Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Timothy 1

1 PAul an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God , according to the promise of life , which is in Christ Jesus .

See the Notes on 1 Tim. 1.1.

It is much the same with Rom. 1.1, 2. According to the Gospel, which he had promised before by his Prophets. These words either signify the end of his Apostleship, to declare the Gospel in which is the promise of Life, or the matter of his Preaching.

Which eternal Life, was promised of old but is not to be had but in Christ Jesus and in him is the promise fulfilled.

2 To Timothy my dearly beloved Son , Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord e.

See the notes on 1 Tim. 1.2. there he calls him his own Son, testifying his relation, here his beloved Son, to testifie his affection to him. The salutation is the same with that 1 Tim. 1.2. vid. the Notes there.

3 I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience , that without ceasing, I have remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day .

Paul here by his forefathers, either intends his immediate Parents, or Abraham, Isaac and Iacob; for he served the same God whom they served. But how did Paul from his forefathers serve God with a pure conscience, who was a Native Iew, and zealous in that Religion in opposition to the Faith of the Gospel, which alone purifieth the heart, Acts 15.9. Sol. A pure Conscience seemeth here to signifie the same with Phil. 3.6. touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless. Paul was strict to the Rules of that Religion, which he professed, though that religion was not that which universally purifieth the hea[illegible: 1 letter]t, Or else his meaning is, That he at this time served that God who was the God of his forefathers, with a pure Conscience.

He either thanketh God on the behalf of Timothy for his Gifts and Graces, or else he blesseth God, that had put it into his heart, daily to remember Timothy in his Prayers, Philem. 4. by which expression he both lets us know the mutual duty of Christians to pray one for another, and also that when we find any inclinations to do our duty, we ought to acknowledge them to God, being not of our selves sufficient to one good thought.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 1.8. Eph. 1.16.; Act.22.3. and 23.1. and 24.14.; 1 Thess. 1.2. and 3.10.

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears , that I may be filled with joy .

There was a great brotherly love amongst Primitive Christians, so as the Apostle often expresseth his desire to see such Christians as were at distance from him, Rom. 1.11. 1. Thes. 2 17. but he expresseth a particular reason of his desire to see Timothy, remembring the teares he shed at his parting from him and the rest, Acts 20.37, 38.

Besides the desire he had by his presence to satisfie him, and give him occasion of joy, with which he also should be filled, unless he speaketh of the joy he promised himself when he saw Timothy upon his seeing the improvement he had made both of his Graces and Gifts, in the Ministerial Office.

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee , which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I am perswaded that in thee also .

The Apostle expresseth another cause of his affection to Timothy, viz. his sincere owning and adhering to the profession of the Gospel.

As his Grandmother Lois and his Mother Eunice had done before him, (he saith nothing of his Father, for he was a Jew proselited or an heathen, Acts 16.1.) and though he could not infallibly determine, yet he was verily perswaded of his sincerity also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance , that thou stir up the gift of God , which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands .

Pauls affection to Timothy was so far from abating his faithfulness to him, that it quickned him to admonish him to be faithful in his ministry, and to that end,

He adviseth him to put new Life unto that holy fire (the word signifies the recovering of fire choked with ashes or decaying) which God had kindled in him.

By daily Prayer, and meditating on the things of God and use of his gifts, improving those spiritual abilities which God had given him.

Upon the Prayers of Paul, and the Presbytery when he was by them set apart to the work of an Evangelist for the end for which God had given them to him.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 4.14.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear , but of power , and of love , and of a sound mind .

Fear in this place signifieth fearfulness, or cowardise, or poorness of spirit in opposition to that holy fortitude which becomes Ministers, this he saith is none of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and proceedeth not from God.

Love to God, and to the Souls of his people, love so strong as to constrain us to be willing to lay down our lives for Christ, and for his Church and People.

By power he means Christian courage and fortitude not declining duty because of danger threatning us in the performance, but inabling us to incounter the greatest dangers, and difficulties.

By power he means Christian courage and fortitude not declining duty because of danger threatning us in the performance, but inabling us to incounter the greatest dangers, and difficulties.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], we Translate it a sound mind, others sobriety, others a calm and quiet mind. A sound mind in the ordinary notion of it for a judgment sound in the faith, is requisite to a Minister of the Gospel. Sobriety is the gift of the Spirit, sobriety is a very general term, and signifies the moderation and Government of our passions, that which seems to be here meant is such a Government, and composure of Spirit, that nothing shall deter us from the discharge of our duty, and the term sound mind opposed to a weak and sickly mind staggering at every danger may well enough express the Apostles sense.

Marginal references: Rom. 8.15.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord , nor of me his prisoner , but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel x, according to the power of God .

Either the Testimony which Christ himself, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession; or that Testimony which thou art obliged to give, for the Ministers of Christ are to be witnesses unto him, Act. 1.8.

By this it appears that Paul was a Prisoner at Rome when he wrote this, he would not have Timothy ashamed to own him, and the Doctrine he had taught because of that circumstance.

That is, be thou content if God calls thee to it to take a share with me in those afflictions which I suffer for Preaching and professing the Gospel, or those afflictions are inseparable from the Gospel.

Through the power of God, for it is given to us in the behalf of Christ, as to beleive, so to suffer for Christs sake, Phil. 1.29.

Marginal references: Rom. 1.16.; 1 Tim. 2.6.; Phil. 1.7.

9 Who hath saved us , and called us with an holy calling , not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace , which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began e.

That is, brought us into a state of Salvation, and given us a right to it.

And in order to our obtaining it hath effectually called, renewed, and sanctified us.

Not for any merits of ours.

To be obtained through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ. Which purpose of his was before the foundation of the world was laid, and therefore could not be according to our works but must be of his own grace, Eph. 1.4. Titus 3.5.

Marginal references: Rom. 9.11.; Rom. 8.28.; But from his own free love purposing and decreeing eternal Salvation to us, with the means adequate to it.; Eph. 3.11. 1 Pet: 1.20.

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ f, who hath abolished death , and hath brought life, and immortality to light through the Gospel .

Which purpose of God in Christ Jesus, was in a great measure hidden under the Old Testament, but by the coming of Christ is made evident, for by his death he hath taken away the sting, and power of Death, delivering us from that which is the second Death.

And through the Doctrine of the Gospel he hath made the promises of Eternal Life plain and clear, which though existent under the Law, yet were very obscurely revealed, so as they lay out of the sigh[illegible: 1 letter] of most men and women, but are now brought to light, so as he who runneth may read them.

Marginal references: Rom. 16.26. Col. 1.26.; 1 Cor. 15.54.55. Heb. 2.14.

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher , and an Apostle , and a teacher of the Gentiles l.

For the publication of which gracious counsel and purpose of God thus made manifest by Christs coming, and of that Life and Immortality, thus by the Gospel brought to l[illegible: 1 letter]ght; God hath appointed me as his cryer,

and sent me immediately as his Messenger to make publication of it, and hath made the instructing of the Heathen my peculiar Province, 1 Tim. 2.7.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things , nevertheless I am not ashamed ; for I know whom I have believed , and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day .

For the preaching and publishing of which Gospel, or for the teaching of the Gentiles, I suffer these things, being accused by the Jews as a seditious person stirring up the people, and by them delivered to the Romans, and by them imprisoned.

Yet I am not ashamed of my chains.

I have committed my self to God,

and I am out of doubt concerning Gods ability to keep until the day of Judgment my soul, or my whole concerns both for this Life and another, which I have by Faith committed to him: Some by that which I have committed unto him, in this Text understand the Church or Body of Believers, others understand the fruit and reward of his labours and suffering. Mr. Calvin would have Life Eternal here meant, our Eternal Salvation is in Christs keeping. I rather incline to the first notion, so it agreeth with 1 Pet. 4.19. God commits his Gospel to our Trust, who are Ministers, 1 Tim. 6.20. we according to the phrase of Scripture are said to commit our souls to him, Luk. 23.46. Acts 7.59. I am, saith Paul inconcerned as to my sufferings, I have intrusted God with all my concerns in order to this Life, and that which is to come, and I know he is able to secure them.

Marginal references: Eph. 3.1.; Or, trusted.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith , and love, which is in Christ Jesus .

By sound words which he had heard from Paul, can be meant nothing but the Doctrine of the Gospel, which as it is it self pure, and consistent with it self, not rotten; one piece of which will not hold with the other, so it tends to make Souls sound, as to their Spiritual health, this Doctrine Timothy had been instructed in by Paul, whether he had given him a written form of them or no, is not much material, for this (if he did) was not that which he would have him hold fast, but to keep the Idea, or pattern of that Doctrine in his mind written in his heart, making his discourses conform to it.

The sum of which form of sound words, he declareth to be Faith and Love, for all that the Gospel teacheth, is either believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, or keeping his Commandements, which is the demonstration of Love, Iohn 14.15. or else the sense may be this, keep thy self sound in the principles of Religion, which thou hast learned of me.

But do not think this enough without exercising a Faith in Christ as thy Redeemer, and living in obedience to his Commandments. Many an Orthodox man may go to Hell, notwithstanding his Orthodoxy.

Marginal references: chap. 3.14.

14 That good thing which was committed to thee , keep by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us .

This is expounded by 1 Tim. 6.20. he means the Doctrine of the Gospel, or his Office in the publication of it, be faithful in thy ministerial work;

To which purpose beg the assistance and operation of the Holy Spirit, which dwelleth both in all believers, and more particularly assisteth the Ministers of the Gospel; we can neither keep our minds sound in the Faith, as to the Doctrine of it, nor our Souls steady in the exercises of Faith, or Love without the assistance of the Holy Spirit, which yet the Lord giveth to them that ask him, and it abides in them, who do not vex, quench, grieve, and resist it.

15 This thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me , of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes .

Probably as to some he had a personal knowledge of their Apostacy, as to others he knew it by information, which Paul confirmeth.

It seemeth unreasonable to interpret all here of every individual, but many (as all oft signifieth in Holy Writ:) Some interpret it of all the Jewish Proselytes, others of those of Asia, who accompanied Paul to Rome, and there seeing his sufferings Apostatised, others of many who still abode in Asia, where Timothy now was; these all, or many of them, deserted Paul, either wholly casting off the Christian profession, or withdrawing themselves from communion with Paul, when they saw him a Prisoner.

Of these two we have no more said in Holy Writ, and therefore can assert nothing of them with any certainty.

Marginal references: chap. 4.16.

16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus , for he oft refreshed me , and was not ashamed of my chain .

Whether Onesiphorus was at this time alive, or no, is very doubtful, for he only prays for his Family in this Text, and saluteth them only, chap. 4.19.

Either when he was in Asia, or (which is more probable by reason of what followeth) at Rome, whither he might attend him, or follow him,

and shew kindness to him when he was a Prisoner; for which Paul prayeth mercy for his whole Family.

Marginal references: Act. 28.20. Eph. 6.20.

17 But when he was in Rome r, he sought me out very diligently, and found me .

Whither he might go upon his private occasions, and being there,

he made it his business to find out Paul, and rested not until he had found him, either at his Inn, or in the Prison where he was put.

18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day : And in how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

This would incline us to think that Onesiphorus was yet alive; the term mercy he here prays that he may find of the Lord is comprehensive of all good, both Corporal, and Spiritual, which he prays God the Father to grant to this good man, to find from the Lord Jesus Christ in that day, when he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead; for he had not only ministred to the Apostle while he was a Prisoner at Rome, but many wayes at Ephesus (where probably this Onesiphorus lived) which Timothy being there well knew.