2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:1

IN the last dayes] See 1 Timothy 4:1. 2 Peter 3:3. Jude 18. The end of the world is the harvest, and when the sins of Antichrist and of all his followers shall be ripe, then will the Angel thrust in his fickle and mow the earth, Apoc. 14. 16. 18. 1 Timothy 4:1.

perilous times] Gr. hard. We may not hope for a Church in this world without corruption, but there shall be rather great abundance of most wicked men, even in the very bosome of the Church, who notwithstanding shall make a shew and countenance of great holinesse.

2 Timothy 3:2

lovers of their own selves] Such persons have been in all ages of the Church, but towards the end of the world being as it were the lees and dregs of time, there shall be almost none but such: these vices being spread over the whole face of the Church, and the mentioned evils become Epidemicall.

covetous] Gr. lovers of silver; or, money.

boasters, proud] See Romans 1:29-30.

2 Timothy 3:3

false accusers] Or, make-bates.

2 Timothy 3:4

high-minded] Gr. puffed up.

2 Timothy 3:5

Having a forme of godlinesse] Or, formalitie. Not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not the true forme and essence of godlinesse, but an outward conformation thereunto, a resemblance, vizard, or shew of holinesse; mens religion consisting in a formall profession of godlinesse, (Titus 1:16.) without expressing the power and efficacie thereof in their lives: Or in externall gestures, behaviours, rites, and ceremonies, without the pure inward worship of God in spirit and truth.

2 Timothy 3:6

women laden with sinnes] Silly women are more easily deceived, and those of them are more apt to be misled in their judgements which are given up to lewd and wanton courses. Josephus Antiq. Jud. 2. observeth that the Pharisces had their Gynaecea, Colledges or meeting of women; and Saint Jerome ad Ctes. that Simon Magus had his Helena, Marcion his female fore-runner, Appelles his Philomena, Montanus his Maximilla, Donatus his Lucillia. Eplpidius his Agape, Priscillian his Galla, Arius the Prince his sister; and generally all arch-heretikes some strumpet or other, by whom they spread the poyson of their heresie.

2 Timothy 3:7

Ever learning] The Apostle taxeth not these women for endevouring by continuall learning to improve their knowledge; but for curious inquiring into every noveltie of doctrine, and following now one teacher, now another, having no care to attain to found and saving truth.

2 Timothy 3:8

Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses] The names of the chiefe of the Egyptian socerers that strove with Moses, whose names are not expressed, Exodus 7:11. yet are here related by the Apostle, either out of some Jewish writers, not now extant, or from some ancient tradition. Howsoever, certain it is, that these Magitians names were famous, or rather infamous, for Numenius the Phthagorean Philosopher, and Artabanus the Historian make mention of them both, and Plinie in hsi Naturall Story, l. 3. c. 1 nameth one of them, to wit, Jannes. See Euseb. de praep. Evang. l. 9. c. 3.

reprobate concerning the faith] Or, of no judgement. Whose doctrines are abominable before God, and ought to be rejected of all; or, who have lost all right and sound judgement in things that belong to the Faith, Romans 1:18; Romans 1:26. Titus 1:16.

2 Timothy 3:9

proceed no further] He addeth a comfort, that God will at length pluck off all the vizards of Hypocrites and false teachers.

solly] Or, madnesse.

2 Timothy 3:10

thou hast] Or, thou hast been a diligent follower of.

fully known] Thou knowest throughly, not onely what I taught and did, but also how I was minded and disposed.

2 Timothy 3:11

afflictions] Gr. sufferings.

2 Timothy 3:12

shall suffer persecution] Gr. shall be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:13

worse and worse] 2 Peter 2:20. 22.

deceiving, and being deceived] Deceiving others by their sophismes and faire shew of holinesse, and being deceived by Satan.

2 Timothy 3:15

from a childe] There is nothing more profitable then to be exercised in the Scriptures from our infancie; for the vessels that are at the first seasoned with the favour of life, seldome or never lose it, Proverbs 22:6. And though while they are very young, they cannot come to much understanding, yet the having of Scripture phrase and texts by heart, is very usefull, and will much stead them after they come to riper yeers, and are able to dive deeper into the meaning of those things they retain perfect in their memories from their childhood.

wise unto salvation, through faith] Although the Scripture sufficiently instruct us to salvation, yet we cannot be saved without a lively faith working through love, therefore he addeth through faith: Or, by Scriptures he meaneth the Scriptures of the Old Testament, which it is like were onely extant when Timothie was a child, the knowledge whereof could not save Timothie without faith in Christ, whereby he beleeved the accomplishment of all those things which were fore-shewed in the Old Testament, both by predictions and types.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is given] See 2 Peter 1:21. Or, the whole Scripture, as the word is taken, 1 Corinthians 13:2. and elsewhere. Every part of the Scripture is divinely inspired, 2 Pet. 1. 20, 21. and is profitable to some of these ends, to furnish the man of God to some good works: but the whole Scripture is profitable to all those ends, to furnish him to every good work. The parts of the Scriptures as they were delivered were sufficient for the instruction of those to whom they were delivered; and now the whole is most sufficient for us, and all Churches to the end of the world.

2 Timothy 3:17

man of God] The Minister of God in his Church, 1 Timothy 6:11.

perfect] Gr. accomplished.

throughly furnished] Or, perfected.

furnished unto all good works] That is, to all the services of his profession, to those works of his calling he mentioned before, namely doctrine of the principles of Christian Religion, reproof of errours and false doctrines, correction of life and evill manners, and instruction in the precepts of a holy life and Christian conversation.