:18

erred] Or, missed the mark.

resurrection is past] It is probable they taught that there was no other resurrection but the spirituall rising of the soul from the death of sinne; or the renovation of the condition of the world under the Gospel, according as the word resurrection is sometimes taken.

overthrow the faith of some] That is, infect them with their heresie, and thereby subvert their orthodox faith.

2 Timothy 2:19

Neverthelesse] Although some slide away from the truth, we must not be offended thereat, as if the salvation of the elect were not sure.

the foundation of God] The eternall election, which is the first ground-work of the salvation of the faithfull laid by God himself cannot be shaken in such sort, that the elect of God should be seduced by the like heresies, and fall away from faith, Matthew 24:24.

sure] Or, steadie.

having this seal] The Book of life in which the names of the elect are written is confirmed as with a seale, and the number of the elect in the fore-knowledge of God is sealed up as in a book.

Let every one] Though the Lord hath eternally fore-known those that are his, yet not so that we presuming upon that Decree should cast away all care of our salvation, and let loose the reines to all carnall libertie. For on our parts who are thus mercifully fore-known and elected to salvation, there is required a holy and a conscionable obedience, and a carefull endeavour to please God in all things, and shunne all manner of sinne.

2 Timothy 2:20

and some to honour] See Romans 9:21.

2 Timothy 2:21

If a man therefore purge] Cleanse himself from these hereticall and impure doctrines, and keep himself unspotted of the world by the grace and vertue of the holy Ghost that dwelleth in him, 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 John 5:5.

vessel unto honour] The counsell of God shall be fulfilled in him, and he shall be really and effectually according as he is ordained unto it of God, a vessel of honour. Or he shall shew and approve himself to be such a vessel indeed. The like expression we have, John 15:8.

2 Timothy 2:23

foolish and unlearned] See 1 Timothy 1:4. Titus 3:9.

2 Timothy 2:24

must not strive] Must not be of a contentious disposition, nor at all strive about foolish and unlearned questions, vers. 23.

patient] Or, forbearing. To winne them through our patient bearing with them, but not to please them, or excuse them in their wickednesse.

2 Timothy 2:25

oppose themselves] Gr. set themselves against him. or, are ill affected to him.

repentance to the acknowledging] The knowledge of the truth goeth before repentance, yet true repentance goeth before the publike recantation of their errour, and particular acknowledgement of that truth they before gain-sayed and opposed.

2 Timothy 2:26

recover] Gr. awake.

snare of the devil] Hereticall doctrines are the snares wherein the devill intangleth the understanding of seduced men, as vitious provocations are the snares wherein he intangleth the wils and affections of dissolute persons.

taken captive] Gr. taken alive.

at his will] Gr. to.