Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Timothy 4

1 I Charge thee therefore before God , and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing , and his kingdom .

Who seeth, and observeth what thou doest, and will one day call thee to account for thy discharge of thy Ministry.

And before the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou hast more reason to regard, not only because he is thy Master, and thou his Servant in a special sense, but because he is to be thy Judge also, for he shall be the Judge, as of those that are dead before his coming, so those also who shall be alive at his coming, 1 Cor. 15.52. 1 Thess. 4.15, 17.

When he shall appear the second time, and set up his Kingdom of Glory, delivering up his Mediatory Kingdom to his Father; I charge thee, as in the presence of God, and this Christ; or as thou hast a regard to God and to this Christ, and fearest the angry face of this Judge, or believest his second coming, or expectest a share in his Kingdom of Glory: A most severe obtestation, charge or adjuration. What is that duty which is usher'd in in so solemn a manner? It followeth.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 6.13.

2 Preach the word , be instant in season, and out of season , reprove , rebuke , exhort , with all long suffering , and doctrine .

Proclaim like an herauld, cry like a common cryer in the hearing of a multitude. Thus God to Isaiah, chap. 58.1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet.

The word of truth, chap. 2.15. or the Gospel, called the word, by way of Emphasis. See Mat. 4.23. and 24.14. Mark 1.14. and 13.10. and 16.15. The word of God, not old Wives Fables, endless Genealogies, perverse disputings, unedifying questions, &c. This precept reflects upon unpreaching Ministers, and impertinent vain preachers.

Be earnest and diligent. This reflects upon a cold and perfunctory preaching. God bid Isaiah cry aloud, lift up his voice like a trumpet. Sinners are like deaf Adders.

That is at all times, not on the Lords dayes only, but any other time when thou hast opportunity, not in times when thou mayest do it with safety, but when the wisdom of the flesh tells thee it is out of season. This reflects upon such as preach rarely, and consult their flesh, whether they should perform it at all, or no.

Reprove, [non-Latin text not transcribed] convince such as gainsay the truth.

Rebuke all sinners, all that live an ill life. This reflects upon those effeminate preachers, against whom Ezekiel denounced the w[illegible: 1 letter], Ezek. 13.18. That sow pillowes to all arm-holes; that prophesie smooth things in stead of the right things of the word.

Perswade or comfort, (the word signifies both) as thou seest occasion.

But do what thou doest prudently, with meekness. God needeth not thy passion, though he makes use of thy art in instruction.

Do it so as to join instruction with thy reproof. This reflects upon flattering, fawning, unfaithful Preachers, and such as vent their own passion, rather then pursue their due end for instruction and reformation of souls.

3 For the time will come , when they will not indure sound doctrine , but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers , having itching ears .

This time alwayes was, (as appears by the writings of the Prophets) but it will come more and more, as the World grows older, it will grow more mad.

Very many that shall live in the World, yea in the bosom of the Church,

will not indure that preaching, which hath any soundness in it, or is of any tendency, life, power or efficacy, to recover their souls from the diseases of sin and lusts;

But in favour of their own lusts, and to secure their satisfaction in them.

Will be finding out teachers, not according to Gods, but to their own hearts, and there will be plenty of them to be found, they shall heap them up, chusing them without any judgment, regarding nothing but whether they will not be smart upon their lusts.

[illegible: 1 letter]or their Ears itch, and they must have those that will scratch them. The disease of lust in their souls, brings forth an itch in their Ears, that they will have a mind to hear only such as will by scratching please them

4 And they shall turn away their eares from the truth , and shall be turned unto fables .

Either in contempt, or scorn of it, as being delivered in too plain notions or stile; or through impatience, not induring their lusts should be touched, and the evil of their wayes shewed them.

Delighting to hear fables, any idle stories, or impertinent discourses, provided they touch not their lusts, Missa non mordet, the Mass will not bite, was an old saying of the Popish Faction.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 1.4. and 4.7.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions , do the work of an evangelist , make full proof of thy ministry .

Watching implyeth, 1. A negation of sleep. 2. An industrious keeping our selves awake for some end. Keep thy self from all sin, and from all idleness and laziness, and do this industriously, that thou mayst honour God in thy work.

For thy work is a great work; the work of one who is to publish the Gospel; Or of one who is left by me the Apostle of Christ to settle the Church, which I have [illegible: 1 letter]aid the foundation of, Acts 21.8. Eph. 4.11.

Make a full proof unto others of thy faithfulness in thy Ministerial office and employment.

Marginal references: chap. 1.8. [illegible: 1 word] 2.3.; Or, fulfil.

6 For I am now ready to be offered , and the time of my departure is at hand .

[non-Latin text not transcribed], the word properly signifieth to be offered as a drink-offering, which was offered by being poured out. Some say that [non-Latin text not transcribed] is only used to signifie such offerings, whereby some Covenant was confirmed, so as it not only signifieth that Paul was sensible that he should dye a violent death, but that his death should be an establishment and confirmation of the Doctrine of the Gospel, which he had preached, that he should be offered upon the sacrifice and service of their Faith; as he speaketh, Phil. 2.17. where the same word is used. A Learned Author thinks it is there used in a little different sense, there as an accession to the Sacrifice, here as a preparation to it, they being wont to prepare their Sacrifice, by pouring Wine upon it; which possibly guided our Translators, to Translate it, here I am ready to be offered.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], We Translate it departure, it properly signifieth Resolution, because in death we are resolved into dust, from whence we are. If any ask how Paul knew, that the time of his death was so near. Answer, He might know [illegible: 1 letter]t by Revelation from God, or from his observation of Neroes temper, malice, or behaviour toward him.

Marginal references: Phil. 1.23. [illegible: 1 span] Pet. 1.14.

7 I have fought the good fight , I have finished my course , I have kept the faith.

My Life hath been a Military Life, but I have not fought the evil fights of ambitious or quarrelsome men: My fighting hath been the good and noble fight of Faith, a fight with the World, the Flesh and the Devil, a contending for the Faith delivered to the Saints, a maintaining the lustings of the Spirit against the Flesh, a warring with Spiritual wickednesses in high places.

God appointed me a race to run, as a Christian, as an Apostle and Minister of Christ: I have now finished it.

I have kept the Doctrine of Faith, upholding and maintaining it, in and by my Ministry, and I have lived in the exercise of the Grace of Faith.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 9.24, 1[illegible: 1 letter]. [illegible: 1 word] 3, 14. [illegible: 1 letter] Tim. 6.12. [illegible: 1 word] 12.1.

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness , which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day , and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing .

As to what remains for me, (so the word [non-Latin text not transcribed] signifies, (not henceforth) as we Translate it) there is prepared, and in safe keeping for me, Col. 1.5. Or there is appointed for me, vid. Heb. 9.27.

Another kind of Crown then what the conquerours used to have in the Grecian games, an high and great reward, a glory with which my whole man shall be incompassed as a mans head is with a Crown.

The purchase of Christ's Righteousness, and ample reward of mine also, the giving out of which also will be the effect of Gods Truth and Justice, 1 Iohn 1.9.

And Jesus Christ, who in this shall shew himself a righteous Judge;

Shall give it me of his free mercy, for all I have done hath not merited it.

At the day of Judgment, my Soul shall have it at my dissolution, my whole man in the Resurrection.

Nor is this crown my particular reward, but if any persons so lead their lives in this World, as that they can desire, and be pleased with the thoughts and hopes of the second coming of Christ to Judgment, Christ will give them also the same reward.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 1.12. [illegible: 1 letter] Pe[illegible: 1 letter] 5.4.

9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me .

To Rome, where Paul was at this time a Prisoner, it appears from Phil. 2.19. that Timothy did go to Paul at Rome, according to this desire of his, and was with him while a Prisoner there.

10 For Demas hath forsaken me , having loved this present world , and is departed unto Thessalonica , Crescens to Galatia , Titus unto Dalmatia .

He sheweth the reason why he desired Timothy to come to him, because most of those who were with him, were gone. Some think this Demas is Demetrius, mentioned 3 Iohn 12. (the name being only shortened.) He was at Rome with Paul some time, Col. 4.14. Some make a question, whether Demas wholly Aposta[illegible: 1 letter]ized, or only left Paul for a time, and went to Thessalonica about some secular business, afterward returning▪

Some make the sense of this phrase no more then minding his worldly business. Others think that he being frighted with Pauls danger, wholly left him,

and went to Thessalonica, possibly his own country, however, at a great distance from the danger of Neroes Court.

A Province in the lesser Asia, whither probably Crescens went to preach the Gospel.

Dalmatia is in Sclavonia, Titus went thither (without all doubt) to preach the Gospel.

Marginal references: Philemon 24.

11 Only Luke is with me , Take Mark and bring him with thee , for he is profitable to me for the ministery .

Of whom we also read Col. 4.14. he was a Physitian Pauls fellow-labourer, Philemon 24.

Of Mark we read Acts 12. and 15.37. He was Kinsman to Barnabas▪ Col. 4.10. it appears by that Text that he was at Rome with Paul, and his fellow-labourer, Philemon 24.

The Ministry of the Gospel. Pauls care was more for that, then for a ministring to himself, though he was a Prisoner.

12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus .

I have given order to Tychicus, to come to Ephesus in thy absence.

Marginal references: Act. 20.4.

13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus , when thou comest, bring with thee x, and the books, but especially the parchments .

Troas was a City in Asia, where we find Paul more then once, Acts 16.8. and 20.5 he preached Christ there, 2 Cor. 2 12. there Paul left an upper garment with one Crispus, which probably (having no great Wardrobe) he might want, being a Prisoner.

Interpreters idly busie themselves in inquiring after what they can never find out, what these books were, or what was written in these parchments.

14 Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil : the Lord reward him according to his works .

We read of three Alexanders, one Mark 15.21. the Son of him that bare Christs cross, another Acts 4.6. akin to Annas the High Priest; a third, Acts 19.33. probably the person here meant, for he was an Ephesian, but he at that time was a Disciple of Pauls, as appears there, probably, afterward he Apostatized, and was Excommunicated by Paul, 1 Tim. 1.20. which might possibly provoke him; what harm he did him, and where, whether at Ephesus or Rome, it is not said.

How far it is lawful to pray against our enemies, (as Paul did here against Alexander) see the notes on Psal. 109.6. &c. Ier. 11.20. and 12.3. &c.

16 At my first answer no man stood with me , but all men forsook me : I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge .

At my first appearing before Nero, and the Court of Rome,

none o[illegible: 1 letter] the Christians stood by me, or owned me;

but all being frighted at my danger, left me alone to speak for my self.

They sinned through weakness, and humane frailty, and the Lord I hope will pardon it, God grant them remission.

17 Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me , and strengthened me , that by me the preaching might be fully known , and that all the Gentiles might hear , and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lyon .

That is, did not leave me. It is opened by the next word,

he gave me courage and inward ability, so as I was able to plead, and to defend my cause.

That all men that heard me might fully know by Gods presence with me, seen in my courage, that my preaching was not from my self, or from men, but from God, the message of God by one to the sons of men.

And that al[illegible: 1 letter] the Heathen present in the Court of Rome might hear and believe:

And I was for the present delivered out of my great danger, or possibly he calls Nero (the Roman Emperor at that time) a Lyon for his barbarous cruelties.

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work , and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom , to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen .

Faith riseth upon experience, 1 Sam. 17.37, 46. 2 Cor. 1.10. By evil-work may be understood any sin into which Paul might fall through temptation: Or the evil works of others, designing mischief to the Apostle, he expresseth his faith in this term of various signification, to learn us how to exercise our Faith in God, in an evil time, viz. believing that God will either deliver us from our danger, or from sinning, by reason of our danger, for we have no foundation for our Faith, to believe that God will at all times keep us from evils of suffering.

And that he will save us, and preserve us, if not as to a Temporal Life, yet to a Coelestial, Honourable, Glorious Inheritance.

This is an usual form of giving praise to God, desiring all honour might be given to him.

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila , and the houshold of Onesiphorus .

By this Prisca and Aquila it is more then probable, he means that Priscilla and Aquila, mentioned 1 C[illegible: 1 letter]r. 16.19.

It cannot be concluded from hence that Onesiphorus was now dead, but probably he was. It is the same man, mentioned chap. 1.16.

Marginal references: Act. 18.2.

20 Erastus abode at Corinth : but Trophimus have I left at Miletus sick .

Of this Erastus see Rom. 16.23. He was the Chamberlain of Corinth, so he abode there; Paul sent him into Macedonia, Acts 19.22.

Trophimus was an Ephesian, Acts 21.29. one of Pauls companions, Acts 20.4. he was left at Miletum a City in Asia, not far from Ephesus.

21 Do thy diligence to come before winter , Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren .

That is, to come to Rome to me before Winter, either because Sailing in the Winter time would be more dangerous, or because in the Winter time, he might have more need of his assistance.

We have no further account of these persons in Holy Writ, the first is a Greek name, the rest Latin, Claudia is a womans name. Paul sends the respects of these persons, and all the other Christians that at that time were in Rome to Timothy.

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit , Grace be with you . Amen.

See the like Gal. 6.18. Philemon 25.

The free Grace of God in its various emanations suited to all your necessities, Be with you. Amen.