2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:2

And now ye know - By what I told you when I was with you. That which restraineth - The power of the Roman emperors. When this is taken away, the wicked one will be revealed. In his time - His appointed season, and not before.

2 Timothy 4:3

He will surely be revealed; for the mystery - The deep, secret power of iniquity, just opposite to the power of godliness, already worketh. It began with the love of honour, and the desire of power; and is completed in the entire subversion of the gospel of Christ. This mystery of iniquity is not wholly confined to the Romish church, but extends itself to others also. It seems to consist of, Human inventions added to the written word. Mere outside performances put in the room of faith and love. Other mediators besides the man Christ Jesus.

The two last branches, together with idolatry and bloodshed, are the direct consequences of the former; namely, the adding to the word of God. Already worketh - In the church. Only he that restraineth - That is, the potentate who successively has Rome in his power. The emperors, heathen or Christian; the kings, Goths or Lombards; the Carolingian or German emperors.

2 Timothy 4:4

And then - When every prince and power that restrains is taken away. Will that wicked one - Emphatically so called, be revealed. Whom the Lord will soon consume with the spirit of his mouth - His immediate power. And destroy - With the very first appearance of his glory.

2 Timothy 4:6

Because they received not the love of the truth - Therefore God suffered them to fall into that “strong delusion.”

2 Timothy 4:7

Therefore God shall send them - That is, judicially permit to come upon them, strong delusion.

2 Timothy 4:8

That they all may be condemned - That is, the consequence of which will be, that they all will be condemned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness - That is, who believed not the truth, because they loved sin.

2 Timothy 4:9

God hath from the beginning - Of your hearing the gospel. Chosen you to salvation - Taken you out of the world, and placed you in the way to glory.

2 Timothy 4:10

To which - Faith and holiness. He hath called you by our gospel - That which we preached, accompanied with the power of his Spirit.

2 Timothy 4:11

Hold - Without adding to, or diminishing from, the traditions which ye have been taught - The truths which I have delivered to you. Whether by word or by our epistle - He preached before he wrote. And he had written concerning this in his former epistle.

2 Timothy 4:15

May run - Go on swiftly, without any interruption. And be glorified - Acknowledged as divine, and bring forth much fruit.

2 Timothy 4:16

All men have not faith - And all men who have not are more or less unreasonable and wicked men.

2 Timothy 4:17

Who will stablish you - That cleave to him by faith. And guard you from the evil one - And all his instruments.

2 Timothy 4:18

We trust in the Lord concerning you - Thus only should we trust in any man.

2 Timothy 4:19

Now the Lord - The Spirit, whose proper work this is. Direct - Lead you straight forward. Into the patience of Christ - Of which he set you a pattern.

2 Timothy 4:20

That walketh disorderly - Particularly by not working. Not according to the tradition he received of us - The admonition we gave, both by word of mouth, and in our former epistle.