1 Timothy 4

— seen of angels.] We have some grounds from analogy to conclude, that as there is a scale of beings below us, there is one above us; at least the conclusion has been pretty generally drawn, and the belief almost universal, of such a scale ascending from us to God, though the uppermost round of it still be at an infinite distance from His throne. But the direct, indeed the only solid proof of its existence, is the revealed word, which speaks of angels and archangels, nay myriads of them, disposed in different ranks, and rising above each other with a wonderful harmony and proportion.

Such is the idea which Scripture gives of the invisible world. Now to raise our minds to some just apprehension of the great scheme of our redemption, it represents that world as being put in motion by that scheme, as attentive and earnest to look into it; and to exalt our conceptions of the Redeemer Himself, it speaks of that world as being in subjection to Him, of all its inhabitants, the highest in place and dignity, as serving in His retinue, and paying homage to His Person.

They accordingly ministered to Him in this capacity when they celebrated His birth in the fields of Bethlehem; when they took part with Him in His triumphs over the adversary in the desert; when they flew to strengthen Him in His last agonies; when they attended in their robes of state to grace His resurrection; and when they ranked themselves with all observance about Him as He went up to heaven.

Of angels then was He seen on all these, and doubtless on other occasions. But how was He seen? With love and wonder unspeakable, when they saw their Lord thus humbling Himself for the sake of man, when they contemplated this bright effulgence of the Deity, the express image of His Person, valing all His glories in flesh. Bp. Hurd.

— preached unto the Gentiles.] When the nations of the earth had so prodigiously corrupted themselves as to lose the memory of the true religion, and to give themselves over to the most abominable impieties, it pleased God to select one faithful family from the rest of a degenerate world, and in due time to advance it unto a numerous people, which He vouchsafed to take into a near relation to Himself, and for a singular policy to preserve distinct and separate from surrounding tribes of idolaters. Thenceforth the Jews considered themselves as the sole favourites of Heaven, (as they were indeed the sole worshippers of the true God,) and all the heathen as the outcasts of God’s providence.

This notion in process of time became so rooted in them, that when Jesus now appeared in Judea, they were ready to engross all His favours to themselves, and thought it strange and incredible that any part of them should be conferred on the reprobate heathen: so that He Himself was obliged to proceed with much caution in opening the extent of His commission: and St. Paul every where speaks of the design to save the Gentiles as the profoundest mystery. Bp. Hurd.

— believed on in the world.] “So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed,” and it still prevails, not in all the world to that degree in which it one day will, and in some parts of it much below that degree in which it once flourished, but to a certain degree every where, notwithstanding what time, and superstition, and barbarism, have done to oppress it; and in all the learned and enlightened world universally, and in those with

doing his duty, he furnisheth him with divers precepts belonging thereto.

NOW the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,

Anno DOMINI 65.

the greatest effect which are most enlightened: an evident proof that reason is congenial with faith, and that nothing but ignorance corrupted by vice can hold out against the cross of Jesus.

This power of the cross must be thought prodigious, since its pretensions are so high, and its doctrine so pure, that in a world overgrown with presumption and vice, it could never have made its way to so much consideration, if the hand of God had not been with it. Such is the mystery of Christ “believed on in the world.” Bp. Hurd.

— received up into glory.] This circumstance was proper to shut up so stupendous a scene. It opened with “God manifest in the flesh,” degraded, eclipsed, obscured by this material vestment, yet emerging out of its dark shade through the countenance of the Spirit and by the ministry of angels, then shining out in the face of the Gentiles, and gradually ascending to His meridian height in the conversion of the whole world. Yet was this prize of glory to be won by a long and painful conflict, with danger, sufferings, and death, in regard to which last enemy the Apostle affirms that it was not possible for so divine a Person to be holden of it. It follows therefore naturally and properly, (to vindicate the Redeemer’s honour, and to replace Him in that celestial state from which He had descended,) that in His own person He triumphed over hell and the grave, and went up rashly into heaven, there to sit down at the right hand of the Father, till, His great mediatorial scheme being accomplished, He Himself shall voluntarily quit the distinction of His name and place, and God shall be all in all. Bp. Hurd.

Chap. IV. The Apostle warns Timothy, that there would appear false teachers, who would condemn marriage and the use of certain meats. Secondly, he exhorts him to teach pure doctrine, and to adhere to true piety, the great advantage of which he represents to him. Thirdly, he recommends to him, so to behave as to procure respect to his ministry, notwithstanding his youth; and to apply himself diligently to all his duties. Ostervald.

Ver. 1. Now the Spirit &c.] The Apostle here describes more fully the particular nature and kind of the apostasy, concerning which he had given a particular caution in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, chap. ii. 1—3. What follows is a very lively and apt description of that great apostasy in the Christian church, which began in the western part of it, and hath spread itself far and wide. Abp. Tillotson.

— the Spirit speaketh expressly.] That is, precisely and clearly, not obscurely and involvedly, as He was wont to speak in the Prophets. Dr. Whitby. Or, in express words, in some place or other of holy writ: as is the case in the prophecy of Daniel, chap. xi. ver. 36—39. So that this is a prophecy not only of St. Paul, but of Daniel too; or rather of Daniel, confirmed and approved by St. Paul. Jos. Mede, Bp. Newton.

— in the latter times] Wherein Antichrist shall reign and sway in the world. Bp. Hall. The latter times of the Christian dispensation, namely, the times of the little horn or of Antichrist, Dan. vii. Jos. Mede, Bp. Newton.

— some shall depart] Or rather, ‘shall apostatize from the faith.’ The Apostle had predicted the same

Paul foretelleth a great apostasy. Anno DOMINI 63. giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

— giving heed to seducing spirits.] That is, to false pretensions to inspiration, which cause men to err from the true faith of the Gospel. The Apostle means those gross frauds, by which the corrupt teachers in the dark ages were to enforce their erroneous doctrines and superstitious practices on the ignorant multitude, under the notion of revelations from God, or from angels, or from departed saints. In this sense the word “spirits” is used for pretenders to inspiration, 1 John iv. 1. Dr. Macknight.

— and doctrines of devils.] Or, ‘of demons,’ that is, concerning demons. Thus “the doctrine of the Lord,” Acts xiii. 15, is the doctrine concerning Him: and “the doctrine of baptisms,” &c. Heb. vi. 2, is the doctrine relating to baptisms, &c. And by the same construction “doctrines of demons” are doctrines about or concerning demons. The word translated demons was used by the Greeks to denote a kind of beings of a middle nature between God and men. They gave the same name also to the souls of some departed men, who, they thought, were exalted to the state and honour of demons for their virtue. The former sort they called superiour demons, and supposed them to have the nature and office, which we ascribe to angels. The latter they termed inferiour demons. These were of the same character with the Romish saints. And both sorts were worshipped as mediators. When therefore the Spirit of God foretold, that in the latter days many would give heed to seducing spirits and to doctrines concerning demons, he foretold, that on the authority of feigned revelations many in the church would receive the doctrine concerning the worship of angels and saints; and called it the doctrine of demons, because it was in reality the same with the ancient heathenish worship of demons, as mediators between the gods and men. Bp. Newton, Dr. Macknight.

1 Timothy 4:2

2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy.] Rather, ’through the hypocrisy of liars,’ the Apostle proceeds to describe by what means and by what persons the great apostasy, consisting in the revival of the doctrines concerning demons, and in worshipping the dead, should be propagated and established. It was to prevail ’through the hypocrisy of liars, having their conscience seared

with a hot iron.’ And hath not the great idolatry of Christians, and the worship of the dead particularly, been diffused and advanced in the world by such instruments and agents? It is impossible to relate or enumerate all the various falsehoods and lies, which have been invented and propagated for this purpose: the fabulous books, forged under the names of Apostles, saints, and martyrs; the fabulous legends of their lives, actions, sufferings, and deaths; the fabulous miracles ascribed to their sepulchres, bones, and other relics; the fabulous dreams and revelations, visions and apparitions of the dead to the living; and even the fabulous saints, who never existed but in the imagination of their worshippers. And all these stories the Romish clergy have imposed and obtruded upon mankind, it is difficult to say, whether with greater artifice, or cruelty; with greater confidence, or hypocrisy and pretended sanctity; a more hardened face, or a more hardened conscience. ‘The history of the church,’ saith Pascal, ‘is the history of truth,’ but, as written by bigoted Papists, it is rather the history of lies. So well cloth this prophecy coincide and agree with the preceding one, 2 Thess. ii. 9, that “the coming of the man of sin should be after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” Bp. Newton.

1 Timothy 4:3

3. Forbidding to marry.] The monks were the first, who brought celibacy into repute; as they were the first also, who revived and promoted the worship of demons. It is a thing universally known, that one of the primary and most essential laws and constitutions of all monks, whether solitary or associated, whether living in deserts or in convents, is the profession of a single life; to abstain from marriage themselves, and to discourage it as much as they can in others. It is equally certain, that the monks had the principal share in promoting and propagating the worship of the dead. Their legitimate descendants are the Romish clergy, who profess and recommend celibacy, as well as the worship of saints and angels. In the eleventh century, the celibacy of the clergy was fully decreed by pope Gregory the Seventh; and this hath been the universal law and practice of that church ever since. Thus have the worship of demons and the prohibition of marriage gone hand in hand together: and as they, who maintain the one, maintain the other, so it is no less remarkable, that they who disclaim the one, disclaim the other also. Bp. Newton.

— and commanding to abstain from meats.] It is as much the law and constitution of all monks to abstain from meats as from marriage. Some never eat any flesh; others only of certain kinds and on certain days. Frequent fasts are the rule, the boast of their order: and their carnal humility is their spiritual pride. So lived the monks of the ancient church; so live, with less strictness, perhaps, but with greater ostentation, the monks and friars of the church of Rome: and they have been the principal propagators and defenders of the worship of the dead, both in former and in later times. The worship of the dead is indeed so monstrously absurd as well as impious, that there was hardly any possibility of its ever succeeding and prevailing in the world, but by hypocrisy and lies: but that these

He directeth Timothy what doctrines to teach. Anno DOMINI 63.

membrane of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1 Timothy 4:12

12. Let no man despise thy youth;] Though thou art a young man in years, yet let the gravity of thy life supply the want of the years that are wont to be required of thy office. Dr. Hammond.

— in word, in conversation.] In gravity of speech, in propriety of behaviour. Dr. MacKnight. The word rendered “conversation” signifies behaviour, manner of life, general conduct. Parkhurst, Schleumer.

— in spirit.] In an undaunted courage and fortitude. Bp. Hall. In fervency of spirit. Dr. Whitby. In that disposition of mind, which Christianity requires and produces. Schleumer.

1 Timothy 4:13

13. — give attendance to reading, &c.] Be diligent in performing thy office in the several parts of it: expounding the Scriptures; confirming believers, and admonishing them of any fault or danger; and instructing the ignorant or unbelievers. Dr. Hammond. Besides reading the Jewish Scriptures to the brethren in their assemblies for worship, after the example of the synagogue, Timothy was here directed to read these Scriptures in private likewise for his own improvement, ver. 15; that he might be able to confute the Jews and Judaizers, who founded their erreurs on misinterpretations of the Scriptures. Thus understood, the direction, as the ancient commentators observe, is an useful lesson to the ministers of the Gospel in all ages. For if a teacher, who possessed the spiritual gifts, was commanded to read the Scriptures for improving himself in the knowledge of the doctrines of religion, how much more necessary is that help to those teachers, who must derive all their knowledge of the Gospel from the Scriptures; and who cannot, without much study, be supposed to know the customs, manners, and opinions,

1 Timothy 4:14

14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee.] That is, neglect not to stir it up. See the note on 2 Tim. i. 6. Dr. Whitby.

— which was given thee by prophecy.] According to the revelation from the Spirit concerning thee, chap. i. 18. Dr. Hammond. See the note there.

— with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.] The Apostles were often called by the name of presbyters; and so the presbyters here mentioned may probably have been Apostles. Or, as we are sure that St. Paul was one of them, and that he ascribes the whole of Timothy’s ordination to his own laying on of hands, 2 Tim. i. 6; it may be that one or more of such as were mere presbyters, might lay on their hands in concurrence with him, to testify their consent and approbation; as is the custom at this day in the ordination of a presbyter, and as hath been sometimes done at the consecration of a bishop. Wheatly.

The ceremony of imposition of hands in ordination is confirmed from the practice of the Apostles and Apostolical men, thus ordaining deacons, Acts vi. 6; pastors or teachers of the word, Acts xiii. 3; elders, whether bishops or presbyters, in every city, Acts xiv. 23. This practice they derived from the Jews, who are said to have received it from the time of Joshua, Deut. xxxiv. 9. Dr. Whitby. See the notes on the above passages in the Acts.

1 Timothy 4:16

16. — continue in them.] In the careful observation of these rules, which I have given thee. Bp. Hall. In the exercises mentioned ver. 12, 13. Dr. Whitby.

— and them that hear thee.] It is by an attentive observation of the injunctions here given by the Apostle to Timothy, that their successors in the ministry of the Gospel can do their utmost to save the souls committed to them. If they do so, God will pronounce them pure from the blood of all men; and if their people perish, their blood will be upon their own heads. Burkitt.

Chap. V. The Apostle gives Timothy directions for censuring and reproving elders and young men; and for his behaviour towards aged and young women: also for the publick charity to widows, which of them are fit, and which not fit, to receive it. He directs that good ministers should be liberally maintained; and that no accusation against a presbyter should be proceeded on, without due caution and full evidence; but that such, as were notoriously guilty, should be severely and openly reproved. He strictly charges Timothy to be impartial in his government, and to be tenderly cautious whom he ordains to the ministry: adding some private advice relating to his health. Pyle, Ostervold.