1PaulusG3972, ApostelG652 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547 durchG1223 GottesG2316 WillenG2307, nachG2596 VerheißungG1860 des LebensG2222, dasG3588 inG1722 ChristoG5547 JesuG2424 ist, 2TimotheusG5095, meinem geliebtenG27 KindeG5043: GnadeG5485, BarmherzigkeitG1656, FriedeG1515 vonG575 GottG2316, dem VaterG3962, undG2532 ChristoG5547 JesuG2424, unseremG2257 HerrnG2962! 3Ich dankeG2192 G5485 GottG2316, demG3739 ich vonG575 meinen VorelternG4269 herG575 mitG1722 reinemG2513 GewissenG4893 dieneG3000, wieG5613 unablässigG88 ich deinerG4012 G4675 gedenkeG2192 G3417 inG1722 meinenG3450 GebetenG1162, NachtG3571 undG2532 TagG2250, 4voll VerlangenG1971, dichG4571 zu sehenG1492, indem ich eingedenkG3415 bin deinerG4675 TränenG1144, auf daßG2443 ich mit FreudeG5479 erfülltG4137 sein möge; 5indem ich mich erinnereG2983 G5280 des ungeheucheltenG505 GlaubensG4102 inG1722 dirG4671, derG3748 zuerstG4412 wohnteG1774 inG1722 deinerG4675 GroßmutterG3125 LoisG3090 undG2532 deinerG4675 MutterG3384 EunikeG2131, ich binG3982 aberG1161 überzeugtG3982, auchG2532 inG1722 dirG4671. 6UmG1223 welcherG3739 UrsacheG156 willenG1223 ich dichG4571 erinnereG363, die GabeG5486 GottesG2316 anzufachenG329, dieG3739 inG1722 dirG4671 istG2076 durchG1223 das AuflegenG1936 meinerG3450 HändeG5495. 7DennG1063 GottG2316 hatG1325 unsG2254 nichtG3756 einen GeistG4151 der FurchtG1167 gegebenG1325, sondernG235 der KraftG1411 undG2532 der LiebeG26 undG2532 der BesonnenheitG4995. 8So schämeG1870 dich nunG3767 nichtG3361 des ZeugnissesG3142 unseresG2257 HerrnG2962 nochG3366 meinerG1691, seinesG846 GefangenenG1198, sondernG235 leide TrübsalG4777 mit dem EvangeliumG2098, nachG2596 der KraftG1411 GottesG2316; 9derG3588 unsG2248 errettetG4982 hat undG2532 berufenG2564 mit heiligemG40 RufeG2821, nichtG3756 nachG2596 unserenG2257 WerkenG2041, sondernG235 nachG2596 seinem eigenenG2398 VorsatzG4286 undG2532 der GnadeG5485, dieG3588 unsG2254 inG1722 ChristoG5547 JesuG2424 vorG4253 den ZeitenG5550 der ZeitalterG166 gegebenG1325, 10jetztG3568 aberG1161 geoffenbartG5319 worden ist durchG1223 die ErscheinungG2015 unseresG2257 HeilandesG4990 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547, welcherG3303 den TodG2288 zunichteG2673 gemacht, aberG1161 LebenG2222 undG2532 UnverweslichkeitG861 ans Licht gebrachtG5461 hat durchG1223 das EvangeliumG2098, 11zuG1519 welchemG3739 ichG1473 bestelltG5087 worden bin als HeroldG2783 undG2532 ApostelG652 undG2532 LehrerG1320 der NationenG1484. 12UmG1223 welcherG3739 UrsacheG156 willenG1223 ich diesG5023 auchG2532 leideG3958; aberG235 ich schämeG1870 mich nichtG3756, dennG1063 ich weißG1492, wemG3739 ich geglaubtG4100 habe, undG2532 bin überzeugtG3982, daßG3754 er mächtigG1415 istG2076, das ihm von mirG3450 anvertraute GutG3866 aufG1519 jenenG1565 TagG2250 zu bewahrenG5442. 13Halte festG2192 das BildG5296 gesunderG5198 WorteG3056, dieG3739 du vonG3844 mirG1700 gehörtG191 hast, inG1722 GlaubenG4102 undG2532 LiebeG26, dieG3588 inG1722 ChristoG5547 JesuG2424 sind. 14BewahreG5442 das schöneG2570 anvertraute GutG3872 durchG1223 den HeiligenG40 GeistG4151, derG3588 inG1722 unsG2254 wohntG1774. 15Du weißtG1492 diesesG5124, daßG3754 alleG3956, die inG1722 AsienG773 sind, sichG654 von mirG3165 abgewandtG654 haben, unter welchenG3739 PhygelusG5436 istG2076 undG2532 HermogenesG2061. 16Der HerrG2962 gebeG1325 dem HauseG3624 des OnesiphorusG3683 BarmherzigkeitG1656, dennG3754 er hatG404 michG3165 oftG4178 erquicktG404 undG2532 sichG1870 meinerG3450 KetteG254 nichtG3756 geschämtG1870; 17sondernG235 als er inG1722 RomG4516 warG1096, suchteG2212 er michG3165 fleißigG4706 aufG2212 undG2532 fandG2147 mich. 18Der HerrG2962 gebeG1325 ihmG846, daß er von seitenG3844 des HerrnG2962 BarmherzigkeitG1656 findeG2147 anG1722 jenemG1565 TageG2250! UndG2532 wievielG3745 er inG1722 EphesusG2181 dienteG1247, weißtG1097 duG4771 am bestenG957.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Here is, I. The inscription of the epistle Paul calls himself
an apostle by the will of God, merely by the good pleasure of God, and by his grace, which he professes himself unworthy of.
According to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, or according to the gospel. The gospel is the promise of life in Christ Jesus; life is the end, and Christ the way,
John 14:6. The life is put into the promise, and both are sure in Christ Jesus the faithful witness;
for all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea, and all amen, 2Cor 1:20. He calls Timothy his
beloved son. Paul felt the warmest affection for him both because he had been an instrument of his conversion and because as a son with his father he had served with him in the gospel. Observe, 1. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God; as he did not receive the gospel of man, nor was taught it, but had it by the revelation of Jesus Christ (
Galat 1:12), so his commission to be an apostle was not by the will of man, but of God: in the former epistle he says it was
by the commandment of God our Saviour, and here
by the will of God. God called him to be an apostle. 2. We have the promise of life, blessed be God for it:
In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began, Titus 1:2. It is a promise to discover the freeness and certainty of it. 3. This, as well as all other promises, is in and through Jesus Christ; they all take their rise from the mercy of God in Christ, and they are sure, so that we may safely depend on them. 4. The grace, mercy, and peace, which even Paul's dearly beloved son Timothy wanted, comes from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord; and therefore the one as well as the other is the giver of these blessings, and ought to be applied to for them. 5. The best want these blessings, and they are the best we can ask for our dearly-beloved friends, that they may have grace to help them in the time of need, and mercy to pardon what is amiss, and so may have peace with God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
II. Paul's thanksgiving to God for Timothy's faith and holiness: he thanks God that he remembered Timothy in his prayers. Observe, Whatever good we do, and whatever good office we perform for our friends, God must have the glory of it, and we must give him thanks. It is he who puts it into our hearts to remember such and such in our prayers. Paul was much in prayer, he prayed night and day; in all his prayers he was mindful of his friends, he particularly prayed for good ministers, he prayed for Timothy, and
had remembrance of him in his prayers night and day; he did this without ceasing; prayer was his constant business, and he never forgot his friends in his prayers, as we often do. Paul served God from his forefathers with a pure conscience. It was a comfort to him that he was born in God's house, and was of the seed of those that served God; as likewise that he had served him with a pure conscience, according to the best of his light; he had kept a conscience void of offence, and made it his daily exercise to do so,
Acts 24:16.
He greatly desired to see Timothy, out of the affection he had for him, that he might have some conversation with him,
being mindful of his tears at their last parting. Timothy was sorry to part with Paul, he wept at parting, and therefore Paul desired to see him again, because he had perceived by that what a true affection he had for him. He thanks God that Timothy kept up the religion of his ancestors,
2Tim 1:5. Observe, The entail of religion descended upon Timothy by the mother's side; he had a good mother, and a good grandmother: they believed, though his father did not,
Acts 16:1. It is a comfortable thing when children imitate the faith and holiness of their godly parents, and tread in their steps,
3John 1:4. -
Dwelt in thy grandmother and thy mother, and I am persuaded that in thee also. Paul had a very charitable opinion of his friends, was very willing to hope the best concerning them; indeed he had a great deal of reason to believe well of Timothy, for he had
no man like-minded, Phili 2:20. Observe, 1. We are, according to St. Paul, to serve God with a pure conscience, so did his and our pious forefathers; this is to draw
near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, Hebre 10:22. 2. In our prayers we are to remember without ceasing our friends, especially the faithful ministers of Christ. Paul had remembrance of his dearly beloved son Timothy in his prayers night and day. 3. The faith that dwells in real believers is unfeigned; it is without hypocrisy, it is a faith that will stand the trial, and it dwells in them as a living principle. It was the matter of Paul's thanksgiving that Timothy inherited the faith of his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois, and ought to be ours whenever we see the like; we should rejoice wherever we see the grace of God; so did Barnabas,
Acts 11:23,
Acts 11:24.
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the truth, 2John 1:4.
6 Here is an exhortation and excitation of Timothy to his duty (
2Tim 1:6):
I put thee in remembrance. The best men need remembrancers; what we know we should be reminded of.
2Pet 3:1, I write this,
to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. I. He exhorts him to stir
up the gift of God that was
in him. Stir it up as fire under the embers. It is meant of all the gifts and graces the God had given him, to qualify him for the work of an evangelist, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the extraordinary gifts that were conferred by the imposition of the apostle's hands. These he must stir up; he must exercise them and so increase them: use gifts and have gifts.
To him that hath shall be given, Matt 25:29. He must take all opportunities to use these gifts, and so stir them up, for that is the best way of increasing them. Whether the gift of God in Timothy was ordinary or extraordinary (though I incline to the latter), he must stir it up, otherwise it would decay. Further, you see that this gift was in him by the putting on of the apostle's hands, which I take to be distinct from his ordination, for that was performed by the hands of the presbytery,
1Tim 4:14. It is probable that Timothy had the Holy Ghost, in his extraordinary gifts and graces, conferred on him by the laying on of the apostle's hands (for I reckon that none but the apostles had the power of giving the Holy Ghost), and afterwards, being thus richly furnished for the work of the ministry, was ordained by the presbytery. Observe, 1. The great hindrance of usefulness in the increase of our gifts is slavish fear. Paul therefore warns Timothy against this:
God hath not given us the spirit of fear, 2Tim 1:7. It was through base fear that the evil servant buried his talent, and did not trade with it,
Matt 25:25. Now God hath therefore armed us against the spirit of fear, by often bidding us fear not. Fear not the face of man; fear not the dangers you may meet with in the way of your duty. God hath delivered us from the spirit of fear, and hath given us the spirit
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The spirit of power, or of courage and resolution to encounter difficulties and dangers; - the spirit of love to God, which will carry us through the opposition we may meet with, as Jacob made nothing of the hard service he was to endure for Rachel: the spirit of love to God will set us above the fear of man, and all the hurt that a man can do us; - and the spirit of a sound mind, or quietness of mind, a peaceable enjoyment of ourselves, for we are oftentimes discouraged in our way and work by the creatures o our own fancy and imagination, which a sober, solid, thinking mind would obviate, and would easily answer. 2. The spirit God gives to his ministers is not a fearful, but a courageous spirit; it is a spirit of power, for they speak in his name who has all power, both in heaven and earth; and it is a spirit of love, for love to God and the souls of men must inflame ministers in all their service; and it is a spirit of a sound mind, for they speak the words of truth and soberness.
II. He exhorts him to count upon afflictions, and get ready for them:
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. Be not thou ashamed of the gospel, of the testimony thou hast borne to it. Observe,
1. The gospel of Christ is what we have none of us reason to be ashamed of. We must not be ashamed of those who are suffering for the gospel of Christ. Timothy must not be ashamed of good old Paul, though he was now in bonds. As he must not himself be afraid of suffering, so he must not be afraid of owning those who were sufferers for the cause of Christ. (1.) The gospel is the testimony of our Lord; in and by this he bears testimony of himself to us, and by professing our adherence to it we bear testimony of him and for him. (2.) Paul was the Lord's prisoner, his prisoner,
Ephes 4:1. For his sake he was bound with a chain. (3.) We have no reason to be ashamed either of the testimony of our Lord or of his prisoners; if we are ashamed of either now, Christ will be ashamed of us hereafter.
But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God, that is, expect afflictions for the gospel's sake, prepare for them, count upon them, be willing to take thy lot with the suffering saints in this world.
Be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel; or, as it may be read,
Do thou suffer with the gospel; not only sympathize with those who suffer for it, but be ready to suffer with them and suffer like them. If at any time the gospel be in distress, he who hopes for life and salvation by it will be content to suffer with it. Observe, [1.] Then we are likely to bear afflictions as well, when we fetch strength and power from God to enable us to bear them:
Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God. [2.] All Christians, but especially ministers, must expect afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the gospel. [3.] These shall be proportioned, according to the power of God (
1Cor 10:13) resting upon us.
2. Mentioning God and the gospel, he takes notice what great things God has done for us by the gospel,
2Tim 1:9,
2Tim 1:10. To encourage him to suffer, he urges two considerations: -
(1.) The nature of that gospel which he was called to suffer for, and the glorious and gracious designs and purposes of it. It is usual with Paul, when he mentions Christ, and the gospel of Christ, to digress from his subject, and enlarge upon them; so full was he of that which is all our salvation, and ought to be all our desire. Observe, [1.] The gospel aims at our salvation:
He has saved us, and we must not think much to suffer for that which we hope to be saved by. He has begun to save us, and will complete it in due time; for God calls those things that are not (that are not yet completed) as though they were (
Roma 4:17); therefore he says, who
has saved us. [2.] It is designed for our sanctification:
And called us with a holy calling, called us to holiness. Christianity is a calling, a holy calling; it is the calling wherewith we are called, the calling to which we are called, to labour in it. Observe, All who shall be saved hereafter are sanctified now. Wherever the call of the gospel is an effectual call, it is found to be a holy call, making those holy who are effectually called. [3.] The origin of it is the free grace and eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus. If we had merited it, it had been hard to suffer for it; but our salvation by it is of free grace, and not according to our works, and therefore we must not think much to suffer for it. This grace is said to be given us
before the world began, that is, in the purpose and designs of God from all eternity;
in Christ Jesus, for all the gifts that come from God to sinful man come in and through Christ Jesus. [4.] The gospel is the manifestation of this purpose and grace:
By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who had lain in the bosom of the Father from eternity, and was perfectly apprised of all his gracious purposes. By his appearing this gracious purpose was made manifest to us. Did Jesus Christ suffer for it, and shall we think much to suffer for it? [5.] By the gospel of Christ death is abolished:
He has abolished death, not only weakened it, but taken it out of the way, has broken the power of death over us; by taking away sin he has abolished death (for the sting of death is sin,
1Cor 15:56), in altering the property of it, and breaking the power of it. Death now of an enemy has become a friend; it is the gate by which we pass out of a troublesome, vexatious, sinful world, into a world of perfect peace and purity; and the power thereof is broken, for death does not triumph over those who believe the gospel, but they triumph over it.
O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? 1Cor 15:55. [6.] He has
brought life and immortality to light by the gospel; he has shown us another world more clearly than it was before discovered under any former dispensation, and the happiness of that world, the certain recompence of our obedience by faith: we all with open face, as in a glass, behold the glory of God. He has brought it to light, not only set it before us, but offered it to us, by the gospel. Let us value the gospel more than ever, as it is that whereby life and immortality are brought to light, for herein it has the pre-eminence above all former discoveries; so that it is the gospel of life and immortality, as it discovers them to us, and directs us in the ready way that leads thereto, as well as proposes the most weighty motives to excite our endeavours in seeking after glory, honour, and immortality.
(2.) Consider the example of blessed Paul,
2Tim 1:11,
2Tim 1:12. He was appointed to preach the gospel, and particularly appointed to teach the Gentiles. He though it a cause worth suffering for, and why should not Timothy think so too? No man needs to be afraid nor ashamed to suffer for the cause of the gospel:
I am not ashamed, says Paul,
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Observe, [1.] Good men often suffer many things for the best cause in the world:
For which cause I suffer these things; that is, for my preaching, and adhering to the gospel. [2.] They need not be ashamed, the cause will bear them out; but those who oppose it shall be clothed with shame. [3.] Those who trust in Christ know whom they have trusted. The apostle speaks with a holy triumph and exultation, as much as to say, I stand on firm ground. I know I have lodged the great trust in the hands of the best trustee.
And am persuaded, etc. What must we commit to Christ? The salvation of our souls, and their preservation to the heavenly kingdom; and what we so commit to him he will keep. There is a day coming when our souls will be enquired after: Man! Woman! thou hadst a soul committed to thee, what hast thou done with it? To whom it was offered, to God or Satan? How was it employed, in the service of sin or in the service of Christ? There is a day coming, and it will be a very solemn and awful day, when we must give an account of our stewardship (
Luke 16:2), give an account of our souls: now, if by an active obedient faith we commit it to Jesus Christ, we may be sure he is able to keep it, and it shall be forthcoming to our comfort in that day.
III. He exhorts him to
hold fast the form of sound words, 2Tim 1:13. 1.
Have a form of sound words (so it may be read), a short form, a catechism, an abstract of the first principles of religion, according to the scriptures, a scheme of sound words, a brief summary of the Christian faith, in a proper method, drawn out by thyself from the holy scriptures for thy own use; or, rather, by the form of sound words I understand the holy scriptures themselves. 2. Having it,
hold it fast, remember it, retain it, adhere to it. Adhere to it in opposition to all heresies and false doctrine, which corrupt the Christian faith. Hold that fast
which thou hast heard of me. Paul was divinely inspired. It is good to adhere to those forms of sound words which we have in the scriptures; for these, we are sure, were divinely inspired. That is sound speech, which cannot be condemned,
Titus 2:8. But how must it be held fast?
In faith and love; that is, we must assent to it as
a faithful saying, and bid it welcome as
worthy of all acceptation. Hold it fast in a good heart, this is the ark of the covenant, in which the tables both of law and gospel are most safely and profitably deposited,
Pss 119:11. Faith and love must go together; it is not enough to believe the sound words, and to give an assent to them, but we must love them, believe their truth and love their goodness, and we must propagate the form of sound words in love; speaking the truth in love,
Ephes 4:15.
Faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; it must be Christian faith and love, faith and love fastening upon Jesus Christ, in and by whom God speaks to us and we to him. Timothy, as a minister, must
hold fast the form of sound words, for the benefit of others.
Of healing words, so it may read; there is healing virtue in the word of God;
he sent his word, and healed them. To the same purport is that (
2Tim 1:14),
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in us. That good thing was the form of sound words, the Christian doctrine, which was committed to Timothy in his baptism and education as he was a Christian, and in his ordination as he was a minister. Observe, (1.) The Christian doctrine is a trust committed to us. It is committed to Christians in general, but to ministers in particular. It is a good thing, of unspeakable value in itself, and which will be of unspeakable advantage to us; it is a good thing indeed, it is an inestimable jewel, for it discovers to us the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Ephes 3:8. It is committed to us to be preserved pure and entire, and to be transmitted to those who shall come after us, and we must keep it, and not contribute any thing to the corrupting of its purity, the weakening of its power, or the diminishing of its perfection:
Keep it by the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in us. Observe, Even those who are ever so well taught cannot keep what they have learned, any more than they could at first learn it, without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. We must not think to keep it by our own strength, but keep it by the Holy Ghost. (2.) The Holy Ghost dwells in all good ministers and Christians; they are his temples, and he enables them to keep the gospel pure and uncorrupt; and yet they must use their best endeavours to keep this good thing, for the assistance and indwelling of the Holy Ghost do not exclude men's endeavours, but they very well consist together.
15 Having (
2Tim 1:13,
2Tim 1:14) exhorted Timothy to hold fast,
I. He mentions the apostasy of many from the doctrine of Christ,
2Tim 1:15. It seems, in the best and purest ages of the church, there were those that had embraced the Christian faith, and yet afterwards revolted from it, nay, there were many such. He does not say that they had turned away from the doctrine of Christ (though it should seem they had) but they had turned away from him, they had turned their backs upon him, and disowned him in the time of his distress. And should we wonder at it, when many turned their backs on a much better than Paul? I mean the Lord Jesus Christ,
John 6:66.
II. He mentions the constancy of one that adhered to him, namely, Onesiphorus:
For he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, 2Tim 1:16. Observe, 1. What kindness Onesiphorus had shown to Paul: he refreshed him, he often refreshed him with his letters, and counsels, and comforts, and he was not ashamed of his chains. He was not ashamed of him, not withstanding the disgrace he was now under. He was kind to him not once or twice, but often; not only when he was at Ephesus among his own friends, but when Onesiphorus was at Rome; he took care to seek Paul
out very diligently, and found him, 2Tim 1:17. Observe, A good man will seek opportunities of doing good, and will not shun any that offer. At Ephesus he had ministered to him, and been very kind to him: Timothy knew it. 2. How Paul returns his kindness, (2Tim:1:16-18). He that receives a prophet shall have a prophet's reward. He repays him with his prayers:
The Lord give mercy to Onesiphorus. It is probable that Onesiphorus was now absent from home, and in company with Paul; Paul therefore prays that his house might be kept during his absence. Though the papists will have it that he was now dead; and, from Paul's praying for him that he might find mercy, they conclude the warrantableness of praying for the dead; but who told them that Onesiphorus was dead? And can it be safe to ground a doctrine and practice of such importance on a mere supposition and very great uncertainty?
III. He prays for Onesiphorus himself, as well as for his house:
That he may find mercy in that day, in the day of death and of judgment, when Christ will account all the good offices done to his poor members as done to himself. Observe, 1. The day of death and judgment is an awful day, and may be emphatically called
that day. 2. We need desire no more to make us happy than to find mercy of the Lord in that day, when those that have shown no mercy will have judgment without mercy. 3. The best Christians will want mercy in that day;
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jude 1:21. 4. If you would have mercy then, you must seek for it now of the Lord. 5. It is of and from the Lord that we must have mercy; for, unless the Lord has mercy on us, in vain will be the pity and compassion of men or angels. 6. We are to seek and ask for mercy of the Lord, who is the giver and bestower of it; for the Lord Jesus Christ has satisfied justice, that mercy might be displayed. We are to come to a throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. 7. The best thing we can seek, either for ourselves or our friends, is that the Lord will grant to them that they may find mercy of the Lord in that day, when they must pass our of time into eternity, and exchange this world for the other, and appear before the judgment-seat of Christ: the Lord then grant unto all of us that we may find mercy of the Lord in that day.