2 Timothy 4
DOYLY2 Timothy 4:6
- For I am now ready to be offered, &c.] St. Paul here assigns as a reason for the particular warmth of his exhortations to Timothy, that he himself expected shortly to be taken from him, and to become a sacrifice to the malice and obstinacy of his persecutors. Pyle.
A full assurance of salvation is that which very few of the best of Christians can boast of. Indeed this seems not expedient in any man but him who is near the end of his race; who, having fought a good fight perseveringly against the world, the devil, and the flesh, is now ready to go off the stage, and to take his crown of glory, the reward of his glorious combat: which seems to have been the case of St. Paul on this occasion. It is the opinion of very learned interpreters, that St. Paul was warned by an oracle or revelation from heaven of his near approaching martyrdom, after the manner that St. Peter was, 2 Pet. i. 14. St. Paul, being thus “ready to be offered,” that is, to suffer martyrdom for Christ’s sake, and having, through the whole course of his life, had experience of the grace of God carrying him through a multitude, an infinite variety of sufferings, with honour and victory, was assured that he should not fail in this last act, but that the same grace would complete his former victories with a crown of martyrdom. This assurance was necessary in him at this time, to support him in his last trial, and there was now no danger that he should abuse it. But before this, when the blessed Apostle was farther off from the end of his race and combat, he speaks in a more doubtful manner: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway;” that is, a reprobate, 1 Cor. ix. 27. St. Paul cannot be supposed at that time, when he wrote this, to be absolutely certain of his salvation. Indeed such an assurance, as was said before, seems no ways expedient for any man who is yet in the midst of his combat with the adversaries of his soul, the devil, the world, and the flesh; because it would be apt to betray him to security. The case in this particular is much the same between the life of our bodies and the salvation of our souls. If Divine Providence should give any man an absolute assurance of a very long life, he would be apt to neglect the means of his health, and to take no care for the preserving of his life. So if God should give a man beforehand assurance of his perseverance to the end, and, in consequence, of his salvation, it would probably make him careless and negligent in the use of the means appointed for his perseverance; namely, watching and praying. Ep. Bull.
Truth it is, that in the sacraments instituted by Christ, we may constantly believe the works of God in them, to our present comfort and application of His grace and favour, with assurance also that He will not fail us, if we fall not from Him. Wherefore so continu-
2 Timothy 4:7
- I have fought a good fight, &c.] My life is a warfare; and, behold, I have fought a good fight, having striven for the Gospel zealously and effectually: my life is a race; and I have run my course, even to the very goal, constantly and happily: I have maintained and defended the truth of Christ’s Gospel inviolably. Ep. Hall. The first metaphor is taken from a soldier; the second from a strenuous and indefatigable runner at the Olympic games; (see the note on 1 Cor. ix. 25:) the third from depositories, who faithfully keep things committed to their trust without embezzlement. This deposit, the Christian faith, St. Paul had kept. Burkitt.
2 Timothy 4:8
- — a crown of righteousness.] Having compared his labours as an Apostle to the exertions of the combatants in the games, he represents his reward under the idea of a crown, because that was the reward bestowed on the victors in these combats. Dr. Macknight. “A crown of righteousness,” because given only to righteous men. Burkitt.
— at that day:] The great day of the Lord, when He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Burkitt.
— unto all them also that love his appearing.] Namely, all such who are conscious of having so sincerely performed their duty, as to wish for that happy day of Christ’s final judgment. Pyle.
2 Timothy 4:10
- For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.] That is, his own ease, his own safety and profit. Ep. Hall. His temporal safety. The ancients explain this by saying, that he left the Apostle in this time of danger, consulting the safety of his own life. Dr. Whitby.
— Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.] These two did not desert St. Paul, as Demas did; but went to preach the Gospel. Drs. Hammond and Whitby.
2 Timothy 4:11
- Only Luke is with me.] The Apostle meant, ’that of his fellow-labourers and assistants in Rome.’ St. Luke alone remained with him. For, from ver. 21, where the salutations of some of the Roman brethren by name are mentioned, it appears that the Apostle had many friends still in Rome, members of the church there, with whom he was allowed to have some intercourse. For the character of St. Luke, see Col. iv. 14. note 1. Dr. Macknight.
Paul concludeth with salutations, and a benediction. Anno DOMINI 64.
2 Timothy 4:13
13.—especially the parchments.] These, as the learned interpreters generally conclude, were St. Paul’s commonplace books, wherein he had written down what he had observed, as worthy of more especial notice, in the reading either of the Scriptures of the Old Testament, or of other books, for the help of his memory. Bp. Bull.
14.—the Lord reward him according to his works: I leave him to God, to be recompensed as he deserves. Pyle. All the ancients note that this is not an imprecation, but a prediction becoming an Apostle. Who this Alexander was is uncertain. Dr. Whitby.
2 Timothy 4:15
- At my first answer] Or defence of myself at Rome. Dr. Wells.
—all men forsook me.] The cruelty, which Nero or his prefect Helius Casarianus was now exercising against the Christians, so terrified the Apostle’s fellow-labourers, that none of them appeared with him in the court. Dr. Macknight.
—I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.] This prayer shews the excellence of the Apostle’s disposition. He was sensible of the danger to which his assistants would have exposed themselves, by appearing
from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:17
17.—and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.] Commonly thought to signify Nero, so styled because of his cruelty. But it may be only a proverbial expression, signifying some great and imminent danger. Dr. Hammond.
2 Timothy 4:18
18.—to whom be glory for ever and ever.] This doxology, addressed to the Lord Jesus, is in other passages addressed to God the Father, Rom. xvi. 27; 1 Tim. i. 17. By introducing it here, the Apostle declared the greatness of his trust in the goodness and power of the Lord Jesus, and his sincere gratitude to Him, for having honoured him to be His Apostle, and for promising him a place in His heavenly kingdom. Dr. Macknight.
2 Timothy 4:19
19.—Prisca] Elsewhere called Priscilla: the latter was probably the diminutive of the former name, and both were perhaps indifferently given to the same person. Dr. Wells.
The following Verses from The Second Epistle to Timothy are appointed as an Epistle on a Holyday:
CHAP. IV…ver. 5—15, St. Luke,… Epistle.