1Der GeistG4151 aberG1161 sagtG3004 ausdrücklichG4490, daßG3754 inG1722 den letztenG5306 ZeitenG2540 etlicheG5100 von dem GlaubenG4102 abfallenG868 werden, indem sie achtenG4337 auf betrügerischeG4108 GeisterG4151 undG2532 LehrenG1319 von DämonenG1140, 2die inG1722 HeucheleiG5272 Lügen redenG5573 und betreffs des eigenenG2398 GewissensG4893 wie mit einem Brenneisen gehärtetG2743 sind, 3verbietenG2967 zu heiratenG1060, und gebieten, sichG567 von SpeisenG1033 zu enthaltenG567, welcheG3739 GottG2316 geschaffenG2936 hat zurG1519 AnnehmungG3336 mitG3326 DanksagungG2169 für die, welche glaubenG4103 undG2532 die WahrheitG225 erkennenG1921. 4DennG3754 jedesG3956 GeschöpfG2938 GottesG2316 ist gutG2570 undG2532 nichtsG3762 verwerflichG579, wenn es mitG3326 DanksagungG2169 genommenG2983 wird; 5dennG1063 es wird geheiligtG37 durchG1223 GottesG2316 WortG3056 undG2532 durch GebetG1783. 6Wenn du diesesG5023 den BrüdernG80 vorstellstG5294, so wirstG2071 du ein guterG2570 DienerG1249 ChristiG5547 JesuG2424 seinG2071, auferzogenG1789 durch die WorteG3056 des GlaubensG4102 undG2532 der gutenG2570 LehreG1319, welcherG3739 du genau gefolgtG3877 bist. 7Die ungöttlichenG952 undG2532 altweibischenG1126 FabelnG3454 aberG1161 weise abG3868, übeG1128 dichG4572 aberG1161 zurG4314 GottseligkeitG2150; 8dennG1063 die leiblicheG4984 ÜbungG1129 istG2076 zuG4314 wenigemG3641 nützeG5624, die GottseligkeitG2150 aberG1161 istG2076 zuG4314 allen DingenG3956 nützeG5624, indem sie die VerheißungG1860 des LebensG2222 hatG2192, des jetzigenG3568 undG2532 des zukünftigenG3195. 9Das WortG3056 ist gewißG4103 undG2532 allerG3956 AnnahmeG594 wertG514; 10dennG1063 fürG1519 diesesG5124 arbeitenG2872 wir undG2532 werden geschmähtG3679, weilG3754 wir aufG1909 einen lebendigenG2198 GottG2316 hoffenG1679, derG3739 ein ErhalterG4990 allerG3956 MenschenG444 istG2076, besondersG3122 der GläubigenG4103. 11DiesesG5023 gebieteG3853 undG2532 lehreG1321. 12NiemandG3367 verachteG2706 deineG4675 JugendG3503, sondernG235 seiG1096 ein VorbildG5179 der GläubigenG4103 imG1722 WortG3056, imG1722 WandelG391, inG1722 LiebeG26, imG1722 GlaubenG4102, inG1722 KeuschheitG47. 13BisG2193 ich kommeG2064, halte anG4337 mit dem VorlesenG320, mit dem ErmahnenG3874, mit dem LehrenG1319. 14VernachlässigeG272 nichtG3361 die GnadengabeG5486 inG1722 dirG4671, welcheG3739 dirG4671 gegebenG1325 worden ist durchG1223 WeissagungG4394 mitG3326 HändeauflegenG1936 G5495 der ÄltestenschaftG4244. 15BedenkeG3191 diesesG5023 sorgfältigG3191; lebeG2468 darinG1722 G5125, auf daßG2443 deineG4675 FortschritteG4297 allenG1722 G3956 offenbarG5318 seienG5600. 16Habe achtG1907 auf dich selbstG4572 undG2532 auf die LehreG1319; beharreG1961 in diesen DingenG846; dennG1063 wenn du diesesG5124 tustG4160, so wirstG4982 du sowohlG2532 dich selbstG4572 errettenG4982, als auchG2532 die, welche dichG4675 hörenG191.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We have here a prophecy of the apostasy of the latter times, which he had spoken of as a thing expected and taken for granted among Christians, 2 Th. 2.
I. In the close of the foregoing chapter, we had the mystery of godliness summed up; and therefore very fitly, in the beginning of this chapter, we have the mystery of iniquity summed up:
The Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith; whether he means the Spirit in the Old Testament, or the Spirit in the prophets of the New Testament, or both. The prophecies concerning antichrist, as well as the prophecies concerning Christ, came from the Spirit. The Spirit in both spoke expressly of a general apostasy from the faith of Christ and the pure worship of God. This should come in the
latter times, during the Christian dispensation, for these are called the latter days; in the following ages of the church, for the mystery of iniquity now began to work.
Some shall depart from the faith, or there shall be an apostasy from the faith. Some, not all; for in the worst of times God will have a remnant, according to the election of grace.
They shall depart from the faith, the faith delivered to the saints (
Jude 1:3), which was delivered at once, the sound doctrine of the gospel.
Giving heed to seducing spirits, men who pretended to the Spirit, but were not really guided by the Spirit,
1John 4:1.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, every one who pretends to the Spirit. Now here observe,
1. One of the great instances of the apostasy, namely, giving heed to doctrines of demons, or concerning demons; that is, those doctrines which teach the worship of saints and angels, as a middle sort of deities, between the immortal God and mortal men, such as the heathen called demons, and worshipped under that notion. Now this plainly agrees to the church of Rome, and it was one of the first steps towards that great apostasy, the enshrining of the relics of martyrs, paying divine honours to them, erecting altars, burning incense, consecrating images and temples, and making prayers and praises to the honour of saints departed. This demon-worship is paganism revived, the image of the first beast.
2. The instruments of promoting and propagating this apostasy and delusion. (1.) It will be done by hypocrisy of those that speak lies, the agents and emissaries of Satan, who promote these delusions by lies and forgeries and pretended miracles,
1Tim 4:2. It is done by their hypocrisy, professing honour to Christ, and yet at the same time fighting against all his anointed offices, and corrupting or profaning all his ordinances. This respects also the hypocrisy of those who have
their consciences seared with a red-hot iron, who are perfectly lost to the very first principles of virtue and moral honesty. If men had not their consciences seared as with a hot iron, they could never maintain a power to dispense with oaths for the good of the catholic cause, could never maintain that no faith is to be kept with heretics, could never divest themselves of all remains of humanity and compassion, and clothe themselves with the most barbarous cruelty, under pretence of promoting the interest of the church. (2.) Another part of their character is that they forbid to marry, forbid their clergy to marry, and speak very reproachfully of marriage, though an ordinance of God; and that they command
to abstain from meats, and place religion in such abstinence at certain times and seasons, only to exercise a tyranny over the consciences of men.
3. On the whole observe, (1.) The apostasy of the latter times should not surprise us, because it was expressly foretold by the Spirit. (2.) The Spirit is God, otherwise he could not certainly foresee such distant events, which as to us are uncertain and contingent, depending on the tempers, humours, and lusts of men. (3.) The difference between the predictions of the Spirit and the oracles of the heathen is remarkable; the Spirit speaks expressly, but the oracles of the heathen were always doubtful and uncertain. (4.) It is comfortable to think that in such general apostasies all are not carried away, but only some. (5.) It is common for seducers and deceivers to pretend to the Spirit, which is a strong presumption that all are convinced that this is the most likely to work in us an approbation of what pretends to come from the Spirit. (6.) Men must be hardened, and their consciences seared, before they can depart from the faith, and draw in others to side with them. (7.) It is a sign that men have departed from the faith when they will command what God has forbidden, such as saint and angel or demon-worship; and forbid what God has allowed or commanded, such as marriage and meats.
II. Having mentioned their hypocritical fastings, the apostle takes occasion to lay down the doctrine of the Christian liberty, which we enjoy under the gospel, of using God's good creatures, - that, whereas under the law there was a distinction of meats between clean and unclean (such sorts of flesh they might eat, and such they might not eat), all this is now taken away; and we are to call nothing common or unclean,
Acts 10:15. Here observe, 1. We are to look upon our food as that which God has created; we have it from him, and therefore must use it for him. 2. God, in making those things, had a special regard to
those who believe and know the truth, to good Christians, who have a covenant right to the creatures, whereas others have only a common right. 3. What God has created is to be
received with thanksgiving. We must not refuse the gifts of God's bounty, nor be scrupulous in making differences where God has made none; but receive them, and be thankful, acknowledging the power of God the Maker of them, and the bounty of God the giver of them:
Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, 1Tim 4:4. This plainly sets us at liberty from all the distinctions of meats appointed by the ceremonial law, as particularly that of swine's flesh, which the Jews were forbidden to eat, but which is allowed to us Christians, by this rule,
Every creature of God is good, etc. Observe, God's good creatures are then good, and doubly sweet to us, when they are received with thanksgiving. -
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, 1Tim 4:5. It is a desirable thing to have a sanctified use of our creature-comforts. Now they are sanctified to us, (1.) By the word of God; not only his permission, allowing us the liberty of the use of these things, but his promise to feed us with food convenient for us. This gives us a sanctified use of our creature-comforts. (2.) By prayer, which blesses our meat to us. The word of God and prayer must be brought to our common actions and affairs, and then we do all in faith. Here observe, [1.] Every creature is God's, for he made all.
Every beast in the forest is mine (says God),
and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine, Pss 50:10,
Pss 50:11. [2.] Every creature of God is good: when the blessed God took a survey of all his works, God saw all that was made, and, behold, it was very good,
Gen 1:31. [3.] The blessing of God makes every creature nourishing to us; man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (
Matt 4:4), and therefore nothing ought to be refused. [4.] We ought therefore to ask his blessing by prayer, and so to sanctify the creatures we receive by prayer.
6 The apostle would have Timothy to instil into the minds of Christians such sentiments as might prevent their being seduced by the judaizing teachers. Observe, Those are good ministers of Jesus Christ who are diligent in their work; not that study to advance new notions, but that
put the brethren in remembrance of those things which they have received and heard. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you knew them, 2Pet 1:12. And elsewhere,
I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, 2Pet 3:1. And, says the apostle Jude,
I will therefore put you in remembrance, Jude 1:5. You see that the apostles and apostolical men reckoned it a main part of their work to put their hearers in remembrance; for we are apt to forget, and slow to learn and remember, the things of God. -
Nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. Observe, 1. Even ministers themselves have need to be growing and increasing in the knowledge of Christ and his doctrine: they must be nourished up in the words of faith. 2. The best way for ministers to grow in knowledge and faith is to put the brethren in remembrance; while we teach others, we teach ourselves. 3. Those whom ministers teach are brethren, and are to be treated like brethren; for ministers are not lords of God's heritage.
I. Godliness is here pressed upon him and others:
Refuse profane and old wives' sayings, 1Tim 4:7,
1Tim 4:8, The Jewish traditions, which some people fill their heads with, have nothing to do with them.
But exercise thyself rather unto godliness; that is, mind practical religion. Those who would be godly must exercise themselves unto godliness; it requires a constant exercise. The reason is taken from the fain of godliness;
bodily exercise profits little, or for a little time. Abstinence from meats and marriage, and the like, though they pass for acts of mortification and self-denial, yet profit little, they turn to little account. What will it avail us to mortify the body if we do not mortify sin? Observe, 1. There is a great deal to be got by godliness; it will be of use to us in the whole of our life, for it has
the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 2. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise: and the promises made to godly people relate to the life that now is, but especially they relate to the life that is to come. Under the Old Testament the promises were mostly of temporal blessings, but under the New Testament of spiritual and eternal blessings. If godly people have but little of the good things of the life that now is, yet it shall be made up to them in the good things of the life that is to come. 3. There were profane and old wives' fables in the days of the apostles; and Timothy, though an excellent man, was not above such a word of advice,
Refuse profane, etc. 4. It is not enough that we refuse profane and old wives' fables, but we must exercise ourselves to godliness; we must not only cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well (
Isa 1:16,
Isa 1:17), and we must make a practice of exercising ourselves to godliness. And, 5. Those who are truly godly shall not be losers at last, whatever becomes of those who content themselves with bodily exercise, for godliness has the promise, etc.
II. The encouragement which we have to proceed in the ways of godliness, and to exercise ourselves to it, notwithstanding the difficulties and discouragements that we meet with in it. He had said (
1Tim 4:8) that it
is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life which now is. But the question is, Will the profit balance the loss? For, if it will not, it is not profit. Yes, we are sure it will. Here is another of Paul's faithful sayings, worthy of all acceptation - that all our labours and losses in the service of God and the work of religion will be abundantly recompensed, so that though we lose for Christ we shall not lose by him.
Therefore we labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, 1Tim 4:10. Observe,
1. Godly people must labour and expect reproach; they must do well, and yet expect at the same time to suffer ill: toil and trouble are to be expected by us in this world, not only as men, but as saints.
2. Those who labour and suffer reproach in the service of God and the work of religion may depend upon the living God that they shall not lose by it. Let this encourage them,
We trust in the living God. The consideration of this, that the God who has undertaken to be our pay-master is the living God, who does himself live for ever and is the fountain of life to all who serve him, should encourage us in all our services and in all our sufferings for him, especially considering that he is
the Saviour of all men. (1.) By his providences he protects the persons, and prolongs the lives, of the children of men. (2.) He has a general good-will to the eternal salvation of all men thus far that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He desires not the death of sinners; he is thus far the Saviour of all men that none are left in the same desperate condition that fallen angels are in. Now, if he be thus the Saviour of all men, we may hence infer that much more he will be the rewarder of those who seek and serve him; if he has such a good-will for all his creatures, much more will he provide well for those who are new creatures, who are born again. He is the Saviour of all men, but
especially of those that believe; and the salvation he has in store for those that believe is sufficient to recompense them for all their services and sufferings. Here we see, [1.] The life of a Christian is a life of labour and suffering:
We labour and suffer. [2.] The best we can expect to suffer in the present life is reproach for our well-doing, for our work of faith and labour of love. [3.] True Christians trust in the living God; for cursed is the man that trusts in man, or in any but the living God; and those that trust in him shall never be ashamed.
Trust in him at all times. [4.] God is the general Saviour of all men, as he has put them into a salvable state; but he is in a particular manner the Saviour of true believers; there is then a general and a special redemption.
III. He concludes the chapter with an exhortation to Timothy,
1. To
command and teach these things that he had now been teaching him. Command them to exercise themselves unto godliness, teach them the profit of it, and that if they serve God they serve one who will be sure to bear them out.
2. To conduct himself with that gravity and prudence which might gain him respect, notwithstanding his youth:
Let no man despise thy youth; that is, give no man an occasion to despise thy youth. Men's youth will not be despised if they do not by youthful vanities and follies make themselves despicable; and this men may do who are old, who may therefore thank themselves if they be despised.
3. To confirm his doctrine by a good example:
Be thou an example of the believers, etc. Observe, Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their live, else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other: they must be examples both
in word and conversation. Their discourse must be edifying, and this will be a good example: their conversation must be strict, and this will be a good example: they must be examples
in charity, or love to God and all good men, examples
in spirit, that is, in spiritual-mindedness, in spiritual worship, -
in faith, that is, in the profession of Christian faith, - and
in purity or chastity.
4. He charges him to study hard:
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, to meditation upon these things, 1Tim 4:13. Though Timothy had extraordinary gifts, yet he must use ordinary means. Or it may be meant of the public reading of the scriptures; he must
read and exhort, that is, read and expound, read and press what he read upon them; he must expound it both by way of exhortation and by way of doctrine; he must teach them both what to do and what to believe. Observe, (1.) Ministers must teach and command the things that they are themselves taught and commanded to do; they must teach people to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded,
Matt 28:20. (2.) The best way for ministers to avoid being despised is to teach and practise the things that are given them in charge. No wonder if ministers are despised who do not teach these things, or who, instead of being examples of good to believers, act directly contrary to the doctrines they preach; for ministers are to be ensamples of their flock. (3.) Those ministers that are the best accomplished for their work must yet mind their studies, that they may be improving in knowledge; and they must mind also their work; they are to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
5. He charges him to beware of negligence:
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, 1Tim 4:14. The gifts of God will wither if they be neglected. It may be understood either of the office to which he was advanced, or of his qualifications for that office; if of the former, it was ordination in an ordinary way; if of the latter, it was extraordinary. It seems to be the former, for it was by
laying on of hands, etc. Here see the scripture-way of ordination: it was by the laying on of hands, and the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Observe, Timothy was ordained by men in office. It was an extraordinary gift that we read of elsewhere as being conferred on him by the laying on of Paul's hands, but he was invested in the office of the ministry by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1.) We may note, The office of the ministry is a gift, it is the gift of Christ; when he ascended on high, he received gifts for men, and he gave some apostles, and some pastors and teachers (
Ephes 4:8,
Ephes 4:11), and this was a very kind gift to his church. (2.) Ministers ought not to neglect the gift bestowed upon them, whether by gift we are here to understand the office of the ministry or the qualifications for the office; neither the one nor the other must be neglected. (3.) Though there was a prophecy in the case of Timothy (the gift was given by prophecy), yet this was accompanied by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, that is, a number of presbyters; the office was conveyed to him this way; and I should think here is a sufficient warrant for ordination by presbyters, since it does not appear that Paul was concerned in Timothy's ordination. It is true, extraordinary gifts were conferred on him by the laying on of the apostle's hands (
2Tim 1:6), but, if he was concerned in his ordination, the presbytery was not excluded, for that is particularly mentioned, whence it seems pretty evident that the presbytery have the inherent power of ordination.
6. Having this work committed to him, he must
give himself wholly to it: Be wholly in those things,
that thy profiting may appear. He was a wise knowing man, and yet must still be profiting, and make it appear that he improved in knowledge. Observe, (1.) Ministers are to be much in meditation. They are to consider beforehand how and what they must speak. They are to meditate on the great trust committed to them, on the worth and value of immortal souls, and on the account they must give at the last. (2.) Ministers must be wholly in these things, they must mind these things as their principal work and business:
Give thyself wholly to them. (3.) By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well a to all persons; this is the way for them to profit in knowledge and grace, and also to profit others.
7. He presses it upon him to be very cautious:
Take heed to thyself and to the doctrine, consider what thou preachest;
continue in them, in the truths that thou hast received; and this will be the way to
save thyself, and those that hear thee. Observe, (1.) Ministers are engaged in saving work, which makes it a good work. (2.) The care of ministers should be in the first place to save themselves: Save thyself in the first place, so shalt thou be instrumental to save those that hear thee. (3.) Ministers in preaching should aim at the salvation of those that hear them, next to the salvation of their own souls. (4.) The best way to answer both these ends is to take heed to ourselves, etc.