Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Timothy 1:3

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.