2 Timothy 3
DOYLY2 Timothy 3:2
- — in season, out of season.] Publicly and privately, by day and by night, in times of peace and of danger. The meaning is, saith St. Chrysostom, not only when thou art in the church, but also when thou art in thine house; not only in times of peace and safety, but also when thou art in prison; not only in time of health, but also when thou art about to die. Dr. Whitby. The words of the Apostle appear to be proverbial, so as not to lay any prohibition upon discretion, nor to commend indiscretion. Schleemer.
— and doctrine.] With all proper instruction. Dr. Wells.
2 Timothy 3:3
- — having itching ears.] To hear sermons only with curiosity is, it may be feared, a very common case. We want to have some fashionable controversy discussed, some difficult passage of Scripture explained, some darling speculation enlarged on, some plausible hypothesis proposed: in a word, something told us, that may prove a pleasing exercise of our understandings at the time, and a help to conversation afterwards. Discourses, of which we can make this use, we seldom think of putting to any better; of such as we cannot, we soon grow weary, and hearken impatiently after other teachers, “having,” as the Apostle expresses it, “itching ears.” Thus we pay most earnest attention to what we hear; and receive absolutely no good from it. For filling our heads in this manner is rather the way to corrupt our hearts, than to amend them. Learning and ingenuity are doubtless of great service in explaining, defending, and adorning religion. But still the things, which a serious man will choose to have most insisted on in the pulpit, are those which he is most concerned to practise, and most liable to fail in, the plain common rules of a Christian life. Abp. Secker.
2 Timothy 3:4
- — shall be turned unto fables.] The Apostle is most probably here speaking of the Jewish doctors, and their fabulous traditions. Compare 1 Tim. i. 3, 4; Tit. i. 14. Dr. Whitby.
2 Timothy 3:5
- — do the work of an evangelist.] That is, preacher of the Gospel. Dr. Wells. Go on in the work of your Gospel ministry. Pyle. The proper notion of “an Eva-
2 Timothy 3:9
- But they shall proceed no further.] After deluding mankind for a while, they shall not proceed farther. How exactly the whole of this prophecy hath been fulfilled, is known to those who are acquainted with the history of the ancient hereticks, and of the Romish church, and of the Reformation. Dr. Macknight.
2 Timothy 3:10
- — purpose.] Namely, my purpose to adhere to the truth of the Gospel both in my doctrine and life. Dr. Wells.
2 Timothy 3:12
- — shall suffer persecution.] Especially in such perilous times; and at all times, either openly or secretly, from the hatred and malice of wicked men, or from their taunts and calumnies, which are styled persecutions, Gal. iv. 29. Dr. Whitby.
2 Timothy 3:13
- — seducers.] ‘Sorcerers.’ Dr. Hammond. This word properly denotes sorcerers, enchanters, magicians; who by false miracles seduce the people, will for a while wax worse and worse, deceiving others, and being deceived themselves till they are stopped, ver. 9. Dr. Macknight.
2 Timothy 3:14
- — knowing of whom thou hast learned them.] Namely, of me, an authorized and inspired Apostle of Jesus Christ. Burkitt.
2 Timothy 3:15
- — hast known the holy scriptures.] The Apostle calls the writings of the Old Testament “holy” or sacred, because of their Divine inspiration, mentioned in the next verse. Timothy’s mother and grandmother, being Jewish women of great piety, had trained him up from his childhood in the knowledge and belief of the writings of Moses and the Prophets. And their care in thus instructing him, being commended by the Apostle, it shews us that little children ought to be made acquainted with the Scriptures as early as possible; and that they may derive much benefit, even from that imperfect knowledge of the Scriptures, and of the principles of religion, which they are capable of attaining in their tenderest years. See note on chap. i. 5. Dr. Macknight.
The main drift of the whole New Testament is that which St. John setteth down as the purpose of his own history: “These (things) are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name,” John xx. 31. The drift of the Old is that which the Apostle here mentioneth to Timothy, “The Holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” So that the general end both of Old and New is one: the difference between them consisting in this, that the Old did make wise by teaching salvation through Christ that should
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:16
- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, &c.] The Scriptures of the Old Testament must be the Scriptures here intended, they only being the Scriptures, which Timothy had known from a child, that is, before the Scriptures of the New Testament were written. Dr. Whitby.
The word, here translated “Scripture,” always in the Gospels and Epistles denotes that collection of writings, which the Church acknowledged for its rule of life and manners. When the Apostle sent this epistle to Timothy, several parts of the New Testament were not published, and scarce any had spread very far: so that he must by “Scripture” mean chiefly, if not solely, the Old Testament. But the books of the New, from their first appearance, obtained the same title every where. St. Peter gives it by the plainest implication to what St. Paul wrote, 2 Pet. iii. 16; and doubtless what he, and the rest of the twelve, wrote, equally deserved it. Inspiration is any particular influence of God on the mind: whence we pray in the Communion Service, that He would “cleanse our hearts by the inspiration of His Holy Spirit.” But in the case before us, it must signify such influence, as will be effectual for the purpose of writing such books. And of this there may be various degrees requisite, and therefore granted, according to the variety of circumstances. Moving a person inwardly to undertake the work is one degree. Superintending him during the execution of it, so as to preserve him from any considerable mistake or omission is another. Preserving him from all, even the least, is a higher still. Enabling him to express himself in a manner loftier, clearer, more convincing, or more affecting, than he
Ando DOMINI 66. Timothy is exhorted to do his duty with all care and diligence. Anno DOMINI 66. Or,
2 Timothy 3:17
- That the man of God] Or teacher of it, “may be perfect;” that is, wanting in nothing which he ought to practise or believe himself, or to teach others, for the edification of a Christian into a “perfect man in Christ Jesus,” and for making him “throughly furnished to every good work.” Dr. Whitby.
The Apostle here commends the Jewish Scriptures for their Divine inspiration, and their usefulness towards illustrating the Gospel revelation; so that a Christian minister, who rightly understands them, is thereby well fitted for every part of his work. Our Lord also on various occasions bore testimony to the Jewish Scriptures, and to their connexion with the Gospel. Luke xxiv. 27: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Also He commanded His disciples to “search the Scriptures,” because “they testified of Him,” John v. 39: see ver. 46. What then are we to think of those teachers, who are at so much pains to disjoin the Christian revelation from the Jewish, as if the latter were not of Divine original, and had no connexion with the Gospel; and instead of illustrating and confirming the Gospel, were rather an encumbrance to it? In this encomium of the Jewish Scriptures the duties of a Christian minister are declared to be, 1st, To teach the people the true doctrine of the Gospel. 2dly, To confute all errors contrary to true doctrine. 3dly, To correct, by proper admonitions, reproofs, and censures, those who openly transgress the precepts of the Gospel. 4thly, To direct and encourage all to follow a righteous course of life. Lastly, In this encomium of the Jewish Scriptures, the Apostle contradicted the Judaisers, who affirmed that the law was contrary to the Gospel. Dr. MacKnight.
Chap. IV. The Apostle continues to exhort Timothy with great earnestness to discharge all the duties of his office. That he may the more effectually engage him thereto, he tells him his death was drawing near, for which he expresses great joy, and a firm hope of the glory of heaven. He then orders Timothy to come and
see him as soon as possible; complains of those who had forsaken him; and concludes his epistle with salutations and affectionate wishes. Osterveld.
Ver. 1. — at his appearing and his kingdom.] When He appears in His kingdom. Dr. Hammond. At His appearing to execute those two acts of kingly power; namely, the punishing of the rebellious, and the rewarding of the faithful. Dr. Wells.