1Paul affectionately saluteth Timothy, 3assuring him of his constant prayers for him, and remembrance of that sincere faith which had been derived to Timothy from his mother and grandmother. 6He exhorteth him to stir up the gift of God which was in him; 8and not to be ashamed of the testimony of the gospel, but to be ready to suffer for it according to his example: 13and to hold fast the form of sound words which he had learned. 15He putteth him in mind of the general defection of the converts in Asia, 16and commendeth Onesiphorus for his repeated kindness toward him.
1PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ 1by the will of God, 2according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
1 That is, who, by God Himself according to His pleasure, am chosen and called to the apostleship. See Rom. 1:1 and Gal. 1:1, 15.
2 That is, to preach the Gospel, in which is propounded the promise of eternal life, which God made to all them who believe in Christ Jesus. See Rom. 1:2, 16; Titus 1:1, 2, 3.
2To 3Timothy, my dearly beloved 4son: Grace,a mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 Of him, see Acts 16:1; Rom. 16:21; 1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Cor. 1:1; Philip. 2:19; 1 Tim. 1:2 and everywhere in the Acts of the Apostles, and in the epistles of Paul.
4 Gr. child. See 1 Tim. 1:2. Such the apostle, being now an old man, calls him, Philemon verse 9, because he, Timothy, was yet young, 1 Tim. 4:12, and because Paul had begotten him by the Gospel, and had a fatherly affection towards him, as the word beloved is also to be understood.
a Gal. 1:3; 1 Tim. 1:2; 1 Peter 1:2.
35I thank God, whomb I serve 6from my forefathers 7with pure conscience, thatc without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
5 This may be also translated by comparing this place with Rom. 1:8, 9, 10: I thank God for thee. And God is my witness, Whom I serve, etc., how without ceasing I am mindful of thee, etc. Or, these words I thank God, may be joined to the 5th verse following.
b Acts 22:3; Rom. 1:9.
6 That is, after the example of the holy patriarchs, prophets and believing Jews in the Old Testament, from whom I am descended. See Acts 22:3; 2 Cor. 11:22; Philip. 3:5.
7 That is, being purified by the Holy Spirit, and the blood of Jesus Christ, Heb. 9:14; 10:22. This must be understood at the time of his conversion; although a good conscience may also be ascribed to him in some sense before his conversion, for the reasons declared in Acts 23:1.
c 1 Thes. 1:2; 3:10.
4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy 8tears, that I may be filled 9with joy;
8 Namely, which you have often shed for my sake, hearing of my tribulations, and especially when you parted from me. See Acts 20:37, 38.
9 Namely, when I may see you again.
510When I call to remembrance the 11unfeigned faith that is in thee, which 12dwelt first in thy 13grandmother Lois, and thy mother 14Eunice; and 15I am persuaded that in thee also.
10 Gr. taking remembrance of thy faith.
11 This the apostle knew by manifold experiences of his sincerity.
12 That is, was always and continually in her, and had, as it were, taken a fixed habitation in her heart.
13 Namely, from your mother’s side. For, his father was of Greek or Gentile descent and religion. See Acts 16:1.
14 Who is called a believing Jewess, Acts 16:1.
15 Namely, by all the abundant evidences of the sincerity of your faith, which do not permit me to doubt thereof in any way.
6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou 16stir up 17the gift of God, 18whichd is in thee by the putting on of 19my hands.
16 The Greek word anazopyrein, which the apostle here uses, properly signifies by blowing to revive a little fire which is almost gone out, or raked under the ashes and make it burn again. A very suitable similitude, whereby is shown so also the gifts of the Holy Spirit by prayer, continuing in reading, and diligent administration of our calling, are increased, and, as it were, made to burn (again).
17 See 1 Tim. 4:14.
18 That is, which by this ceremony of imposition of hands I made known to be in thee by the operation of the Holy Spirit; and which, through the powerful prayers of the congregation joined with this ceremony, shall by God be still increased in thee.
d Acts 6:6; 8:17; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22.
19 In the first epistle, 1 Tim. 4:14, the apostle says of the eldership; which both are true, seeing the apostle Paul imposed hands on him in the presence of and in the name of the entire assembly of the elders, as being the most important one among them, and besides that an apostle.
7Fore God hath not given us 20the spirit of fear; but 21of power, and of love, and 22of a sound mind.
e Rom. 8:15.
20 That is, an emotion of the heart and of the mind, which, if it be evil, is wrought in men by the wicked one, and if it be good, by the Holy Spirit, and from this is called spirit.
21 That is, of strength and courage of heart in the administration of our office in the midst of all enemies, perils and tribulations.
22 Gr. sophronismou, whereby is properly understood a moderate or sound mind, which must be joined to courage, lest it degenerate into rashness, clamor, raging and immodesty.
8Bef not thou therefore ashamed 23of the testimony of our Lord, nor of meg24his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the 25afflictions of the gospel 26according to the power of God;
f Rom. 1:16.
23 That is, of the doctrine of the Gospel, in which is testified who is our Lord and Savior, and how the Lord shows His power, wisdom, justice and mercy unto men. See Psalm 19:7; 119:2; 1 Cor. 1:6; 2:1.
g Acts 21:33; Eph. 3:1; 4:1; Col. 4:18; Philemon verses 1, 9, 13.
24 That is, imprisoned for His sake.
25 That is, to which the Gospel itself, and for the Gospel’s sake are subject to all those who preach, embrace and profess the same, 2 Tim. 3:12.
26 That is, according as God affords you strength to bear those afflictions patiently and steadfastly. This he adds in order that we may not ascribe this to our own abilities. See Philip. 1:29; 1 Tim. 1:12.
9Whoh hath 27saved us, and 28called us 29with an holy calling, 30not according to our works, 31but according to his own purpose and 32grace, 33which was given us 34in Christ Jesus 35before the world began,
h Eph. 1:3; Titus 3:4, 5, 6.
27 Namely, by His Son Jesus Christ.
28 Namely, outwardly by the preaching of the Gospel, and inwardly by the effectual working of His Spirit.
29 That is, which is holy in itself, and which calls us to holiness, Luke 1:75; Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22.
30 Namely, which, as a precedent or foreseen cause, would merit this calling, or would have moved God thereunto. See Rom. 9:11; Eph. 2:9; Titus 3:5.
31 That is, according as it has pleased and seemed good unto Him from everlasting to decree with Himself concerning us. See Rom. 8:28; 9:11; Eph. 1:11; 3:11.
32 That is, gracious purpose, the only and first moving cause of which is the undeserved grace and mercy of God, Rom. 6:23; 11:5, 6; Gal. 1:15; Eph. 1:6; Titus 3:7.
33 That is, which God purposed and decreed in His counsel to give us. See the same in John 17:24. For, this grace was not actually given from everlasting, but in time, when we are actually called; but it is so said, because this actual giving comes to pass according to that eternal purpose of God, which is so sure as if it were already accomplished.
34 That is, to obtain the fruits of the same through Jesus Christ. See further Eph. 1:4.
35 That is, from everlasting, or, as he speaks elsewhere, before the foundation of the world, Eph. 1:4.
10Buti is now made manifest by 36the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whoj hath 37abolished 38death, and hath brought 39life and immortality 40to light through the gospel:
i Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:9; Col. 1:26; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20.
36 Namely, in the flesh, at His first coming.
j Isa. 25:8; Heb. 2:14.
37 Namely, by His death, Heb. 2:14. Understand, in respect of believers, who are redeemed by Him and freed from the same. For, the wrath of God abideth on unbelievers, John 3:36.
38 Namely, eternal death.
39 Namely, eternal life, as the following word immortality, added by way of explication, shows.
40 That is, has brought it to pass by His merits, and brought it forth or made it known by the preaching of the Gospel.
1141Whereuntok I am 42appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
41 That is, to preach this Gospel, especially among the Gentiles.
k Acts 9:15; 13:2; 22:21; Gal. 1:15; 2:8; Eph. 3:8; 1 Tim. 2:7.
42 Namely, by God, Who has separated, called and ordained me thereto. See Acts 13:2; Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:1.
12For the which cause I also suffer 43these things: nevertheless I am 44not ashamed: for I know 45whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is 46able to keep 47that which I have committed unto him against 48that day.
43 That is, these afflictions and bonds.
44 Or, am not ashamed of it.
45 That is, in Whose promises I have put my trust.
46 That is, that He has not only the will, which appears by His promises, but also the power to perform them.
47 That is, the eternal blessedness and glory, which God has promised His children and faithful ministers, and is laid up and faithfully kept by Him in heaven for them, as a pledge committed to His trust.
48 Namely, of Christ’s coming to judgment, when He shall give the same unto them, to posses it actually and eternally.
1349Holdl fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, 50in faith and love 51which is in Christ Jesus.
49 That is, keep always in your mind a brief summary of sound doctrine, in which the most important articles of the same are, as it were, briefly drawn and represented, according to which you may frame your doctrines. Or, as some interpret, let the sound words, that is, the sound doctrine which you have heard from me, and the manner which I observe in teaching, be a prescript unto you, which you follow in teaching.
l 2 Tim. 3:14.
50 These are two principal heads to which all the articles or points of sound doctrine may be referred, and wherein the same are contained. See Titus 3:8.
51 That is, which faith has Christ Jesus for a foundation, and which love must be showed for Christ’s sake. See 1 Tim. 1:14.
1452That good thing 53which was committed unto thee keep 54by the Holy Ghost 55which dwelleth in us.
52 Namely, of sound doctrine. See 1 Tim. 6:20.
53 Namely, by God, to preserve well and purely, and to impart faithfully unto others.
54 This he adds, that Timothy might not ascribe this keeping or his own abilities to himself, seeing this is a work and gift of the Holy Spirit, Rom. 15:13; 1 Cor. 12:3.
55 See Rom. 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16.
15This thou knowest, thatm56all they which are in Asia be 57turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
m Acts 19:10.
56 That is, almost all the ministers of the Gospel, which either are of Asia, or now abide in Asia at Ephesus and elsewhere. See the annotations on Acts 20:4.
57 That is, have forsaken me without assisting me in my ministry or defense. See a similar complaint in 2 Tim. 4:10, 16.
16The Lord give 58mercy unto 59the house of Onesiphorus;n for he oft 60refreshed me, and was not ashamed 61of my chain:
58 That is, all manner of good both for soul and body, which is so called, because God bestows the same upon men not of merits, but of a gracious compassion. See 1 Tim. 1:2.
59 That is, the entire household has followed, without a doubt, the good example of the master of the family in refreshing Paul.
n 2 Tim. 4:19.
60 The Greek word properly signifies: has done me refreshing. A similitude from those who, having become very warm, are refreshed by cooling. See Psalm 39:13; 66:12; Acts 3:19.
61 That is, of my low estate in mine imprisonment. See of this chain the annotations on Acts 28:16.
17But, when he was in Rome, he 62sought me out very diligently, and found me.
62 Namely, seeing Rome was a very large city, and full of people out of all parts of the world.
18The Lord grant unto him 63that he may find mercy 64of the Lord 65in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me 66at Ephesus, thou knowest 67very well.
63 See verse 16.
64 That is, of Him Who is our Lord and Judge.
65 Namely, when this Lord shall judge the quick and the dead, and shall distribute punishments and rewards.
66 Namely, besides the service which he did me afterwards here at Rome.
67 Gr. better.