A. D. 67. ceiving, and being de- Christianity, ftill improve in their continue 14 But 15 And that from a 14. To avoid them, therefore, continue fteddy to the Doctrines I have taught you; and remember you learn'd them of one, who neither can, nor will deceive you. 15. And befide what I have particularly inftructed you in, the Knowledge you have attained from your conftant Perufal of the Scriptures of the Old Teftament, from your very Infancy, will be of great Advantage to you, to fhow you the Truths of Christ's Religion, and keep you firm to the Faith of it; which will procure your Eternal Salvation. 16 All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness: 16 & 17. For those Inspired Writings are of great Ufe to difcover to us the Truth and Certainty of our Chriflianity, by fhewing us the Prophecies that are now fulfilled, the Types and Figures that are now exactly answered in Chrift and his Religon; and abounding, befide, in moft whole fome Precepts and Prohibitions. By understanding of all which, the Chriftian Minifter is compleatly enabled to correct the Errors and Mifunderstandings of these feducing Teachers, concerning the Nature of Chrift's Kingdom; and to fet forth all the true and faving Doctrines of his Holy Religion. СНАР. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnifhed unto all good works. * Ver. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God. ward youan DEOTIεÚS, &c. All Writings that are of divine Inspiration are profitable, &c. One Old MS. with the Vulgar, Arab. and Syr. Verfions, as alfo fome Fathers in their Quotations of this Paffage, leave out the xxi. I make no queftion, but that the Scriptures by Infpiration of God, have a particular Reference to the Prophecies concerning Chrift and his Kingdom, and the Apoftacy from it. The Charge to Timothy folemnly renewed. The Jewish Obftinacy and Malice will grow worse and worse. The Apoftle foretels his own Martyrdom, in full Affurance of his Reward as a faithful Apoftle. Tells him how the Chriftians deferted him: Appoints Timothy to haften to him. Warns him against Alexander. The Salutations and Conclufion. I Charge thee, there- 1 & 2. O conclude, then; fee- A. D. 67. fore, before God, ing you are encompafand the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom : fed with fuch Adverfaries, and Chap. iii. have fuch Abilities bestowed on you 13, 14. moft folemnly adjure you by God to withstand them, I now again, the Father, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Judge of all Mankind at the Great and Solemn Day of his Appearance, to take all Opportunities of refuting thofe Falfe Teachers, of urging and preffing the Truths of Chriftianity upon all People; Correcting their Errors and Immoralities, and endeavouring with the utmost Patience and Conftancy, to reduce them to a Sense of True Religion. 2 Preach the word, be inftant in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long fuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure found do&trine; but after their own lufts fhall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 4 And they fhall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. * 3 & 4. My earnest Repetition of this Charge upon you is but too needful. For, as I before observed, Chap. iii. thofe Ignorant Zealots are like to be 13. fo far from a fpeedy Reformation, that you will find them grow perfectly impatient of the true Doctrines of our Religion; ftill more paffionately fond of their New Teachers that footh them up in their Lufts and Vices; and run wholly from the Gospel Principles to Jewish Fables and Traditions. 5. But O 3 A. D. 67. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evange lift, make full proof of thy miniftry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finifhed my courfe, I have kept the faith. 5. But however irreclaimable and vexatious they may prove, go you on in the Work of your Gospel-Miniftry, and fuffer patiently for the Confcientious Discharge of it. 6. I am also now the more warm in my Exhortations to you, because I expect fhortly to be taken from you, and become a Sacrifice to their Malice and Obstinacy. 7. Nor am I at all difcouraged at that Profpect: For I have Fought and Suffered for the Chriftian Caufe like a hardy Soldier; and, as a Racer, am at the End of my Courfe: For I have been faithful to my Truft. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteoufnefs, which the Lord the righteous judge fhall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them alfo that love his appearing. : y Do thy diligence to come fhortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath 8. So that I have now nothing to do, but to wait for that Glorious Recompence and Reward, which the Great and Righteous Judge of the World will not fail to bestow on me, and on all fuch who are Confcious of having fo fincerely performed their Duty, as to with for that happy Day of Chrift's final Judgment. 9 & 10. Come to Rome to me as foon as poffibly you can; for I am left almost quite alone; Demas havbefore me and my Caufe, and is reing preferred the Safety of his Life tired to Theffalonica; and I have ed unto Theffalonica: fent away Crefcens and Titus upon Crefcens to Galatia, particular Business. forfaken me, having Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only 11 & 12. *Ver. 7. I have kept the Faith. Ti wisw vstúpnxa, I have preferved my Fidelity. 11 & 12. I have alfo fent Tychi- A. D.67. cus to Ephefus, so that I have now no body with me but Luke. When you come, therefore, bring Mark with you; for he will be very ferviceable to me in affifting me to promote the Gospel. 13. When I was laft at Troas, I left a Parchment * Roll, and fome Books there; bring them with you, but efpecially the Roll. The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comeft, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the copper-fmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works. 14 & 15. Alexander the Copperfmith has been a great Enemy to me: And I t leave him to God, to be recompenced as he deferves. Take heed of him, for he is a bitter Adversary against the Chriftian Cause. Of whom be 15 thou ware alfo; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first anfwer no man stood with me, but all men for fook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord tood with me, and itrengthened me; that by me the 16. When I was brought upon my first Trial, almost † all my Chriftian Acquaintance at Rome forfook me Pray God pity and forgive their Cowardise. 17. But, while they relinquifhed me, I was Divinely Affifted to defend my felf; and God was pleafed to make me the Inftrument of spreadO 4 ing The Cloak, eλovny, a Parchment Roll, the fame with su βράνας the Parchments. The Syriac reads it a Cheft of Books. Ver. 14. The Lord reward Him-This is not to be underftood as an Imprecation, but as a Prophet's Expreffion: As in like manner, is that dying Speech of Zachariah, The Lord look upon it, and requite it, 2 Chron. xxiv. 22. which is in the Future Tenfe, God will look upon it. + All Men for fook me. fertum fe effe Conqueritur. Omnibus, id eft à Maxima parte de- D.A. 67. the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of fhall deliver me + from ing the Gofpel-Doctrine to the Gentiles of thefe Parts, by delivering me from the Sentence of the Cruel Emperor for that time. 18. And, though I am now likely to be unjustly Condemned, and fuffer by him; yet, am I fure, God will ftill preserve me from doing t or faying any thing unbecoming my Religion, or my Minifterial Office; and carry me through Death into the Happiness of his Heavenly Kingdom: To whom therefore I ascribe all Honour and Glory for ever and ever. Amen. glory for ever and ever. Amen. |