Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Timothy 3

1 THis know also, that in the last dayes perillous times shall come .

We met with this term last dayes, 1 Tim. 4.1. and there said that the Scripture by that term understands all the time from Christs Ascension, to the end of the World. We meet with the term, Gen. 49.1. Isa. 2.2. Micah 4.1. Acts 2.17. Heb. 1.2. Iam. 5.3. 2 Pet. 3.3. of these dayes some are latter than other, but it appears by Acts 2.17. Heb. 1.2. that that whole period of time is so called.

In the Greek it is difficult times, that is times, when it will be difficult for Christians to keep their Lives or Estates, or any happy station in the World with a good Conscience, by reason of the plenty of ill men that should live in those times, and make them so difficult.

Marginal references: Jude 18.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves , covetous , boasters , proud , blasphemers disobedient to parents , unthankful , unholy .

That is, the generality of men shall be persons that will neither love God, nor men, in comparison with themselves; Charity which seeketh not her own shall wax cold, men shall be wholly for themselves.

Lovers of Silver immoderately so as they will get it any way, and when they have it will be as sordidly tenacious of it.

Vaunting of themselves, vain-glorious, boasting of what they have not.

Lifted up in an opinion of themselves.

Speaking evil of God and Men.

Stubborn and Rebellious against those that bare them.

Unthankful both to God and men for kindnesses received from either.

Prophane and impure.

3 Without natural affection , truce-breakers , false accusers , incontinent , fierce , despisers of those that are good .

Having no kindness for such as nature obligeth them to love and honour.

Men that will be held by no bonds or leagues. Or rather implacable, so we translate the same Greek word, Rom. 1.31. Men so full of malice that they will admit no terms, or Covenants of peace.

Gr. Devils, venting their malice by informing against, and accusing others without any regard to truth.

Intemperate, Drunkards, Gluttons, Unclean persons, &c.

Men without any gentleness, cruel.

Men that have no kindness for any good men, haters of them.

Marginal references: Or, make [illegible: 1 word].

4 Traytors , heady , high-minded , lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God .

[non-Latin text not transcribed] signifies the betraying of any Trust, or a Falshood to any person to whom we are obliged. It is in Scripture applied to Iudas, Luk. 6.16 and to the Iewes that Cruc[illegible: 1 letter]fied Christ, Acts 7.52. the Verb whence it derives is by Authors applyed to Persons, Places and Causes; it signifies that in the latter times, there should be a general falshood amongst men. See Math, 10.21. falshood towards their Superiors, their Relation, Profession, &c.

Rash, inconsiderate.

Blown up as bladders with an opinion of their own deserts.

Voluptuous m[illegible: 1 letter]n not using what God hath given them with a moderate satisfaction and delight in them, but contrary to Gods commandments, and thereby shewing, that they have more love for the gratification of their sensitive appetite, than the pleasing of God.

5 Having a form of godliness , but denying the power thereof : From such also turn away y.

A form here is the same with a mask, or vizor or appearance, an accidental form, opposed to substance and reality. It signifieth that in the latter times there should be many such as owned themselves Christians and pretended to a right way of worshipping God, to be the Church, the onely Church of God.

But in practice though not in words denying all substantial godliness which lieth not in assuming the empty name of Christians, and making a profession, but lies in truth, righteousness, love and peace, self-denial, mortifying our Members, it being a thing attended with life and power, a man being no more a Christian, than he acts and lives like a Christian.

From such kind of Professors as were before described, the Apostle willeth Timothy to turn away, both as to having any Church Fellowship, or communion, or any intimacy of converse with them.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 5.8. Tit. 1.16.; 2 Thess. 3.6.

6 For of this sort are those which creep into houses , and lead captive silly women laden with sins , led away with divers lusts .

Who do not onely privily enter in at the doors of houses, but pierce into the secrets of them, making it their business to pry into all Families, and

take their advantages upon women (the weaker sex) and not the wisest of them) but [non-Latin text not transcribed], the diminutive word, is used to vilifie the little despicable women of no judgment in sound Religion, whom they by their Tongues and pleasing Errors make their captives.

Nor do they deal with the most pious, and honest Women, but such as are laden with the guilt of much sin

and who being possest of divers sinful inclinations, not only lusts of the Flesh, but any other, such as Pride, &c. are easily led away; Lust alwayes smoothing the way for such Errors as will be principles to justifie it against the reflections of Conscience. Their Vices rather than Sex made them easily seduced.

Marginal references: Mat. 23.14, Tit. 1.11.

7 Ever learning , and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth .

Women that pretend to be ever learning the Truth, but

cannot obtain of their Lusts a leave to acknowledge the truth in their practice. The word is [non-Latin text not transcribed], which rather signifies a practical acknowledgment, than a Notional knowledge.

8 Now as Jannes, and Jambres, withstood Moses , so do these also resist the truth : men of corrupt minds , reprobate concerning the faith .

Concerning this resistance of Moses by Iannes and Iambres, the holy Scripture saith nothing but in this Text. It is said by Interpreters, that they were two brethren, the chief of Pharaohs Magicians, who opposed Moses in the Miracles he wrought Exod. 7.11. whose names might be known in Pauls time by Tradition, or the publike writings of the Iews.

So will corrupt Teachers under the Gospel resist the Truth of the Gospel published by Christs Ministers.

Men whose hearts are corrupted with sordid Lusts.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], of no sound judgment, as to the Doctrine of Faith, or not approved of God, or good men as to their Sentiments about our Faith.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 6.5.; Tit. 1.16▪

9 But they shall proceed no further , for their folly shall be made manifest all men , as theirs also was .

God will preserve those in his Church that are sincere; though they may captivate a few, poor, ignorant, women, they shall have no great success.

For God will in his providence so order it, that their folly or madness shall appear to all, and their party shall decline. The Divine Providence that governs all things by the invincible light of truth discovers and confounds the most specious and subtle seducers in his own time. And this prediction of the Apostle was exactly fulfill'd with respect to those primitive seducers.

As God by his Providence laid open Iannes and Iambres.

10 But ‖ thou hast fully known my doctrine , manner of life , purpose , faith , long-suffering , charity , patience .

Our translation here seemeth a little strange, for the Greek Thou hast diligently followed me in doctrine, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. That is, thou wert in my company, thou wert a follower of me, and so must know what Doctrine I preached.

What Life I lived.

What my whole Scope and design was.

What Faith I taught and professed.

What long-suffering I used, both towards my malicious Adversaries, and my weaker brethren.

What love I shewed towards all men, whether friends or foes.

What patience I shewed in bearing injuries.

11 Persecutions , afflictions which came to me at Antioch , at Iconium , at Lystra , what persecutions I indured , but out of them all the Lord delivered me .

What Prosecutions for the preaching of the Gospel I was under.

What afflictions I met with at Antioch in Pisidia, Acts 13.14, 45, 50.

At Iconium, whither he went from Pisidia; of the afflictions he met with there also. Read Acts 14▪

The Apostle went from Iconium to Lystra, Acts 14.6.

There also he was persecuted, Acts 14.19. now it seemeth that in all these motions Timothy was in Pauls company and a follower of him, so as he was a witness to all; which assureth us that though we first read of Timothy, Acts 16.3. when he was Circumcised, yet Paul knew him before.

Yet God delivered Paul from all these, and that Timothy being all that time in company with Paul knew, from whence the Apostle would have him take courage, exercise patience under suffering for such preaching, and such living, being assured that God would deliver him also, preaching the same truth, and living the same holy life though he met with the same troubles, persecutions and afflictions.

Marginal references: 2 Cor. 1.10.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution .

Such is the disposal of Divine Providence, such the malice of the men in the world, that though not every individual person, yet 'tis the usual lot of them who will keep a pure Faith and a good Conscience, to suffer presecution in some kind or other; either in their Persons, or Reputation or Estates. Men may live profanely, or may be morally honest men, and be safe enough, but if they will profess Faith in Christ, or Love to him in keeping his Commandments, they will be exposed to troubles: The world will not indure men to live in Peace, that will not live as they live, and believe as they believe.

Marginal references: Psal. 34.19. Act. 14.20. 1 Thes. 3.3.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse , deceiving and being deceived .

Neither do thou expect that the times should mend, for men that are given up to their Lusts and [non-Latin text not transcribed], such as go about to deceive others, will grow worse and worse, as the world groweth older, both in their endeavours to deceive, and in their malice and hatred, to those that oppose them.

Deceiving others, and being left by the just judgment of God to deceive and ruine their own Souls.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned , and hast been assured of , knowing of whom thou hast learned them .

In the Doctrines relating to Faith: and the precepts relating to thy Life as a Minister, or as a Christian,

and hast assented to steadily, hitherto believing them.

Remembring that thou hast learned them of me the Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the same as from Christ himself.

Marginal references: chap. 2.2.

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures , which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation , through faith which is in Christ Jesus .

From thy infancy by the instruction of thy mother Eunice, and thy Grandmother Lois, chap. 1.5.

Thou hast had a Notion of the writings of Moses and the Prophets, the Holy Scriptures of the old Testament (for at this time no others were written)

Which holy Scriptures (without the help of the writings of Plato or Pithagoras, or any other Pagan Philosophers) have in them a sufficiency of Doctrine to make thee or any other wise enough to get to heaven.

But not without a Faith in Christ Jesus, receiving him as thy and their Saviour, besides a Faith asse[illegible: 1 letter]ting and agreeing to those holy Writings as the Revelation of the Divine Will.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is profitable for doctrine , for reproof , for correction , for instruction in righteousness o.

Scripture signifies no more than writing. Some therefore translate this Text thus, All scripture which is inspired of God, not all writings but all the books of the Old Testament is [non-Latin text not transcribed], this is expounded by Peter, 2 Pet. 1.20, 21. for the prophesie came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

And it is profitable to instruct us in all propositions of Truth, which we need believe in order to Salvation.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], to convince us either of any Truth, that we may believe it without any haesitation, or of any sin that we may be humbled for it, without any extenuation.

For Reproof or Correction or Reformation, to reprove us in what we are to be reproved, to correct us in any Error, to shew us the way to bring us to rights and to reform us.

17 That the man of God may be perfect , throughly furnished unto all good works .

That both Ministers and all godly Men may be as perfect as they can be in the state of mortality, fitted for the duties of their several Callings and Places.

And be prepared to every work which is good, acceptable and well-pleasing unto God, whether it be a work of Piety, or Justice and Charity. The Scripture as to all, is so full a direction, that Christians need not go down to the Philistines to whet their Tools, nor be beholden to unwritten Traditions, or to the writings of Pagan Philosophers, for directions what to do, how to Worship God, or manage any part of their Conversation, either as to their general calling, or as to their particular Relations.

To instruct us in the true righteousness in which we must appear before God; for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, Rom. 1.17.

Marginal references: Or, perfected.