2 Timothy 1
DOYLYVer. 1. — according to the promise of life] Especially commissioned by the express revelation of God, to declare the Gospel privileges and promises of eternal life both to Gentiles and to Jews. Pyle.
—in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.] With a firm faith and true Christian love. Dr. Whitby.
- That good thing which was committed unto thee keep! St. Paul more than once called upon Timothy to “keep that which was committed to his trust.” He meaneth it in respect of the Christian faith, which he was bound to keep entire as it was delivered to him, at his peril, and as he would answer it another day. Bp. Sanderson.
2 Timothy 1:3
- — whom I serve from my forefathers] Namely, in that true religion which I received from my forefathers, being in substance the same which I now profess. Bp. Hall.
Anno DOMINI 66. Paul exhorteth Timothy to be stedfast and patient in persecution. Anno DOMINI 64. Lols, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
2 Timothy 1:5
5.—and thy mother Eunice:] Converted to the faith before thee, Acts xvi. 1. Dr. Whitby. It is a most desirable and blessed thing, when there is a succession of believers in a family; and to see faith transmitted down to posterity, when grandmother, mother, and grandchild, all walk in the truth. Burkitt. The pains, which these two worthy persons took to impress the mind of their son in his childhood with sentiments of piety and virtue, is a fit example for the imitation of all mothers; who, if they take the same pains with their children, may hope that by the blessing of God their care will be followed with the same happy effects. Dr. Macknight.
2 Timothy 1:6
6.—thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee] Quickening the gifts and graces, which were given thee by the imposition of my hands; and not suffering them to go out for want of use and excitation. Bp. Hall. Philo saith, that ‘where there is any spark of true probity, being ventilated, it will shine, and break forth into a flame.’ And this is also true as well of spiritual gifts as graces; even the gifts of miracles, of healing, and of casting out devils, were strengthened and increased by prayer and by faith, Matt. xvii. 20, 21: and the internal gifts of wisdom and knowledge by reading and meditating on the word; the illumination of the Holy Spirit coming then upon gifted persons, when they were so employed, 1 Cor. xiv. 23—26; 1 Tim. iv. 13—15. How they may be extinguished, see Eph. iv. 30; 1 Thess. v. 19. Dr. Whitby.
2 Timothy 1:7
- For God hath not given us &c.] Exercise thy gifts boldly and cheerfully: for God hath given us His Spirit to enable us and to bear us out in these holy services; which Spirit of His is not a Spirit of fear and cowardice, but a Spirit of power and resolution, a Spirit of fervent love to His church, a Spirit of sincerity both of judgment and affection. Bp. Hall.
2 Timothy 1:8
8.—according to the power of God:] By that strength which God gives thee. Dr. Hammond.
2 Timothy 1:9
- Who hath saved us.] That is, put us into a state of salvation; and in order thereto has “called us with a holy calling,” namely, to Christianity. Dr. Wells. See the note on 1 Cor. xv. 2.
—not according to our works, &c.] Not for any merit of our works, but for His own mercy’s sake, upon His own good purpose and grace, which was decreed to be given us, in and by Christ Jesus, before the world began. Bp. Hall.
The redemption of mankind was not an after-thought, a new design, formed upon the transgression and fall of our first parents. That event was foreseen, and provision made accordingly. For upon the very best authority we are informed, that Christ was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;” that is, for it cannot be otherwise understood, slain in effect, in the
Divine purpose and counsel. It is likewise said here, that “grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;” see also Tit. 1. 2. The words intimate, that before the creation of the world something had passed in our favour above: that the plan of our future redemption was then laid: that some agreement, some covenant, relative to it, had been entered into: “grace was given us,” not in our proper persons, for as yet we were not; we had no being; but in the person of Him, who was afterwards to become our representative, our Saviour, “in Christ Jesus.” Now the plan must have been laid, the covenant entered into, by the parties who have since been graciously pleased to concern themselves in its execution. Who these are, we cannot be ignorant. It was the Son of God, who took our nature upon Him, and in that nature made a full, perfect, and sufficient oblation, satisfaction, and atonement, for the sins of the world. It was the Father, who accepted such oblation, satisfaction, and atonement; and in consequence forgave those sins. It was the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and the Son, through the preaching of the word, and the administration of the sacraments, by His enlightening, healing, and comforting grace, to apply to the hearts of men, for all the purposes of pardon, sanctification, and salvation, the merits and benefits of that oblation, satisfaction, and atonement. Bp. Horne.
2 Timothy 1:10
10.—who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light] Who now, by dying for our sins, has rescued all true believers from the final power of death; and by His life and doctrine, has freed them from all the uncertainties they laboured under concerning the future state; and given them a full assurance of an eternal and happy life, upon their repentance and sincere obedience to His commands. Pyle.
The original word, rendered “brought to light,” signifies to enlighten, illustrate, or clear up any thing. And the meaning of this passage is, that our Lord enlightened the doctrine of life and immortality, not by giving the first or only notice of it, but by clearing up the doubts and difficulties under which it laboured, and giving a better evidence for the truth and certainty of it, than nature or any revelation had before given. He illustrated and made plain this great doctrine of religion; He dispelled the doubts and uncertainties in which it was involved; and He gave evident proof and demonstration to the world of the certainty of a future life and immortality. Bp. Sherlock. “Life and immortality” is put by an usual Hebraism for immortal life. Abp. Tillotson.
Before our Saviour’s days, length of time, and folly, and wickedness, had every where obscured and darkened this great truth by fabulous additions and absurd alterations; which hindered the good influence of it on
Of Phygellus and Hermogenes. Onesiphorus is commended. Anno DOMINI 66. I Or, Iraised.
2 Timothy 1:12
12.—for I know whom I have believed, &c.] For I well know what a powerful and merciful God and Saviour it is, whom I have relied and cast myself upon: and I am fully persuaded, that He is infinitely able, against all the powers of hell, to keep and safe guard that my precious soul, which I have committed to His care and custody; and to bring it forth glorious, at that great day of His appearing; and to perfect that salvation of mine, which He so graciously hath undertaken. Bp. Hall.
2 Timothy 1:13
- Hold fast the form of sound words.] By “sound words,” we are to understand the doctrine of the Gospel: by a “form of sound words,” the truths and doctrines of the Gospel methodically disposed and digested; to “hold it fast,” is not to swerve from it in the course of our ministry, but pertinaciously to adhere to it; not parting with it ourselves, nor suffering it to be adulterated and corrupted by others. This “form of sound words,” some take to be the articles of our Creed, in the words wherein we now have them, probably the same in sense if not in words. This is called ver. 14, “that good thing which was committed” to Timothy to keep; meaning that summary of Christian doctrine, which was committed to his care and keeping. Burkitt.
As all the doctrines of Scripture, though equally true, are not of equal importance; the more necessary articles have been, from the beginning of Christianity, collected
2 Timothy 1:15
15.—all they which are in Asia &c.] Or ‘of Asia.’ St. Paul probably alludes to the behaviour of the Asiatic Christians at Rome, chap. iv. 16; of which Timothy might have been informed by travellers. But Dr. Whitby refers this to those of Ephesus, who had deserted the Apostle, giving ear, as he supposes, to the seduction of Cerinthus and the Ebionites, by whom he had been represented as a despiser of the Mosaic law. Dr. Doddridge. All they of Asia, that were at first with me here at Rome, and are now in Asia. Dr. Wells.
—Phygellus and Hermogenes.] Of these corrupt teachers we know nothing. From their being mentioned particularly, it may be presumed that they opposed the Apostle’s doctrines with great virulence, and had spoken calumniously of him. Dr. Macknight.
2 Timothy 1:18
18.—in that day!] Namely, of the last and general retribution, when he shall come to reward every man according to his works. Bp. Hall. Offices of kindness done to St. Paul, especially when in distress, made a deep impression on him, and filled him with a gratitude, of which the present prayer for the welfare of Onesiphorus and of his family is a beautiful example. Dr. Macknight.
Chap. II. Timothy is still encouraged by the Apostle’s